I'm beginning my 3L year in law school (SMU) and am very interested in joining JAG after graduation. I have heard it is very competitive and am wondering if I have a realistic shot at a branch extending me an offer.

I would greatly appreciate it if any of you could offer candid insight into how the program works, how the branches differ, the nature of the application process, or any other helpful hints.

I applied for Army JAG 2 times and got rejected. The last time I was interviewed, the captain gave me some good tips.
-Experience was important
-grades were also important
-Experience can overcome grades
-Overall job market has made it more difficult to get into JAG
-They went from having two boards a year to one board a year.
-Look at dates. I think the deadline for the fall board is approaching. You'll have to get interviewed, submit application, letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.
-If you get accepted, your name will be posted online sometime next spring if you apply this fall.

I interviewed with Air Force but didn't apply. AF attorneys told me that the Aggie CoC was harder than their OCS. Was also competitive.

I interviewed with the Marines. You're a Marine first, attorney second. IIRC, he said I would go to OCS, then the Basic School, then naval justice school. The captain told me that I would not start off as a captain like in the other branches and that I would not get to do legal work until about my 3rd/4th year in.



[This message has been edited by HBCanine08 (edited 8/22/2014 4:08p).]

With the Navy you attend Officer Development School with doctors, nurses, healthcare administrators, etc., for 5 weeks to learn the basics of being a Naval officer. Since you're not a line officer, they don't really make you suffer like OCS does. It's a cake walk for anyone, and if you were in the Corps or have any prior service you can pretty much sleep through half of it and still do fine.

ODS is a joke. They get liberty the first week and show up already commissioned. It was pretty entertaining (sad) hearing the ODS students complain about how bad they thought it was.

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It was pretty entertaining (sad) hearing the ODS students complain about how bad they thought it was.

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You have no idea how much this would tick me off.

Do you think it would be worth my time to apply? If I do apply, should I apply to all three? (I wouldn't want to be a Marine. I have a desire to practice law; not lead tank battalions.)

If you don't mind me asking, when did you apply?



[This message has been edited by 12law (edited 8/23/2014 2:29p).]

Wouldn't hurt to apply. Just be sure it's something you really want to do and not because the private section job market is terrible. If you get accepted make sure you'll follow through. Have all your ducks in a row. Visit each jag site to get to the branch site which will have a checklist and application

I applied back in 11 and 12 I think.

The JAG School at UVA Charlottesville is a really nice place. That is a really nice campus and a nice part of Virginia (i.e. comfortably distant from I-95).

For the National Law School Class of '13, the Army JAG had over 800 applications.....

They took 100.

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I have a desire to practice law; not lead tank battalions.

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I assure you that you'd not lead anyone outside of other lawyers/clerks as a JAG in the USMC, let alone a tank battalion.
The path is as described earlier, but I'm pretty sure you'd get assigned to a legal unit (as a practicing lawyer) as soon as you complete Naval Justice School. It will likely resemble other firms baby lawyer work-research and appointed defense or prosecution for turd junior Marines. Either way it doesn't sound like the route you want to go, but I thought I'd clarify a few items.

With regard to the AF JAG Corps...

To apply, go to the AF Jag Recruiting website (http://www.airforce.com/jag/) and download an application package. You fill out the application, then schedule an interview with the Staff Judge Advocate at any Air Force Base. Following the interview, the SJA will forward your package and a recommendation/non-recommendation to the acessions office.

The selection boards meet three times a year, in April, October, and December. The current selection rate is about 6-8%.

If you're interested in a detailed comparison of the JAG Corps across the services, PM me. I've got a cheat-sheet I can send you.

http://www.military.com/military-report/af-judge-advocate-programs?ESRC=miltrep.nl

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Air Force officers interested in continuing to serve as a judge advocate are able to apply to the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) and the Excess Leave Program (ELP). Officers selected for FLEP have the opportunity to attend law school at the Air Force's expense while officers chosen for ELP are responsible for law school expenses. FLEP applicants must have between two and six years active-duty service, and ELP applicants must have between two and 10 years active-duty service. To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must have completed all application forms, applied to at least one ABA approved law school (acceptance is not required at the time of application for FLEP/ELP), and received their Law School Admissions Test results by Feb. 10 2015. In addition, applicants need to complete an interview with a staff judge advocate before March 1, 2015. Officers must also provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. For more information, visit the Air Force FELP page and the ELP page.

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Musicman, do you have a link to that? I'm curious to digest hard numbers.

That sure would be nice to have the Air Force pick up my tab, but too bad it won't apply to me since I am already in law school.

12law, there's no link. My statement is just from personal knowledge, as one of my kids was one of the 100 selected.

Congrats! I'll be doing my interview with the Army this Friday. Any tips?

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Congrats! I'll be doing my interview with the Army this Friday. Any tips?

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Treat like it any other legal interview, be ready to talk about leadership experiences, experiences about overcoming hardships (especially as a team), and be ready for other random questions. IIRC I was asked what I thought about Texas judges running for elections and how I would change the system. Second time I was asked another random question.

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I never heard anyone complain during ODS (other than what a complete waste of time it was). We knew it was a joke and got to see what the real deal was everyday when the OCSers came through.

All of the JAGs I've met are very intelligent and very charismatic speakers. It seems as though you need to be a bit of a superstar to get in.

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Admittedly the memory that stands out for that involved standing watch at the ODS building with a young LT going into the nursing corps. She was just blown away that they were only allowed to leave base once that weekend.

We had no liberty the first weekend - could only go to the NEX, commissary, and uniform store, and had to eat as a company in the galley. The second weekend we had on base liberty, then Newport, then Boston. We also had to be in uniform at all times, including off base liberty. Although we were allowed to be in PT gear while in King Hall. Alcohol also wasn't authorized until that last weekend, and the afternoon/night before graduation.

Some of the complaining I remember was about having to be in khakis to go to the NEX, or internet cafe, or anywhere off base. ... And then people complained about 15 minutes not being enough time to eat when they spent most of the 15 minutes talking instead of eating.

When I went I knew it would be pretty easy, but I got myself back into Corps fish mode ready for the first few days to be lots of yelling, running, being intense, etc. Then it turns out only the first 5 minutes were anything close to that. It was kind of a let down. I honestly wish it was more like OCS, at least for the first week or two.

[This message has been edited by bigtruckguy3500 (edited 8/29/2014 5:50p).]

Ok, folks. I've put in my applications and interviewed with both the Army (November board) and Air Force (December board). I am wondering if anyone knows about how many people applied this year and/or when the selection results will be released?

I saw where the applications for the Navy dropped significantly, and am wondering if the Army & Air Force saw similar drops in the number of applicants.

F em all!

Enlist Army 18X!!!!

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Ok, folks. I've put in my applications and interviewed with both the Army (November board) and Air Force (December board). I am wondering if anyone knows about how many people applied this year and/or when the selection results will be released?

I saw where the applications for the Navy dropped significantly, and am wondering if the Army & Air Force saw similar drops in the number of applicants.

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For the Army I think the results gets released online in the Spring. If you go the JAG website you can see the lists and I think the date they got released.