EEBTTF
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Not absolutely certain, but I think you get branched, commission and then have to apply for an educational delay. I think the JAG pathway is more direct thru OCS. Hopefully someone with more detailed info will be along shortly. Best of luck in your pursuits.
From the Army JAG website - see attached below re educational delays. This is for Active Duty Commissions. There is no guarantee you will be accepted into the JAG Corps upon graduation and I know of at least one ROTC grad who was commissioned, granted and ed delay - and ended up in the QM Corps after graduating from law school. Ed delays are not granted automatically (see the attached criteria). If you are not accepted into the JAG Corps, upon graduation from Law School, you may end up in the QM Corps or wherever the Army wants you. Good luck
Glen outlined one, which is the ed delay route. The rub with that is that law school is then on your dime. That may or may not be feasible for you. The other route, and the one I'd personally recommend given that your are currently in ROTC and in the future MAY have an interest in becoming a lawyer and serving in the JAG Corps, would be to commission as normal and do your line officer service. Then, after the 3-4 year mark, you will have the opportunity to apply for what's called the Funded Legal Education Program ("FLEP"). If accepted, you stay on active duty as an O-3 and the Army sends you to law school at Army expense on top of that. For those 3 years of law school you'll owe the Army 6 more years of active duty in the JAG Corps.
The rub with FLEP is that by the time you will have finished your law school commitment, you'll likely be around 13 years on active duty, and at that point it becomes hard -- I think -- to justify getting out; so in practical terms you might think of it, more or less, in terms of whether you are prepared to be a career officer. If so, then FLEP is definitely the way to try to go.
Finally, the other advantage to waiting on law school rather than immediately going for an ed delay is that, IMO, 3-4 years on active duty as a line officer will help you substantially in law school. You will be a much better law student than you likely would be coming straight from college.
The rub with FLEP is that by the time you will have finished your law school commitment, you'll likely be around 13 years on active duty, and at that point it becomes hard -- I think -- to justify getting out; so in practical terms you might think of it, more or less, in terms of whether you are prepared to be a career officer. If so, then FLEP is definitely the way to try to go.
Finally, the other advantage to waiting on law school rather than immediately going for an ed delay is that, IMO, 3-4 years on active duty as a line officer will help you substantially in law school. You will be a much better law student than you likely would be coming straight from college.
EDelahanty
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One path is to commission, serve in a non-JAG branch, and apply to law school while still on active duty. Law schools, including top-rated ones (one could even say especially top-rated ones), love to admit veterans who have demonstrated leadership and have strong academic records as undergraduates. Focus on getting the highest possible GPA to give yourself as many law school (and other graduate school) options as possible.
There is a helpful organization of military veterans who are law school graduates and who volunteer to advise military aspirants to law school.
If you are on an ROTC four year scholarship, you will not begin to rack up GI bill tuition credits until after four years of service. Keep in mind that LSAT scores are reportable for five testing years after the actual testing year.
There is a helpful organization of military veterans who are law school graduates and who volunteer to advise military aspirants to law school.
If you are on an ROTC four year scholarship, you will not begin to rack up GI bill tuition credits until after four years of service. Keep in mind that LSAT scores are reportable for five testing years after the actual testing year.
So, to frankd's post above, completing active service obligation first may be wisest if your funds are short and don't wish to incur more student loans. I did check the FLEP website page and that is certainly a route. I believe the site says only about 25 are chosen for this program each year - so you will need top grades and LSATS.
Although I decided not to enter the JAG Corps after law school, I made the decision to apply to Law School while on active duty. I was accepted at several schools that allowd me 2 years to defer my acceptance to complete my active duty. The GI Bill paid most of my tuition (a lot cheaper then!!), and the current GI benefits may be helpful if you qualify. When you are a senior in law school you can then apply for a direct appointment to the JAG - your prior service will be counted for retirement.
Although I decided not to enter the JAG Corps after law school, I made the decision to apply to Law School while on active duty. I was accepted at several schools that allowd me 2 years to defer my acceptance to complete my active duty. The GI Bill paid most of my tuition (a lot cheaper then!!), and the current GI benefits may be helpful if you qualify. When you are a senior in law school you can then apply for a direct appointment to the JAG - your prior service will be counted for retirement.
Thank you so much for your response! Did you end up returning to the military after getting your JD or going private? If you did not go back to the Army can you tell me about your experiences being a little older than most of your fellow graduates since you delayed law school until after you finished your contract.
No, after law school, completed my 8 year obligation in an active Reserve unit and entered government work at a DOE contractor, then private practice. First year law school is the hardest - and after 3 years out of college, took a bit to adjust. But definitely helped being a veteran in interviews for summer clerkships and first job. I would not trade the opportunity to serve active duty and grow as a leader for anything.