Academy Jag?

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Northstream

10-Year Member
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Sep 27, 2010
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Do any academy grads end up in the Jag ? It would seem a viable path after the eyes get weak, fit a law degree into the intervening years, then jump when needed.

I have been "told" Jag is a difficult position to retain personnel, most often filled from ROTC because few desire the job, why would that be? After flying, wouldn't most jobs pale in comparison?
 
The Academy insiders can fill you in better than I can about the current career path and timeline from cadet to JAG. It used to be: work two or three years in whatever non-rated career field you enter after leaving the Academy, and then compete for the funded legal education (FLEP) or excess leave (ELP) program. There are many applicants and few slots.

I can tell you that the JAG career field is incredibly competitive to get into these days. Not many JAGs are leaving either, again, partly because the job prospects on the outside are very thin. Every JAG I know (and I know quite a few) absolutely loves the work--especially JAGs who have had a taste of life in private practice, including the big firms. It only takes a few years in a big firm for many attorneys to realize that a JAG lifestyle has charms that big money in a sweat shop churning billable hours for the benefit of the partners doesn't have.
 
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Previous Career

Great info

Did most of the Jags you know have military careers before they competed for those few slots or did most come from ROTC or 90 day wonder school?
 
my uncle is a USNA grad and he is a JAG, but since he took off time (i think through ELP) he is one rank behind most of his classmates.
 
Northstream said:
Great info

Did most of the Jags you know have military careers before they competed for those few slots or did most come from ROTC or 90 day wonder school?
Click to expand...

Most JAGs I know were or are direct appointees straight from civilian life (law school or private practice). Few are from ROTC (with a three year delay to complete law school) and even fewer from the Academy or active duty via FLEP or ELP. The FLEP/ELP pipeline is very restricted--fewer than 15 slots are competed annually, I believe.

FLEP is a terrific way to go, if you can get it. You receive full pay and benefits to attend law school on what amounts to a full scholarship.
 
ROTC

we went to the college fair last fall and talked to AFROTC. we were told they offer post grad ROTC for lawyers , the only post grad Rotc available
 
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