Alabama § 31-2B-14 - Logistical Support for the Legal Services Office.

§ 31-2B-14. Logistical Support for the Legal Services Office.

(a) The Alabama National Guard, commanders, and supervisory judge advocates shall provide logistical support for the Legal Services Office, including adequate personnel, facilities, supplies, and equipment necessary to carry out its mission and functions in the most professional, efficient, and effective manner possible.

(b) Minimum logistical support shall include all of the following:

(1) Sufficiently private workspace for attorneys and support staff which ensures freedom from unnecessary distractions and provides for client confidentiality and privacy, including a private consultation room.

(2) Locking file cabinets to ensure the privacy of records.

(3) Computer hardware and software to maintain client records; provided, only authorized personnel may have access.

(4) A sufficient number of attorneys and qualified administrative, paralegal, and clerical support personnel to accomplish workload.

(5) Computers for each assigned judge advocate, paralegal, and legal assistant; software, peripherals, networking, telecommunication equipment, including nonsecure Internet protocol router network access and, where required, secure Internet protocol router network access; and maintenance and supplies for computer hardware and software, including training for personnel.

(6) Appropriate and private client waiting areas in legal services and assistance offices.

(7) Standard legal office equipment as determined by technological advancements and by the State Staff Judge Advocate or the Office of General Counsel.

(8) Access to digital libraries, including general research material and legal services for specialized topics, including adequate funding and resources for essential access to computer automated legal research capabilities.

(9) Adequate funding for continuing legal education for all assigned and attached attorneys sufficient to satisfy requirements of each attorney’s primary jurisdiction of bar membership, including additional specialty or assignment training for attorneys and support staff.

(10) Cellular telephones and similar devices as determined by the State Staff Judge Advocate or Office of General Counsel to support legal mission requirements.

(11) Adequate transportation support.

(c) The management and delivery of legal services in the Alabama National Guard requires the use and support of court computer access to software applications, such as: Jagcnet, Adobe, Word Perfect, Alacourt, Alafile, and federal court litigation access.