We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Career

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Become a JAG Lawyer?

By Janis Bennett
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 9,511
Share

An attorney in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) of the United States military is referred to as a JAG lawyer. To become a JAG lawyer, a person must be enrolled in a branch of the U.S. military, complete law school and be a practicing attorney. There are JAG lawyers in the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy, so one of the first decisions to make if you want to become a JAG lawyer is to choose which military branch to join.

To become a JAG lawyer in the U.S. Army, you must first go to an accredited law school and be admitted to the bar of either the highest state court or a federal court. You also must be an officer in the Army and able to serve at least 20 years of active commissioned service prior to the age of 62, which means that you must be younger than 42 when you enter into active duty. You must then serve a four-year tour of duty and attend the three phases of the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course: the Fort Lee Phase, the Charlottesville Phase and the Direct Commissioned Officer Course.

If you are looking to become a JAG lawyer in the U.S. Navy, you must have completed law school, be admitted to the bar of either a federal court or the highest state court and be an officer in the Navy. Then, you must complete the two phases of selection, a professional recommendation and a Navy commission application. The professional recommendation phase includes meeting several eligibility requirements, completing an application, having an interview and going through a board review. The Navy commission phase includes completing an Application for Commission, passing a personnel security background check, providing all required documentation and completing a physical exam. Only about 20 percent of all candidates are selected to be a JAG lawyer in the U.S. Navy.

To become a JAG lawyer in the U.S. Air Force, you must be an officer in the Air Force, and you will be allowed to take leave to attend law school. After finishing law school, you can return to duty and apply to the JAG Corps by completing all of the requirements and application processes similar to those of the Army and Navy. Any officer wanting to become a JAG lawyer in the Coast Guard should apply with the Coast Guard before enrolling in law school and then following through with all of the necessary requirements and applications. The Marine Corps does not have a JAG Corps, but officers can become judge advocates.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/how-do-i-become-a-jag-lawyer.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.