In 2009, WMU-Cooley Law School’s Center for Ethics, Service, and professionalism introduced the Michigan Judge’s Guide to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Because of changes to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), WMU-Cooley teamed with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Foundation, Inc., to update the guide to meet 2015 standards.
The SCRA offers special protections to soldiers against civil actions like divorce and foreclosure while they are deployed, however, varying state laws and interpretations can produce confusion in the law’s application.
Matt Cooper, chair of the SCRA Foundation and attorney with the firm Schuitmaker, Cooper, Cypher & Knotek, P.C. worked with WMU-Cooley students Heather Spielmaker, Matthew J. Flynn and Nathan Chan; and Sean F. Crotty, attorney with the Honigman law firm, on updating the guide that specifically outlines legal issues for members of the military, lawyers, judges, and persons who advise military personnel and their families while navigating through complex legal areas.
During this process, WMU-Cooley students earned publication credit for their work.
“This is the second time that WMU-Cooley students have had the opportunity to work on this project for service members and we are so impressed with their level of dedication and the resulting updated guide,” said Cooper. “We know that this legal resource is very important for military members and their families and directing our attention and abilities towards the 2015 updates is something that we are all proud to be part of.”
Spielmaker, who has led multiple initiatives to help military members and veterans while working for and attending WMU-Cooley, says the guide is crucial for veterans and active military personnel with cases in the courts.
“Certain nuances in handling these cases are extremely important to create fair and appropriate outcomes,” Spielmaker added. “I am extremely proud to have been a part of this project.”
Access to the Michigan Judge’s Guide to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is available online at the website www.scrafoundation.org.
- Posted August 27, 2015
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Law students work to update SCRA Guide
headlines Jackson County
headlines National
- Civil legal aid lawyers are often the last line of defense. Why are there so few of them?
- Bankruptcy law firm files for Chapter 11 after losing advertising dispute
- Dentons and Boies Schiller face $300M racketeering suit after client loses international arbitration
- Mother’s Day and the changing face of family dynamics and custody arrangements
- Federal judge reprimanded for handcuffing teen spectator in scared-straight approach
- Lawyer whose firm sued Boeing finds emergency slide that fell from company’s plane near his home