Path way for law career/law degree in Military Service Academy?

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Jul 18, 2018
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What is the shortest path way to get a law degree and career in Military Service Academy? How to get there? Are there any resource for this specific field?
 
Perhaps @Capt MJ can elaborate, but she posted previously on the JAG questions thread:

Generally, most military JAGs come from what’s called a direct accession commissioning program. Candidates attend regular college and law school, then apply for JAG Corps, and attend some sort of commissioning school.
 
Honestly there is no short path to JAG or law degree from a SA. At USNA you will not be able to go from your undergrad to law school, then JAG. You would go from USNA to a commission in some community in the Navy or Marine Corps and some where around the 3-8 year mark of service apply for some of the law programs the service has. Once you complete law school you would then be a JAG and owe a certain amount of minimum time before you could be released from active duty to pursue a civilian career. I am not as familiar with USAFA or USMA, but I am guessing they are similar. As you can see there are a lot of things that are not in your control and these programs tend to be very competitive. Most JAGs attend law school on their own dime then become JAGs.
 
OP - if you google a search string such as “Army JAG officer career,” and swap out the service for each search, you’ll get answers from primary sources.

I am most familiar with the Navy. The majority of Navy JAGs I know went to civilian college and law school, then entered military service through a direct commissioning program. I also know a tiny handful of Navy JAGs who gained their commission via USNA, NROTC and OCS. They served in their warfare specialty the required number of years before applying for lateral transfer, excelling, gaining the endorsement of their chain of command to apply for the highly competitive Navy Law Education Program (LEP). I know 1 Navy JAG who served as a warfare officer, separated from active service, used their GI Bill veteran benefit to go to law school, then applied to return to AD as a JAG.

I believe the other services are roughly similar.

If you are thinking about a Service Academy, and have not already done so, read every page, drop down and link. The SA websites make it very clear what their missions are and what career paths are available. Ditto college ROTC.
 
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OP - if you google a search string such as “Army JAG officer career,” and swap out the service for each search, you’ll get answers from primary sources.

I am most familiar with the Navy. The majority of Navy JAGs I know went to civilian college and law school, then entered military service through a direct commissioning program. I also know a tiny handful of Navy JAGs who gained their commission via USNA, NROTC and OCS. They served in their warfare specialty the required number of years before applying for lateral transfer, excelling, gaining the endorsement of their chain of command to apply for the highly competitive Navy Law Education Program (LEP). I know 1 Navy JAG who served as a warfare officer, separated from active service, used their GI Bill veteran benefit to go to law school, then applied to return to AD as a JAG.

I believe the other services are roughly similar.

If you are thinking about a Service Academy, and have not already done so, read every page, drop down and link. The SA websites make it very clear what their missions are and what career paths are available. Ditto college ROTC.
To add to this info, I know LOTS of my classmates who went to law school - some are Active Duty retirees and more are Reserve retirees but what they all have in common is that none of them served as JAGs. I've had COs in the Reserves who were very successful civilian lawyers including one who was the Executive Director of the American Bar Association and they were all line officers.
 
Thank you for sharing.
I did some researches based on your info. The path should be:
1) Get 4 year Undergraduate Pre-Law Education
2) Pass LSAT
3) graduated from an ABA-accredited law school.
4) Pass State Bar
5) JAG corps requirements, they must also be able to serve 20 years of active commissioned service before reaching the age of 62. Applicants must be under the age of 42 at the time of entry into active duty service.

Am I correct? Are there any better path out there?
 
Thank you for sharing.
I did some researches based on your info. The path should be:
1) Get 4 year Undergraduate Pre-Law Education
2) Pass LSAT
3) graduated from an ABA-accredited law school.
4) Pass State Bar
5) JAG corps requirements, they must also be able to serve 20 years of active commissioned service before reaching the age of 62. Applicants must be under the age of 42 at the time of entry into active duty service.

Am I correct? Are there any better path out there?

Another option, though not the shortest, is go to USMA. Serve a couple years in whatever branch you get assessed into after graduation, apply for the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), and then go to law school that is paid for by the Army.
 
The goal is serving as an officer but student has a good mindset about law in comparing to any other interests.

Then why are you asking about the shortest path if the PRIMARY goal is serving as an officer?

Accomplish part one first, THEN begin part two.
 
West Point trains Army officers lead our troops and defend our country. They don't produce lawyers unless (a very small number) secure an educational delay to attend law school. It is NOT the most LIKELY way to become a lawyer through the military.
 
I saw West Point teaching law. I don’t know if they send Cadet out to study law during serving period or commission. I don’t know what other options they have in any other branches or so?

https://www.usma.edu/law/SitePages/Home.aspx
Read the description of the law department's objective. It clearly states that it isn't to train for students to become lawyers. Air Force has a similar major with much the same goals as the Army's program. An undergraduate degree in medical sciences doesn't equate to being a doctor. A Biology or Chemistry bachelors degree would work just as well. Same thing would apply to law or any other program. Don't read anything into the program just because it has the word law in the title. The service academies are there to train military and if necessary combat officers and leaders to that end. Nothing more, nothing less. The degree obtained may or may not contribute to that end. That's not their goal.
 
Read the description of the law department's objective. It clearly states that it isn't to train for students to become lawyers. Air Force has a similar major with much the same goals as the Army's program. An undergraduate degree in medical sciences doesn't equate to being a doctor. A Biology or Chemistry bachelors degree would work just as well. Same thing would apply to law or any other program. Don't read anything into the program just because it has the word law in the title. The service academies are there to train military and if necessary combat officers and leaders to that end. Nothing more, nothing less. The degree obtained may or may not contribute to that end. That's not their goal.

Student doesn’t need to be the lawyer for residents. He is looking for a degree/career within the military as the officer. Since the passion about law studies and related is more than in engineering. He is very sharp in leadership and law learning. He has been reading and memorizing about lot rules & regulations since he was 10 years old and wants to utilize that knowledge in the military.
 
Student doesn’t need to be the lawyer for residents. He is looking for a degree/career within the military as the officer. Since the passion about law studies and related is more than in engineering. He is very sharp in leadership and law learning. He has been reading and memorizing about lot rules & regulations since he was 10 years old and wants to utilize that knowledge in the military.

I'm just curious. Why are you, the parent, doing all this work on his behalf? This is his life. Why isn't he doing all the research? The military doesn't do well with parents who are overly involved in the application process.
 
I'm just curious. Why are you, the parent, doing all this work on his behalf? This is his life. Why isn't he doing all the research? The military doesn't do well with parents who are overly involved in the application process.

Well, this is the parent forum? [emoji6]

Well....yes, and you got me there! :confused:
 
Well, this is the parent forum? [emoji6]
Actually no it's not only a parent forum but rather a forum related to service academies and ROTC. Anyone can utilize it that has an interest. But with that said, the question about why your son or daughter as the case may be, isn't doing the research is a valid one.
 
Well....yes, and you got me there! :confused:

Also, smart kids don’t have time. They are either busy shooting online game or playing sports. Parents have a lot of free time while waiting for their practice/tournaments. They either explore all the possibilities for their kids or walk around the stadium to kill time.
 
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