LEP?

Sorry if this isnt in the right forum, but i figured this was the best place for it.

Im currently a junior in high school. I pretty much have two different career fields im incredibly interested in and want to pursue. Navy/Merchant Marine and Law. I am just curious how they pick the officers who get to go through the Law Education Program? I know its very selective. Is it recomended/required to major/minor in some sort of pre-law in college? I wish to attend the Merchant Marine Academy. I just want some input on this. Thanks.

Saul said:

Sorry if this isnt in the right forum, but i figured this was the best place for it.

Im currently a junior in high school. I pretty much have two different career fields im incredibly interested in and want to pursue. Navy/Merchant Marine and Law. I am just curious how they pick the officers who get to go through the Law Education Program? I know its very selective. Is it recomended/required to major/minor in some sort of pre-law in college? I wish to attend the Merchant Marine Academy. I just want some input on this. Thanks.

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If I am reading your post correctly, you are interested in attending USMMA and then taking a commission as an officer in the Navy. The majority of Navy lawyers come into the Navy after they complete law school as civilians, some with experience in practice, via the direct commission route. The Navy Law Education program allows a few officers each year to laterally transfer from their warfare community into the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. You could be any kind of major during service academy or college, but the LEP program takes a look at LSAT scores, recommendations, performance as a warfare officer of some kind, and the all-important "needs of the Navy." An example would be someone who became a naval officer via USNA, USMMA, NROTC or other Navy commissioning program, who then went on to serve a few years as a surface warfare officer, then applied for the highly competitive LEP. So...I don't think it's possible to attend USMMA and go into the Navy JAG Corps. But someone may know something different. Keep researching and ensure you understand the mission of USMMA and other service academies, the Navy JAG Corps and how it obtains its lawyers. Good luck in your journey.

Capt MJ said:

... The Navy Law Education program allows a few officers each year to laterally transfer from their warfare community into the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. You could be any kind of major during service academy or college, but the LEP program takes a look at LSAT scores, recommendations, performance as a warfare officer of some kind, and the all-important "needs of the Navy." ...

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I failed to mention the key part of LEP, where an officer who is approved to make the transfer is then allowed to attend a law school at which he or she has been accepted. In some cases the Navy pays for the law school, some not. The officer completes law school, passes the bar and comes back to duty as a JAG. The JAG Corps isn't that big a part of the Navy officer population, and LEP participants are a small part of that population.

There are also some officers who separate entirely from the Navy, obtain their law degree using their own funds or possibly the Montgomery GI Bill, and reapply to return to active duty as a JAG officer.