Join the US Military Judge Advocate General Corps | LawCrossing

Summary

The Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps is the oldest and most respected legal arm of the United States military. It is responsible for providing legal advice and support to all members of the U.S. armed forces and their families. Comprised of uniformed officers and civilian lawyers, the JAG Corps is part of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OTJAG) of the Department of Defense (DOD). The JAG Corps is tasked with providing legal guidance, advice, and expertise to military commands, performing criminal proceedings and trials, and researching, writing, and interpreting the law as needed.


The Judge Advocate General's Corps is comprised of the following four disciplines: Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS), the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA), the Administrative Law Division (ALD), and the International and Operational Law Division (IOLD). TJAGLCS is responsible for training Judge Advocates, Paralegals and other legal personnel, as well as providing legal education services to all branches of the U.S. military. The OSJA is responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to commanders and their staffs in order to ensure that they are in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations. The ALD provides advice and advocacy on various administrative matters, including those related to contracts, personnel, civil liberties, and environmental issues. Finally, the IOLD provides advice, research, and advocacy for the legal issues and challenges associated with U.S. military operations abroad, such as rules of engagement, the Law of Armed Conflict, interagency operations, and the protection of human rights.

To become a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, one must first obtain a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and then complete Officer Candidate School (OCS). Upon commissioning as a Judge Advocate, applicants must pass the Uniform Bar Exam and an adaptation course before they are allowed to enter the JAG program. Judge Advocates must also meet the established ethical standards of the JAG Corps. They must abide by the JAG Corps' Code of Conduct and maintain a high level of integrity and professionalism at all times.

The Judge Advocate General's Corps offers a wide range of career opportunities, including service as an attorney at law; a professor or instructor at the TJAGLCS; or working in the fields of international and operational law, administrative law, or criminal law. Members of the JAG Corps can also serve as legal counsels to the Secretary of Defense and to the Armed Services, as well as serve in the prosecutorial and appellate stages of criminal proceedings and trials. In addition, Judge Advocates may also serve in non-legal capacities, such as Information Operations, Civil Affairs, and the Civilian Advisory Commission (CAR).

The Judge Advocate General's Corps is a respected and esteemed legal arm of the United States military. By providing legal advice, guidance, and expertise to military commands, performing criminal proceedings and trials, researching, interpreting, and writing the law, and providing legal education services to all branches of the U.S. military, the JAG Corps plays a vital role in the protection and preservation of justice for U.S. service members and their families. To become a part of the JAG Corps, applicants must first obtain a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and then complete Officer Candidate School (OCS). Upon commissioning as a Judge Advocate, applicants must pass the Uniform Bar Exam and an adaptation course before they are allowed to enter the JAG program. Members of the JAG Corps can then go on to pursue a range of career opportunities, from serving as an attorney at law to working in numerous legal and non-legal fields.
 

The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps

The Judge Advocate General's Corps, commonly referred to as the JAG Corps, is one of the oldest legal organizations in the United States Army. Established in 1808 as the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Department, it is the principal legal arm of the U.S. Army and is dedicated to providing independent, unbiased legal advice and representation to the Secretary of the Army, Army staff and commanders, and their various subordinates.
 

The Mission of the Judge Advocate General Corps

Today, the mission of the Judge Advocate General's Corps is to serve as the Army's legal counselors, advisors, and litigators. Additionally, the JAG Corps provides advice and representation on a wide range of legal matters, including international law, criminal law, national security law, administrative law, environmental law, contract law, and military justice.
 

Training for the JAG Corps

To qualify for service in the JAG Corps, an applicant must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and be licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory. In addition, applicants must also be commissioned officers in the United States Army, either as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve or as an officer on active duty.
 

Career Opportunities with the JAG Corps

The Judge Advocate General's Corps offers a wide range of career opportunities. JAG officers may serve as prosecutors, defense attorneys, legal advisors, or in administrative roles. Additionally, the JAG Corps conducts judicial proceedings, including trials, administrative hearings, and other court-martial proceedings. The recent 60th anniversary of D-Day and a Memorial Day in which many soldiers are battling overseas were profound reminders of the military's importance to our society. However, combat is not the only way to aid the army's cause. While many men and women continue to fight for freedom in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world, there are a host of opportunities for young lawyers to serve their country by using their legal expertise. The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps is a unique and exciting possibility for lawyers who, with all due respect to Martin Luther, want to prove that peace and justice are equally important.

For those unfamiliar with the department, or the CBS drama of the same name for that matter, the JAG Corps, founded by none other than George Washington, is the oldest established congregation of lawyers in the U.S. Though many private firms possess storied legacies, not one can trace its roots back as far as 1775. The JAG Corps played an important role in the founding of America, and it continues to be a vital element of the country today. Military attorneys are the ones facing the responsibility of making sure that situations such as the prisoner mistreatment at Abu Ghraib are dealt with and not repeated.

In addition to its unrivaled history, the JAG Corps remains one of the world's largest firms. The majority of Judge Advocates are enlisted soldiers. However, there are numerous positions for civilians as well.

Civilians entering the JAG Corps do not have to go through the same rigorous training that soldiers do; but there are some requirements, such as instruction in military law at TJAGSA in Charlottesville, Virginia. Though not mandatory, there is the opportunity for further legal studies. The JAG Corps offers continued education to those desiring LL.M. degrees.

Throughout the course of history, Judge Advocates have prosecuted some of the most important international cases, none more visible than the Nuremberg Trials of 1945-46. The JAG Corps aided United States Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson in the prosecution of Nazi war criminals such as Hermann Goering, Rudolph Hess and Albert Speer. The proceedings, which was the legal response to the atrocities of World War II, were perhaps the most visceral of the 20th Century. However, they were but a small slice of the JAG Corps' contributions. Over the years, Judge Advocates have had the responsibility of bringing thousands of war criminals to justice.

While military justice may be the most visible branch of the firm, attorneys can explore almost every aspect of the legal world, from labor to environmental law. The diversity of the experience is compounded by the chance to be stationed around the globe and gain immediate first-hand knowledge of a courtroom. Judge Advocates generally have the chance to earn meaningful experience more quickly than their private practice counterparts, so it is a situation befitting hungry attorneys that would like to eschew otherwise necessary banalities.

If "lieutenant" suits you better than "associate," the JAG Corps is for you. Working for the army will not offer nearly the same financial reward as the private sector and will also entail a commitment of several years for those who want to be soldiers. However, there is no other place where such dramatic experience can be had in matters of national security.