how to become a lawyer in the marines

by Adolphus Stroman 6 min read

What are the Steps to Become a Military Lawyer.

  • Step 1: Be a valid applicant. To be a valid applicant, you must be a U.S citizen. Then, you need to pass a security clearance, which investigates your ...
  • Step 2: Earn an undergraduate degree.
  • Step 3: Go to Officer Candidate School.
  • Step 4: Pass the LSAT Exam.
  • Step 5: Finish your legal education.

Full Answer

Can you become a lawyer with a marine law degree?

Although you won't leave the Marines with a law degree, you'll be well-positioned if you want to pursue a legal career. To become a lawyer, you'll need to go to law school, but to work as a legal secretary, legal assistant or paralegal, you'll have all the skills and training you'll need.

What does an attorney do in the Marines?

Marines in this position handle all varieties of legal work, including research, preparing forms, reports, wills, powers of attorney, and other documents that deal with legal and quasi-legal matters. Their office responsibilities include checking any completed work for typos, keeping correspondence, directives and other files in order.

How do I become a military lawyer?

To become a military lawyer, a candidate must complete an undergraduate degree, apply for and pass the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and complete law school with a Juris Doctor degree in law. Pick from the links below, depending on your education level that best describes your situation.

How do I become a legal services specialist in the Marines?

In order to qualify for an Marine Corps Legal Services Specialist (MOS 4421) you must score General Technical (GT): 100 or higher on the ASVAB. Aspiring Legal Services Specialists must also score Clerical (CL): 105 or higher.

image

How do you become a lawyer in the Marines?

The Marine Corps Judge Advocate program accepts applicants at all stages of legal education. Applicants should possess a competitive LSAT, competitive undergraduate and law school GPA, and must be admitted to or enrolled in a full-time Juris Doctorate program at an ABA-accredited law school.

Can you be a lawyer in the Marine Corps?

There are several different programs that the Marine Corps uses to select Marine lawyers, but the majority of candidates commission as Marine Corps officers through the Platoon Leaders Course – Law. This program is for individuals who have been selected as officer candidates, but have not yet graduated from law school.

Do Marines pay for law school?

WILL THE MARINE CORPS PAY FOR LAW SCHOOL? Although programs do exist whereby active duty Marine officers are ordered to attend law school, drawing full pay and allowances while tuition is paid by the Marine Corps, no similar program is available to officers who enter the Marine Corps via the OCC(LAW) or PLC(LAW).

Can you join the military to become a lawyer?

The Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps), which encompasses the career path for military lawyers, has been popularized by the television show JAG, the film A Few Good Men, and a host of other pop cultural touchstones. If you're looking to serve your country as a lawyer, consider the JAG Corps.

What are Marine lawyers called?

Marine Corps judge advocates, or JAs, are licensed attorneys who are also commissioned officers in the Marine Corps.

What do marine lawyers do?

A Maritime Lawyer is an attorney that specializes in maritime injuries and boating accidents that occur in both recreational and commercial maritime activities.

Do military lawyers see combat?

Yes, JAGs do get deployed to areas all over the world. JAGs serve as legal advisers to military commanders and have many responsibilities, including providing legal opinions on whether military actions comply with the laws of armed conflict to prosecuting or defending service members in courts martial.

Will the military send you to law school?

And the Army is willing to pay the law school tuition, with the help of the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP). Officers selected for FLEP attend a civilian law school of their choice, for three years of legal studies, while remaining on active duty with full pay and benefits.

Is being a JAG worth it?

By becoming a JAG, you are guaranteed a career that has rotating assignments by location and practice area, exposing you to the world and the law in ways you could have never imagined. It provides unrivaled practical and hands-on experience to springboard your career.

Can the military pay for my law school?

Will the JAG Corps pay for my law school? Yes, through the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), the Army covers the cost of law school for up to 25 active-duty Officers and non-commissioned Officers every year.

What rank is a lawyer in the Army?

Coast Guard lawyers start at the highest rank, O-3. Marine, Air Force and Navy military lawyers start at the rank of O-2, and Army lawyers start at the rank of O-1.

How hard is it to join JAG?

Depending on the service branch, the acceptance rate for JAG Corps applicants is typically between 4-7%. The Army, for instance, receives about 4000 applications every year and only accepts around 200.

What Does it Mean to be a Military Lawyer

Before we jump into the detailed steps of becoming a military lawyer, let’s take a closer look at what becoming a military lawyer entails. Military lawyers are sometimes also referred to as military attorneys.

