Volunteer as a Legal Officer for Civil Air Patrol

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As a Legal Officer in CAP, you to serve your country in a way that leverages your skills and experience. Civil Air Patrol can be an attractive outlet for service by lawyers because there are opportunities for lawyers to do legal work that connects to their training and particular skills. While Legal Officer remain local to their residence they are tasked to aid Civil Air Patrol across all of Tennessee. Thus, given you opportunities to help a greater number of people.

Volunteering your time with Civil Air Patrol means that you practice law for a distiguished and impactful organization. Civil Air Patrol has the advantage of being able to draw direct lines between the legal work done in the organization and the missions that our members perform for the people of the United States.

Qualifications:

• Applicants must have a J.D. from an ABA accredited or Tennessee-approved law school.
• Applicants must demonstrate proof they have passed the Tenessee bar examination and legitimately practice law in the State of Tennessee.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Ability to pass an FBI background check.
• Willing to join Civil Air Patrol as a member and pay of the required fees.
• Willingnes to the occasional wear of a corporate uniform.

Duties:

Advises on legal implications of CAP programs and activities (subject to the constraints imposed by local law on the authorized practice of law) to include:

• Interpretation of laws and regulations.
• Contracts and agreements.
• Insurance.
• Real Estate.
• Taxation.
• Investigation.
• Corporate records and organizations.
• Relations with local agencies.
• Render legal advice and opinions regarding CAP activities as requested.
• Assist the unit safety officer in conducting investigations.
• Advise the unit commander and complaint resolution officer on processing complaints in accordance with CAPR 20-2, Complaint Resolution.
• Advise commanders on initiation of termination actions and serve as CAP representative at termination appeals hearings as appropriate.
• Serve on unit membership board as directed by the unit commander.
• Monitoring compliance with the CAP Constitution and Bylaws and CAP directives.
• Provide counsel to subordinate units without an assigned legal officer.
• Provide counsel to the CAP Inspector General or any wing or region inspector general as directed by the commander to whom he or she reports, with the approval of his or her managing legal officer (if any).
• Promoting the availability and utilization of legal services to CAP’s decision makers.
• Educating members and leaders about the law and related matters as consistent with CAP’s corporate missions, goals and objectives.

Many of CAP's member are veterans or active duty, however this is not a requirement. Civil Air Patrol is an all volunteer civilan organization with a diverse membership from many backgrounds. All members share a desire to serve their community and to continuouesly learn and train.

Civil Air Patrol can offer training for those that want to learn and hone new career skills. Membership application fees apply.

Civil Air P atrol was first founded in December of 1941 as a civilian air force to patrol the US Coasts for German U-boats. After the war, the United States Congress chartered CAP as a non-profit and reorganized it as the official auxiliary of the US Air Force with the following missions:

• Assisting the DAF (Dept. of the Air Force) in fulfilling its non-combat programs and missions.
• Providing assistance requested by federal, state or local governmental agencies to perform disaster relief missions and activities, other emergency and non-emergency public purpose missions and activities.
• Encouraging and aiding United States citizens in contributing to the development of aviation and sustainment of air supremacy; and to encourage and develop by example the voluntary contribution of private citizens to the public welfare.
• Providing aviation education and training.
• Encouraging and fostering civil aviation in local communities.
• Providing an organization of private citizens with adequate facilities to assist in meeting local and national emergencies.

Civil Air Patrol is America’s premier public service organization for carrying out emergency services and disaster relief missions nationwide. As the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP’s vigilant citizen volunteers are there to search for and find the lost, provide comfort in times of disaster, and work to keep the homeland safe. Its 56,000 members selflessly devote their time, energy, and expertise toward the well-being of their communities, while also promoting aviation and related fields through aerospace education and helping shape future leaders through CAP’s cadet program.

"Volunteers serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures."