§ 31-2C-7 — Competency Requirements for Attorneys and Non-lawyer Assistants Providing Legal Services; Continuing Legal Education and Training

(a) The Legal Services Office along with designated supervisory judge advocates shall ensure that all attorneys and non-lawyer assistants providing legal services develop and maintain the requisite level of competency required by the Alabama State Bar, state rules, and federal regulations that apply to judge advocates.
(b) The Legal Assistance Associate General Counsel shall ensure all of the following:
(1) All judge advocates and attorneys under his or her supervision receive continuing legal education in the areas of law, policy, and professional responsibility relevant to legal assistance. Training should take advantage of courses sponsored by state and federal government agencies; national, state, and local bar associations; and the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School.
(2) The Legal Services Office periodically conducts training covering the laws affecting legal assistance cases in coordination with local bar associations, legal aid offices, local practitioners, and relevant state and local government agencies.
(3) Paralegal specialists, office intake personnel, and receptionists receive training and instructions on safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of client information, conflicts of interest, reporting procedures for violations of the standards, and other professional responsibility topics related to legal assistance. Participation in local legal assistance training shall be encouraged. Supervisory lawyers should encourage and support participation in the Army’s Paralegal Degree Program for all paralegal soldiers.
(4) Other attorneys who may be called to perform legal assistance duties receive appropriate training in legal assistance.

Legislative History

(Act 2025-104, §2.)