What are the Steps to Become a Military Lawyer

To be a valid applicant, you must be a U.S citizen. Then, you need to pass a security clearance, which investigates your history, particularly regarding finances, health, and substance abuse. Plus, you need to pass the physical fitness requirements for your military branch of choice. Finally, make sure that you meet the age requirement: 42.

Conclusion

With that, you have gone through the 10 steps on how to become a military lawyer. Was this article informative and helpful? Hopefully, you now have an idea of what you need to do to be a military lawyer. If there’s anything else you’d like to share or add, leave a comment below!

What is the job of a legal services specialist?

If you're interested in a legal career after your tour of duty is completed, the job of legal services specialist, which is military occupational specialty (MOS) 4421, will provide the training and expertise you'll need. Their general duties include legal operational, managerial, clerical, and administrative duties within a legal services support ...

What is the role of the legal services chief?

The legal services chief acts as the active liaison between the command when dealing with enlisted policy and duty assignments, and adviser to the judge advocates with regard to enlisted instruction and supervision.

Do legal services specialists have to complete a course?

And they'll be required to complete the legal services specialist course. Due to the nature of the job, involving potentially legally-sensitive information requires that legal services specialists have no nonjudicial punishments on record.

What is the job of a prosecutor in the USMC?

As a prosecutor, defense attorney, or victim’s legal counsel you will litigate felony and misdemeanor criminal cases before military judges and juries. Additionally, as a prosecutor, you will coordinate with NCIS to direct criminal investigations into serious and complex crimes. In the course of your USMC career, you may also argue appellate cases before the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals or the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Is a Marine a judge advocate?

All Marine Judge Advocates are unrestricted Marine Corps Officers. There are several paths to pursue a commission and ultimately serve as a Judge Advocate whether you are an undergraduate, law school student or licensed attorney.

What is a Marine Corps legal services specialist?

An Marine Corps Legal Services Specialist (MOS 4421) is the military equivalent of a paralegal or legal secretary. Starting your legal career with the Marine Corps can lead to civilian employment after finishing your service.

What is the role of a legal services chief in the Marine Corps?

Legal Services Chiefs are directly responsible to the Marine Corps for the overall assignment, performance, training, counseling, discipline, morale, and welfare of all enlisted personnel in the department.

What is boot camp for Marines?

The intention of boot camp is to prepare Marines for the lifestyle and culture of serving the military. Once you complete basic training you will progress to focus on your MOS.

What are the benefits of being a Marine?

The Marine Corps offers several additional benefits to soldiers along with monthly pay: 1 Medical Insurance 2 Affordable Life Insurance 3 Vacation Time 4 Special Pay 5 Retirement 6 Education: Marines can earn full-tuition, merit-based scholarships, allowances for books and fees, plus annual stipend for living expenses. 7 Housing: Allowances for living expenses, utilities, and maintenance. 8 Food: Allowance for the on-base dining hall and access to tax-free department and grocery stores.

How many words per minute do you need to type to be a Marine?

Marines must have the ability to type at least 35 words per minute. You can test your typing skills on the internet and use free programs to improve typing skills if you are not yet reaching 35 WPM.

What are Marine Corps assignments?

According to the Marine Corps Legal Services Training and Readiness Manual, typical assignments include: Research, preparation, and typing of general correspondence, forms, reports, wills, powers of attorney, and other documents dealing with legal and quasi-legal matters.

What is the most important skill to learn as a legal services specialist?

Organization is another important skill you will learn as an Legal Services Specialist since military personnel must check completed work for typos and organize files on a consistent basis. The only area of legal administration a Legal Services Specialist is not involved in is court-martial reporting.

PLC Law Program

PLC-Law is the largest commissioning source for Marine Corps judge advocates and is the main effort of the MCRC law recruiting mission.

Program Manager Updates

15 November 2021 All informational updates to the pool of commissioned Student Judge Advocates awaiting accession to active duty will posted on our LinkedIn page. If you are a commissioned Student Judge Advocate, please request access to the group in order to receive updates.

What is the best way to become a military lawyer?

Research military legal education programs. If you are seeking a career as a military attorney, there are special programs that may help you with admission, completion, and even funding of your legal education. The Army offers a highly-competitive summer internship to second-year law students.

How to become a JAG lawyer?

To become a JAG lawyer, you'll need to go to law school and attend the Officer Candidate School, which is the training academy for prospective military officers. You must also be a US citizen, pass a security clearance, and meet the physical requirements for the branch of the military you choose.

How to become a JAG?

