how to become a lawyer in the us army

by Johann Conroy 10 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. Before going to law school, you need to get a Bachelor’s degree. Although there are no specific requirements on ...
  • Step 3: Go to Officer Candidate School. After graduating, you should go to OCS, which is an academy to train prospective military officers. You can ...
  • Step 4: Pass the LSAT Exam. This is the pre-entrance exam called the LSAT (Law School Aptitude Test). It is a 175-minute exam that includes five ...

What are the Steps to Become a Military Lawyer
  1. Step 1: Be a valid applicant. ...
  2. Step 2: Earn an undergraduate degree. ...
  3. Step 3: Go to Officer Candidate School. ...
  4. Step 4: Pass the LSAT Exam. ...
  5. Step 5: Finish your legal education. ...
  6. Step 6: Pass the bar exam. ...
  7. Step 7: Apply for the state bar. ...
  8. Step 8: Attend a state swearing ceremony.
•
Jun 2, 2022

Full Answer

Do you want to be a lawyer in the military?

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. After completing law school and passing the bar exam, complete the specific enlistment procedures for the branch of the military that you're interested in. If you’re accepted and sworn into a ...

How to become a JAG lawyer?

You can easily keep tabs on firm’s performance with visibility into the following key metrics:

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Why should you become a JAG officer?

  • Applicants must be a citizen of the United States.
  • JAG candidates must be able to pass a security clearance. ...
  • If you are interested in becoming a JAG attorney, you must start your studies so that you will be licensed to practice law and ready for entry into active duty ...

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What to know before becoming a lawyer?

The woman told Arthur she had uterine cancer. Before long, they were discussing what her funeral could look like, the family she'd leave behind, and all the things she wanted to do before she died.

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Will the Army 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 branch of the military is best for lawyers?

The JAG Corps is the legal branch of the military, concerned with military justice and military law.

What rank does a lawyer have 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 get into 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.

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.

How long is Army JAG training?

The initial JAG training can also be difficult for attorneys with families. Training begins with approximately six weeks of officer training focused on leadership skills and military tactics and then approximately ten weeks of JAG school (Marine JAG training is significantly more rigorous).

What are military lawyers called?

Judge Advocate General's CorpsJudge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of a military concerned with military justice and military law. A military lawyer's job is similar to a civilian lawyer in their day-to-day duties.

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.

What do military lawyers do?

A military lawyer is the person to call when a service member or spouse faces legal action within military court proceedings. They can provide a defense or push back against the evidence mounted against their client. There are different laws and rules that military lawyers follow in contrast to civilian lawyers.

Is JAG Navy only?

The Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, is the military justice branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called judge advocates.

Do you go to law school before becoming a JAG?

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.

What rank do JAG officers start at?

New Army Judge Advocates enter service as First Lieutenants (O-2) and are promoted to Captain (O-3) six to nine months later. Officers receive a raise in basic pay upon promotion to Captain and receive automatic pay increases after serving 2, 3, and 4 years.

What training do Army lawyers need to complete?

As a Judge Advocate, you won't participate in the Basic Training that enlisted Soldiers complete. Instead, you'll attend the Direct Commission Cour...

Do military lawyers have to pass a fitness test?

Yes, you must meet Army height and weight standards, as well as pass the Army fitness test.

What happens after JAG Officer training?

After completing the Judge Advocate Basic Training Course, JAG Officers report to one of the Army’s worldwide law offices and immediately begin pra...

How do I get into the JAG Corps if I’ve already attended law school and am not in the Army?

There are two things you’ll need to do as part of the JAG Corps application process: submit an application and interview with a Judge Advocate who...

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-commission...

How long does it take to become a JAG?

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, which is a 10.5-week officer’s course at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, at the University of Virginia. Those who complete the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Training Course then enter Active Duty for a required four years.

How to join the JAG 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 and are placed on Inactive Duty pending completion of law school. Upon graduation, students must take the first scheduled bar exam in any state, and must report LSAT scores of 150+. After passing the bar, students enter the Basic School--a six-month intensive basic training for the Marine Corps, then join JAG Corps members from the Navy at the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. Students are then assigned their first duty station. The second option for entering the Marine JAG Corps is through the OCC-Law program, which is open to licensed attorneys, who must have completed law school, passed a state bar, and earned a 150+ on the LSAT.

