UNCLASSIFIED//
ATTENTION INVITED TO  
ROUTINE
R 301500Z NOV 12 PSN 815086K28
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
ZEN/OU=DOD/OU=NAVY/OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC)/CN=AL NAVADMIN(UC)
INFO ZEN/CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
QQQQ
SUBJ: REALIGNMENT OF NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE COMMAND UNCLASSIFIED/ FM CNO 
WASHINGTON DC//DNS// TO NAVADMIN UNCLAS 
NAVADMIN 358/12

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS/NOV//

SUBJ/REALIGNMENT OF NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE COMMAND//

RMKS/1. TO ENSURE FLEET AWARENESS AND PROVIDE CONTINUITY OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR 
THOSE IN NEED OF LEGAL SERVICES, THIS NAVADMIN SUMMARIZES THE 1 OCT 12 
REALIGNMENT OF NAVY LEGAL OFFICES AND SERVICES.

2. PRIOR TO 1 OCT 12, DEFENSE SERVICES AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE WERE PROVIDED BY 
EIGHT NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICES (NLSO), WHILE PROSECUTION SERVICES AND 
COMMAND ADVICE WERE PROVIDED TO COMMANDS BY NINE REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICES 
(RLSO).

3. EFFECTIVE 1 OCT 2012, THE PREVIOUS EIGHT NLSO HEADQUARTERS WERE REALIGNED 
INTO FOUR DEFENSE SERVICE OFFICE (DSO) HEADQUARTERS IN SAN DIEGO, WASHINGTON 
DC, NORFOLK AND YOKOSUKA.
A. THE DSO MISSION IS TO DEFEND SERVICE MEMBERS IN MILITARY JUSTICE 
PROCEEDINGS, REPRESENT SERVICE MEMBERS AT ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS, AND PROVIDE 
OTHER REPRESENTATIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING ADVICE ON NON-JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT 
AND ADVERSE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
B. THE DSO DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES.

4. THE REALIGNMENT CLOSE 12 FORMER NLSO DETACHMENT OFFICES WHICH WERE LOCATED 
IN EVERETT, WA, WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA, PORT HUENEME, CA, LEMOORE, CA, CORPUS 
CHRISTI, TX, NEW ORLEANS, LA, MILLINGTON, TN, KINGS BAY, GA, GUANTANAMO BAY, 
CUBA, NEWPORT, RI, EARLE, NJ, AND SIGONELLA, SICILY.
SERVICE MEMBERS IN THESE LOCATIONS REQUIRING DSO SERVICES CAN MAKE INITIAL 
CONTACT WITH A DSO ATTORNEY BY TELEPHONE OR OTHER REMOTE COMMUNICATION 
TECHNOLOGY PROVIDED AT A DSO CLIENT OFFICE LOCATED WITHIN THE LOCAL RLSO. A 
DEDICATED LIAISON WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE PROCESS. IF REQUIRED, 
SUBSEQUENT IN-PERSON CONSULTATION WILL BE ARRANGED BY A DSO ATTORNEY.

5. THE NINE RLSOS IN BREMERTON, WA, JACKSONVILLE, FL, NORFOLK, VA, GREAT 
LAKES, IL, SAN DIEGO, CA, PEARL HARBOR, HI, WASHINGTON, DC, YOKOSUKA, JAPAN, 
NAPLES, ITALY, ARE UNCHANGED; HOWEVER, RLSOS HAVE ADDED LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO 
THE EXISTING MISSION AREAS OF COURT-MARTIAL PROSECUTION AND STAFF JUDGE 
ADVOCATE ADVICE TO NAVY COMMANDS.
A. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM THE RLSO INCLUDE WILLS AND POWERS 
OF ATTORNEY, AND ADVICE INVOLVING CONSUMER, FAMILY, LANDLORD-TENANT, AND 
PREDATORY LENDING LAW.
B. RLSOS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE COURT-MARTIAL PROSECUTION AND COMMAND LEGAL 
ADVICE TO NAVY COMMANDS, INCLUDING REGION AND INSTALLATION COMMANDERS, TENANT 
COMMANDS, SHIPS AND SQUADRONS.

6. THIS REALIGNMENT DOES NOT AFFECT COMMANDS WITH ASSIGNED STAFF JUDGE 
ADVOCATES.

7. CONTACT INFORMATION AND A DESCRIPTION OF ALL SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM LEGAL 
OFFICES IS LOCATED UNDER THE LEGAL SERVICES TAB AT HTTP://WWW.JAG.NAVY.MIL.

8. POINT OF CONTACT IS CAPT G. J. SMITH, OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL, 
CODE 63, gregory.smith6@navy.mil.

9. RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL R. W. HUNT, DIRECTOR NAVY STAFF.//

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