To qualify for enlistment into the JAG Corps of any branch and practice law in the military, you must pass the bar exam. You may take the exam in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. While it is not required, you should strongly consider taking the bar exam in the same state you attended law school.

What degree do you need to join the JAG Corps?

Dept. of Education. College ROTC programs, such as the Air Force Graduate Law Program, may assist you, both with finances and motivation, to complete the education you need to join the JAG Corps.

What branches of the military can you join with a law degree?

With a law degree and admittance to a state bar, you are eligible to seek enlistment and induction into the JAG Corps of all branches of the United States military including the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

What is a JAG in the military?

The Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps of the five military branches is as competitive and demanding as any military career. Along with completing the educational and licensing requirements of the legal profession, you must also be able to meet the same standards as any prospective officer.

How often are bar exams administered?

States may also add state-specific essay tests to the array of multistate tests. Bar exams are typically administered twice a year with the results released about 10 weeks after the test. ...

image

What Is The Jag Corps?

The UCMJ

How Does One Join The Jag Corps?

  • There are two main paths lawyers may take to join the JAG Corps. The first is for law students to apply to the JAG Corps upon completion of law school. Applicants must have passed the bar exam, and must be prepared to enter Officer Training. The second path is for licensed and experienced attorneys to join the armed forces. Such candidates must likewise enter Officer Trai…
See more on thebalancecareers.com

Army

  • Entry into the Army JAG Corps (founded by George Washington in 1775) occurs through Direct Commission. Commissioned individuals enter the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Training Course, which is split into two phases. The first is the Direct Commissioned Course (DCC) Phase--a six-week basic training for JAGs in Fort Benning, Georgia. The second is the Charlottesville Phase, …
See more on thebalancecareers.com

Navy

  • To become an officer in the JAG Corpsin the Navy, this branch of the military must offer hopefuls a commission, after which time they enter Officer Development School (ODS), where they receive the rank of Ensign, and their active duty pay and benefits begin. Located in Newport, Rhode Island, ODS is specifically tailored to those entering the Navy as officers. Once completed, candidates e…
See more on thebalancecareers.com

Air Force

  • The Air Force has four different entry programs into the JAG Corp. The first is the student option, where candidates apply as either a 1L or 2L, and commit to completing Active Duty as a member of the JAG Corps after graduating law school and passing the bar. The second program entails licensed attorneys directly entering the JAG Corps. The third option is for Active Duty military m…
See more on thebalancecareers.com

Marine Corps

  • There are two ways to enter the JAG Corps as a Marine. The first is the PCL-Law program--the Marine Corps equivalent to the student entry program. Students complete the ten-week Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, either during the summer before law school, or the 1L or 2L summer. Candidates then receive the rank of Second Lieutenant an...
See more on thebalancecareers.com

Coast Guard

  • Unlike the other military branches, there is only one way to enter the Coast Guard JAG Corps—as a Direct Commission Lawyer (DCL). Final year law students and licensed attorneys may enter the Coast Guard this way. After commissioning, they must attend the 4-5 week long Direct Commission Officer course in New London, Connecticut, before attending a ten-week Basic Law…
See more on thebalancecareers.com

Educational Requirements

  • To become a military lawyer, a candidate must complete an undergraduate degree, apply for and pass the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and complete law school with a Juris Doctor degree in law. Pick from the links below, depending on your education level that best describes your situation. 1. Pre-law Undergraduate 2. Online and Campus Law and Leg...
See more on lawyeredu.org

Role and Skills of A Military Lawyer

  • The role of a military attorney is as broad as that of a civilian attorney. They will participate in matters of both civil and criminal nature. One of the primary differences of a military court is the military tribunal that deals with enemies during wartime. Some of the roles of the military lawyer include: 1. Advising military clients brought before the courts. 2. Handling the legal discipline of …
See more on lawyeredu.org

Examples of Cases For Military Lawyers

  • The military court, while similar to civilian court, also differs. Therefore, the cases that a military lawyer participates in may be different. A few examples are: 1. Offenses-Military rules provide a variety of offenses that military personnel may be charged with. While many of the criminal offenses are similar to civilian courts such as murder and theft, the military oversees special off…
See more on lawyeredu.org

Military Lawyer Salary & Job Outlook

  • The job outlook of a military lawyer will vary. Each branch of the military may have different needs. For instance, the Marines are a small branch of the service and serve as part of the Navy. The Marines may not need as many legal personnel than the Army. Speaking with a recruiting officer may offer insight into the possibilities of a career as a lawyer in the military. The salary of a milit…
See more on lawyeredu.org