if your mos in the military is law can you become a lawyer when discharged

by Jovany Olson 3 min read

When a service member on active duty or reserve is determined to be unfit to continue service, he or she is given a medical discharge. Unfortunately, some service members do not receive the medical benefits they believe they are entitled to. If you have been unfairly discharged, you need an attorney who is experienced with military law.

Full Answer

How can I join the military as a lawyer?

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.

Can a person be discharged from the military for medical reasons?

This can be the case even if the injury or illness was sustained outside of the scope of official military duties. A Medical Review Board looks at each individual case to determine the most appropriate course of action, including which type of discharge is warranted, should the member need to be separated from the military.

Can I apply for law enforcement with an honorable discharge?

I can save you a little time and tell you not to apply for any federal law enforcement unless your discharge was honorable (or in a few rare instances, an administrative separation for something medical). You won't be hired, you won't even get an interview.

Do you have to disclose a punitive discharge to the military?

In the cases of punitive discharges, such as bad conduct or dishonorable discharges, the service member may be required by law to disclose the fact that they were convicted of a felony or served time in prison.

Can I become a lawyer while in the military?

It is possible to work in any military branches (The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard). What is this? As a military lawyer, you also have the option to become a JAG (Judge Advocate General) and practice law in the military court.

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.

Does being a veteran help you get into law school?

Law schools greatly value applicants who are veterans. Many of the skills honed by military service contribute to success in both law school and legal practice, like self-discipline, teamwork, working under pressure and time management.

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.

What is a lawyer in the military called?

Leverage your law degree to serve the nation and advocate for justice as a military lawyer.

Does Army Pay 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.

What Mos is JAG?

JAG attorney (MOS 27A) Description / Major Duties: The Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC) is the Army's source of legal support to operations.

How do you become a JAG lawyer in the Army?

JAG ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSGraduate from an ABA-approved law school (you may apply in your third year of law school)Be admitted to the bar and serve in the National Guard of the same state.Be mentally and physically fit.Be of good moral standing and character.Be a U.S. citizen.More items...

Will the Army pay for the LSAT?

You can use your GI Bill to pay for nationally approved tests such as: SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

How difficult is law school?

You need to put in the necessary work throughout the program if you want to succeed. In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.

Will the Marine Corps 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).

What benefits do veterans get after discharge?

Depending on their length of service, this can include retirement pay, GI bill benefits, medical and dental coverage, and home loan assistance.

What is dishonorable discharge?

It is another type of punitive discharge, meaning that it is the result of misconduct of the military member. Examples of crimes that warrant a dishonorable discharge include: Murder. Fraud.

Why was Bowe Bergdahl discharged?

Bowe Bergdahl received a dishonorable discharge for desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. Image: Wikipedia.org. A dishonorable discharge is considered the worst type of military discharge. It is the result of a serious crime, such as a felony, and is almost always awarded following military confinement.

Can you use a bad conduct discharge on a veteran?

Those receiving a bad conduct discharge are not able to use any veteran’s programs; this includes medical and dental benefits, VA housing programs, and the option to serve in the military in the future. A dishonorable discharge also comes with a loss of personal civilian rights, such as the right to own a firearm.

Can a letter of reprimand affect a discharge?

While a letter of reprimand, official counseling, or other minor infraction will rarely impact a service member’s career to the point of changing their discharge classification, it is still critical to strive for the exemplary record that merits an honorable discharge.

Do you get an honorable discharge after retiring from the military?

Following a career of faithful military service, the member is almost always given an honorable discharge.

Can you get GI Bill if you have bad conduct discharge?

Military members who receive a bad conduct discharge are ineligible for GI Bill benefits, VA housing programs, and are unable to join any branch of the military in the future. Most of the veteran’s benefits are forfeited with a bad conduct discharge.

What does it mean to be discharged with a general under honorable conditions?

A person discharged with a General, Under Honorable Conditions discharge will be seen by employers as having potential problems with discipline and conduct. Thus, most employers would look upon an individual with a General discharge less than favorably.

What is an honorable discharge?

An Honorable Discharge is the highest-level of discharge that a service member can obtain. It reflects a service member who has served with distinction. Those who receive an Honorable Discharge will receive all rights and benefits afforded to veterans. General, Under Honorable Conditions.

What is a DRB in the military?

You can apply to the Discharge Review Board (DRB) of your branch of the service for a discharge upgrade or a change in the discharge reason (that is, character of service). Each service branch has its own DRB, which is tasked with evaluating discharge upgrade requests.

How long does it take to get a discharge upgrade?

The discharge upgrade process is not quick. In fact, most discharge cases take between several months to 24 months to complete. Unfortunately, even if you hire a discharge upgrade lawyer, your case will still take this long to process. This is because all boards currently have significant backlogs.

What is the burden of a veteran to prove that an upgrade is warranted?

When requesting an upgrade, the burden is on the discharged veteran to prove that an upgrade is warranted. To get your discharge upgraded or your character of service changed , you will need to demonstrate that your discharge was either “improper” or “inequitable.”.

How long does it take to get veterans records?

Obtaining the records may take weeks, or even months in some cases. In practice, often a second request for records may be necessary if the service fails to provide complete records.

Can you upgrade to a general?

Even in those scenarios where it is only possible to upgrade you to a General (as opposed to an Honorable), however, it is important to keep in mind that there are many benefits that you can obtain with a General that you cannot otherwise receive with an OTH, as can be seen on the Benefits at Separation Chart.

Can a Civilian Sue the Military?

Service members cannot sue the military under the Federal Tort Claims Act while still in active duty, and in some cases, even after they become civilians. The exception is when the wrongful conduct occurred while they were currently in civilian or retired status.

Can a Veteran Sue the Military?

As mentioned before, active-duty military personnel are not permitted to sue the US Army, Navy (Marine Corps), Coast Guard, or Air Force in federal court. But what about veterans?

Military Lawsuit – Holley v. United States

An important case that demonstrates a legal claim against the military for wrongful discharge occurs in the case of Holley v. United States, 124 F.3d 1462, 1465. In this case, plaintiff John D. Holley, Jr., was issued a Letter of Reprimand in March of 1988 after two alleged incidents regarding positive illegal drug usage in the military.

Wrongfully Discharged from the Military? Contact The Devil Dog Defender Today

If you have more questions like “ Can you sue the military for wrongful discharge ?” or if you feel you have been wrongfully discharged from the military, it’s important that you seek qualified legal counsel right away. Obtain the services of an experienced military defense attorney like Aden Wilkie, the Devil Dog Defender.

Who Does the UCMJ Apply To?

In addition to outlining court-martial rules and procedures, the UCMJ defines military jurisdiction. Unlike most civilian jurisdictions, the UCMJ has no territorial boundaries. Instead, jurisdiction is predicated upon a person’s relationship to the military.

Why Does UCMJ Jurisdiction Matter?

Courts-martial and civilian courts have significant differences. After all, courts-martial are not subject to many of the basic protections outlined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. For example:

Recent Cases Involving Retired Service Members

While it wasn’t common practice in the past, more and more veterans are now being pulled back to active duty to face charges under the UCMJ. It’s as if there’s been a culture change among military prosecutors to expand jurisdiction.

Defend Yourself with Help from a Military Lawyer

If you are a retired service member who has been charged under the UCMJ, you need expert legal representation to defend your rights and freedoms. Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law, can assist you in obtaining a favorable outcome in your case.

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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