Army lawyers, who serve as commissioned officers in the army’s Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, are members of the country’s oldest law firm. The competition to join this exclusive group is fierce. Only a few young men and women who have completed their academic legal training and passed the bar exam, as well as basic military training and officer training, are eligible to apply. The Army JAG Corps, like the legal branches of the other services, is extremely selective, accepting less than a quarter of all applicants. As a result, becoming an Army lawyer is far more difficult than joining most civilian law firms.
The majority of those interested in becoming Army lawyers apply to Army JAG during their final year of law school, just like any other civilian law firm. However, some applicants have prior civilian legal experience, and a select few have graduated from one of the service academies and been approved for graduate law school training; for example, a West Point graduate can work as an army lawyer.
After being accepted into the JAG Corps, candidates must complete basic military training, officer training, and a 12-week course in military law at the Army’s accredited law school in Virginia, with a strong emphasis on the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) &emdash; the code of law that governs all aspects of the US military.
Military pay is rarely a motivator to pursue a career as an Army lawyer. When top-tier civilian law firms hire top-tier law school graduates, they can usually expect high starting annual salaries. However, in the military, pay is determined by rank, and a brand-new Army lawyer is given a captain’s commission. JAG captains could earn about a third to half of what they could in a private firm with allowances. They can, however, expect promotions in rank and pay raises, as well as a slew of other benefits that come with a military career.
JAG lawyers also have the opportunity to serve their country by taking part in important cases. While many civilian lawyers begin their careers doing research and assisting senior lawyers, Army lawyers typically begin their careers providing practical legal assistance to service members and their families, as well as serving as prosecutors or defense counsel in courts-martial. Their knowledge of military law, as well as a variety of civilian legal issues, is constantly called upon in these positions. JAG lawyers also provide legal advice to commanders at all levels on a variety of military, civilian, and international legal issues, such as rules of engagement and operational issues. Combat commanders in the field will consult with JAG lawyers frequently as they plan operations in accordance with armed conflict laws.