What is the JAG Corps?

Alison Monahan. Updated February 06, 2019. 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.

Can you go to law school as a JAG?

The third option is for Active Duty military members to go on to law school and return to Active Duty as a JAG Corps officers. The fourth option is for experienced attorneys to work part-time with the Air Force JAG Corps, while maintaining their civilian jobs.

Join a Firm Unlike Any Other

The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, or JAG Corps, is a government law organization and one of the country’s largest law firms.

The Army Lawyer Advantage

As an Army lawyer in the JAG Corps, you’ll gain experience that you wouldn’t get at a traditional law firm.

Areas of Legal Practice

From offering legal assistance to Soldiers, to representing the United States government in civil cases, the work you do in the Army JAG Corps can change lives—and even history.

Represent and Advise Soldiers and Commanders

Get the chance to serve as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, government or defense appellate counsel, or as a military judge. You’ll be responsible for prosecuting courts-martial or representing Soldiers accused of committing a crime.

Represent and Advise on Behalf of the Army

You’ll be working with the Department of Justice to represent the U.S. Government in civil cases. You’ll also be responsible for negotiating settlements and arguing cases before administrative judges and federal courts.

Serve Your Country Part-Time

You can keep your job at a civilian law firm and serve part-time through the Army Reserve or Army National Guard.

JAG Summer Law Internship Program

Step into the role of an Army attorney and work on real cases at JAG Corps offices worldwide through the Summer Law Internship Program, a competitive 60-day internship open to qualified second-year law students.

What is a military lawyer?

The lawyers in this system are military officers who are known as Judge Advocates. They are responsible for maintaining cases and advising service members on legal issues. Although all potential candidates must be in law school or have graduated, each branch of service has its own process to becoming a Judge Advocate.

What are the options for the Air Force?

The Air Force has four entry options that are for: Students. Licensed attorneys. Active duty military. Air Force Reserves. The first option requires that students be on track to graduate or have recently graduated from an ABA-approved law school.

What is the JAG Corps?

This is made possible through the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps) which is a governmental organization that is concerned with military law and military justice. The lawyers in this system are military officers who are known as Judge Advocates.

Can a judge advocate work part time in the army?

Both have to go through the same process, however, the Army Reserves allows Judge Advocates to maintain their civilian jobs while working part time with the Army. To apply for the JAG Corps, an application must be submitted, and an interview must be conducted with an Army Judge Advocate.

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.

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.

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.

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 long does it take to take the LSAT?

The Law School Aptitude Test, often referred to as the LSAT, is a critical part of your law school admissions package. The five-section LSAT is multiple choice and you have 35 minutes to complete each section.

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.

Required Eligibility Criteria

All candidate who is Law graduate with a minimum of 70% marks is eligible to apply for this entry. Age Limit for JAG Entry is 21 to 27. The age of the candidate must not be less than 21 years old while filling up the application and it should not be more than 27 years old on the date of commencement of the course.

Selection Procedure to become Lawyer in the Indian Army

The Selection Process is a bit different from the other vacancy of the Indian Army. In order to become an Officer, You need to clear Written Examination and Service Selection Board Interview, etc but in this entry, there is no written examination, the selection will be done through the SSB Interview or Service Selection Board Interview.

Career and Job Profile of a lawyer in the Indian Army Service

After the final Selection, the Candidate will be sent for the training at the Officers Training Academy for 49 weeks (Approx 11 months). During the entire training. Candidates will get a stipend of 27,000/- per month. After the completion of the training, they will get a salary.

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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...
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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 …
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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…
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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…
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What Is The Jag Corps?

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The JAG Corps is the legal branch of the military, concerned with military justice and military law. The chief attorney in each branch is the Judge Advocate General, and those under him or her are considered to be Judge Advocates. These individuals both defend and prosecute military personnel, using the Uniform Cod…
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The UCMJ

  • The UCMJ is a detailed body of law that has governed the U.S. armed forces since 1951. The UCMJ was modestly updated in 2008, to incorporate changes made by the President (via executive orders) and to include the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2006 and 2007. The UCMJ differs from traditional law, in that the military uses it to enforce itself, as if it were its ow…
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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 lik...
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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, …
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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…
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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…
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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 and are placed on Inactive D…
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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…
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