The Marine Corps Legal Assistance Office (LAO) at Camp Pendleton, CA provides free mediation services to uniformed service members, their family members and dependents, and retirees who are seeking a divorce or legal separation.

Marine Corps judge advocates and civilian personnel in the LAO serve as mediators to help the parties reach a marital settlement agreement. HNMCP will review and evaluate the LAO’s current mediation practices and recommend improvements and best practices designed to help the Office mediate these disputes more effectively.

Activities & Deliverables Envisioned

• Review program resources and materials and conduct stakeholder assessment of current/past mediators, past parties, Staff Judge Advocates, and other key stakeholders;
• Observe mediations (with party permission);
• Assess strengths and weaknesses of the LAO’s current mediation practices;
• Prepare a report identifying proposed improvements and best practices to enhance the effectiveness of the LAO’s divorce mediation program.