R 261727Z JUN 09 

SUBJ: LEGAL SERVICES ALIGNMENT WITH MODERNIZATION
1. I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL
MODERNIZATION WITH THE COMPLETE STAND UP OF THE COAST GUARD LEGAL
SERVICE COMMAND (LSC), ALONG WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STAFF JUDGE
ADVOCATE (SJA) OFFICES FOR LANTAREA, PACAREA, D5, AND D11.  THE LSC
IS THE FIRST COMMAND IN THE MODERNIZATION PROCESS TO FULLY STAND
UP, AFTER COMPLETION OF DISCUSSIONS WITH AFGE, WHO PROVIDED INPUT
AND ADVICE CONCERNING THEIR REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.  NOW THAT THIS
STAGE OF LEGAL MODERNIZATION IS COMPLETE, THIS MESSAGE IS TO ENSURE
CLIENT COMMANDS KNOW WHERE TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE.
2.  BEYOND ADDING A COMMAND DEDICATED TO THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL
SERVICES AND FOUR NEW SJA OFFICES, LEGAL MODERNIZATION REFLECTS A
MAJOR SHIFT IN THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THE COAST GUARD.
THE MODERNIZATION PROCESS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LSC IN
PARTICULAR, WILL ALLOW GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN RESPONDING TO
CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS, WILL PROVIDE A SINGLE COMMAND TO PROVIDE
FIELD LEVEL LEGAL SUPPORT IN A VARIETY OF SPECIALIZED PRACTICE
AREAS, AND COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE DCMS
ORGANIZATION.
3. LEGAL SERVICE COMMAND.  THE LEGAL SERVICE COMMAND (LSC)
PARTIALLY STOOD UP ON 23 APR 09 AND IS NOW FULLY STAFFED.  FORMED
FROM THE MLC LEGAL DIVISIONS, WITH OFFICES IN NORFOLK, VA,
ARLINGTON, VA, AND ALAMEDA, CA, THE LSC PROVIDES FIELD LEVEL LEGAL
SUPPORT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
 A. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
 B. PROCUREMENT LAW
 C. EMPLOYMENT AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL LAW
 D. REAL PROPERTY LAW
 E. FISCAL LAW
 F. CLAIMS WITH ALL CLAIMS FUNCTIONS CENTRALIZED IN THE NORFOLK
OFFICE
 G. MILITARY JUSTICE FOR DCMS UNITS
 H. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR THE D5 AND D11 AORS
4. DISTRICTS.  AS A RESULT OF THE LEGAL MODERNIZATION PROCESS, D5
AND D11 WILL HAVE THEIR OWN, DEDICATED STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATES AND
STAFFS IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER DISTRICTS.  DISTRICT UNITS WILL
SEEK LEGAL ADVICE FROM THEIR DISTRICT SJA.  LEGAL MODERNIZATION
ALLOWS THE DISTRICT SJA TO TAP SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE AND ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES FROM THROUGHOUT THE LEGAL PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF DISTRICT
UNITS.
5. AREAS.  EACH AREA COMMANDER NOW HAS A DEDICATED SJA.  THE
PACAREA SJA ALSO CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE FORCECOM SJA.  WHEN OPCOM
IS ESTABLISHED, AND THE AREA COMMANDS ARE DISESTABISHED, THE AREA
SJAS WILL BECOME THE DEDICATED SJAS FOR OPCOM AND FORCECOM.
6. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SJA STAFFS AND THE LSC CAN BE FOUND AT THE
FOLLOWING LOCATION IN CG PORTAL: LEGAL/LIBRARY/GENERAL
INFORMATION/LEGAL PROGRAM DIRECTORY, DOCUMENT ENTITLED LEGAL
PROGRAM DIRECTORY.  ONCE THE ENTIRE MODERNIZATION PROCESS IS
APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION, A MATRIX TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING THE
PRIMARY LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER FOR COMMANDS THROUGHOUT THE
MODERNIZED COAST GUARD WILL BE POSTED TO CG PORTAL AS WELL.
7. POC: CDR STEVE MCCLEARY, COMDT (CG-0946), STEPHEN.P.MCCLEARY(AT)
USCG.MIL OR (202) 372-3805.
8. RADM W. D. BAUMGARTNER, JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL, SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.