Similar to fiscal year 2008 figures, the legal assistance office’s most recent numbers for fiscal year 2009 show that their services saved Army clients more than $826,000, according to Joyce A. Hamel, Office of Soldiers Counsel and Legal Assistance chief.

“Winning this award affirms the high level of support that this team gives to our Soldiers and their Families ó the very best legal assistance possible,” she said. “This is a boutique practice of law. Very few offices do what we do here and we are the flagship. It’s great to be recognized for that.”

The criteria for the award is based on various measurements such as money saved, preventative law efforts, people turned away, complexity of appointments, time spent on each case, among others.

The Legal Assistance Office includes the Office of Soldiers’ Counsel, medical evaluation board outreach team, and the annual tax center. The legal assistance portion saved more than $153,000 last fiscal year through consults and ward calls.

“Doctors don’t make house calls anymore, but we have lawyers making ward calls,” Hamel joked of the 84 inpatient visits her office made last year.

The medical evaluation board outreach counsel piece saw 210 clients, held 66 briefings, and saved clients over $61,000 in legal fees. Augmented with 19 additional outreach attorneys brought on over the past couple years, this division has provided direct representation to more than 500 injured Soldiers before physical evaluation boards and counseled more than 200 with their medical evaluation boards. It is also the world wide training site for MEB and PEB paralegals.

“Disability law is our area of expertise. Over the years the Army has elevated this to a much higher level. We are often asked for our opinions, participation, and evaluation on the topic,” Hamel said.

The Soldiers’ counsel piece conducted over 370 formal hearings and saved the 501 fiscal year 2009 clients over $489,000. The dollar amounts are based on an average of what the office would typically charge if they were a civilian organization. For example, MEB outreach counsel service is billed at $125 an hour.

ëIn actuality, a lawyer in DC would charge upwards to five to six hundred dollars. We’re lowballing it,” Hamel explained. “We don’t have to waste time worrying about billable hours. We get to use that time to help Soldiers and their Families.”

“It’s very satisfying work,” said the former medic. “I feel like I’m home. It’s the greatest honor to be here. It’s the culmination of my career. This is where it happens in Army medicine.” (Stripe, JAG Office)