DISTRIBUTION – SDL No. 168
NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION:
United States Coast Guard
US Coast Guard Stop 7213
2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Washington, DC 20593-7213
Staff Symbol: CG-LMA-L
Phone: ( 202 ) 372-3782
COMDTINST 5801.4F
17 FEB 2017
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 5801.4F
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction prescribes regulations, policies and guidance for the management and
direction of the Coast Guard Legal Assistance Program established under the Judge Advocate
General’s authority and 10 U.S.C. § 1044. The provisions in this Instruction apply to all personnel
providing or receiving Coast Guard legal assistance.
2. ACTION. The Judge Advocate General (JAG) manages and supervises the Coast Guard Legal
Assistance Program through Commandant Member Advocacy and Legal Assistance (CG-LMA)
which provides technical supervision and support to Command Directors of Legal Assistance. Area
commanders, mission support commands, district commanders and commanding officers of
headquarters units support the program by promoting awareness about legal assistance services,
facilitating access to legal assistance, and supporting regular visits to units remote from a legal
assistance office, and requesting support from Commandant (CG-LMA) when local resources are
inadequate to meet a particular need. Internet release is authorized.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Legal Assistance Program, COMDTINST 5801.4E is cancelled.
4. DISCUSSION. The Legal Assistance Program is critical to personnel readiness. The Coast Guard
recognizes the importance of providing legal support for our personnel in connection with their
personal civil legal affairs. Prompt legal support can relieve stress and uncertainty and improve
readiness, morale, and efficiency. The Coast Guard’s policy is to provide legal assistance to eligible
personnel to the fullest extent possible under the law.
5. DISCLAIMER. This guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it itself a
rule. It is intended to provide operational guidance for Coast Guard personnel and is not intended to
nor does it impose legally-binding requirements on any party outside the Coast Guard.
