BigLaw and USMC Reserves? Forum

[Anonymous User]

T6 c/o 2016 and already have my 2LSA lined up in DC.

I've been considering becoming an officer in the Marine Corps Reserve once I graduate law school. I almost did OCS instead of law school, but changed my mind at the last minute because I thought I'd never go to law school once I got in the Military. The process would take ~1 year, and then I'd have an 8-year commitment of 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. The actual amount of time I'd have to serve in a year could vary based on the military's needs, but will usually fall in line with that guideline. If it went well, I'd like to make a career of it and stay in the reserves (eventually moving to the judge advocate program) until retirement.

Would most (any) firms allow me to defer coming in full-time for the year it would take me to go through OCS, TBS, and MOS? I'm gonna try to get an exception to sit for the bar in February '16 to avoid having that hanging over my head, but its likely I wouldn't be able to take it until February '17. I'm not super concerned about bar passage since my State's bar is fairly easy.

Since reserve officers can choose where they serve, I could still have certainty of being placed in DC and being able to work at my 2LSA firm. Basically the only hangups are 1) If I'll actually be able to sit for the bar early (I know I still couldn't actually be barred until graduation) 2) If my firm will let me defer 3) If having to peace out for a minimum of 2 weeks a year and 25% of weekends will basically guarantee I'm pushed out the firm after a couple years.

If anyone has any insights into how a firm may view this, or are doing what I'm thinking of doing, I'd love some advice.

[Anonymous User]

T6 c/o 2016 and already have my 2LSA lined up in DC.

I've been considering becoming an officer in the Marine Corps Reserve once I graduate law school. I almost did OCS instead of law school, but changed my mind at the last minute because I thought I'd never go to law school once I got in the Military. The process would take ~1 year, and then I'd have an 8-year commitment of 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. The actual amount of time I'd have to serve in a year could vary based on the military's needs, but will usually fall in line with that guideline. If it went well, I'd like to make a career of it and stay in the reserves (eventually moving to the judge advocate program) until retirement.

Would most (any) firms allow me to defer coming in full-time for the year it would take me to go through OCS, TBS, and MOS? I'm gonna try to get an exception to sit for the bar in February '16 to avoid having that hanging over my head, but its likely I wouldn't be able to take it until February '17. I'm not super concerned about bar passage since my State's bar is fairly easy.

Since reserve officers can choose where they serve, I could still have certainty of being placed in DC and being able to work at my 2LSA firm. Basically the only hangups are 1) If I'll actually be able to sit for the bar early (I know I still couldn't actually be barred until graduation) 2) If my firm will let me defer 3) If having to peace out for a minimum of 2 weeks a year and 25% of weekends will basically guarantee I'm pushed out the firm after a couple years.

If anyone has any insights into how a firm may view this, or are doing what I'm thinking of doing, I'd love some advice.

No insights from the firm side of things other than to say that my firm would probably be willing to work with you. Seek out people in your firm with military experience for informal advice before talking to others.

Do not count on completing OCS ----> TBS ----> MOS in one year. Granted, it has been a really, really long time for me, but in my days it was not uncommon to have to wait up to a year between your commission and attending TBS. As a reserve-bound officer, you will not get priority when it comes time to get your spot at TBS. Bottle neck isn't as bad after TBS. Your best bet may be to accelerate graduation and see if you can squeeze in OCS and TBS before your scheduled firm start date.

If you're talking about doing OCC instead of PLC, disregard the above. Typically no wait between OCS and TBS for OCC graduates.

Consider pushing back graduation by a year and taking a year off from school? Might help with the bar exam timing. Also consider graduating early and going to OCC in January. Fewer applicants for winter classes, you'll go straight to TBS and you would only be asking your firm to defer you from roughly Oct.-Dec., which might be easier to swallow. They still may defer you through Feb. bar exam.

Some people will tell your summer is better for OCS, others swear by winter. Bottom line, Quantico sucks regardless of the season.

I assume you're thinking of doing a ground or air contract because you should already know that your scenario is completely off for a law contract.

[bkenney2]

2nd Lts that graduated law school this year (having already completed OCS) are waiting at least 18 months to start TBS and given nothing to do until then. The Corps doesn't have the money to train new officers as such selection has become extremely competitive even for reservists. Just a heads up.

[Anonymous User]

I assume you're thinking of doing a ground or air contract because you should already know that your scenario is completely off for a law contract.

I haven't gotten to talk to a recruiter yet, but when I researched that seemed to be the route even if I wanted to eventually be a judge advocate. Could you explain your understanding of it?

[Anonymous User]

I assume you're thinking of doing a ground or air contract because you should already know that your scenario is completely off for a law contract.

I haven't gotten to talk to a recruiter yet, but when I researched that seemed to be the route even if I wanted to eventually be a judge advocate. Could you explain your understanding of it?

It's been more than a decade since I went through the process, so things may be different now. Your two most likely options for OCS were the PLC program and the OCC program. Both get you commissioned, but each takes you down a different path. For example, as Kenny indicated above, graduating from PLC almost assures you of a 9-18 month dead period after law school graduation as you wait for a spot at TBS. The same was true for my PLC class. OCC grads in my day, OTOH, typically went straight to TBS.

Regardless of which program you do, you will go in on a ground, air or law contract. If your goal is to be a JA , you really need to go in on a law contract. If you do not go in on a law contract the odds of you becoming a JA are simply not very good. Not saying it can't be done but try to remember that the FLEP program is in place for non-JA line officers to transiton to JAs and you are already ineligible for FLEP. For you to transition from non-JA to JA would seem to depend on the OCS Programs and FLEP not supplying enough JAs. Possible but highly unlikely.

Since you're already a college grad, and you can't attend PLC during your remaining law school summer, PLC is not an option. This is a big disadvantage to you because it used to be that PLC would allow you to come in on law contract. You would commision upon graduation from undergrad (or if you were in law school, you would commision upon graduation from OCS) and then your service contract would be deferred until post LS (perhaps even post-licensing). For OCC, which seems like your best (only?) option, *I believe* it used to be that you had to be licensed to enter on a law contract. That obviously throws your whole timing off as you won't be able to attend OCS on a law contract until after you get bar results. Additionally, you will rarely get to work out attending OCS on a time frame that works for you. You could pass the bar tomorrow and end up waitng 12 months to attend OCS.

Some random things for you to think about:

1. If you go in on a ground or air contract, your thought process should be that you will not become a JA, and it will be a big bonus if you get to become a JA.

2. You asked for general advice and perhaps I've softened up in my old age, but I'm going to add the following. Final year of law school to OCS/TBS/MOS to first year of biglaw associate is going to be quite the shock to the system (especially if your plans involve IOC). Not saying you can't do it, but the last two years in that progression are transformational experiences. The transition from that year you spend in Quantico/MOS to biglaw would be really, really tough and very easy to fuck up. Not saying you can't pull this off, just think about it. You are talking about back to back years spent in a position where otherwise well-qualified people routinely wash out. Agwin, not meant as a discouragement, just understand what you are proposing.

3. Don't know anything about it, but does NROTC offer you any options?

4. If you had two summers to work with, this would be slightly easier to pull off on a law contract--1 summer in PLC and 1 summer as an SA, but then it could be a year to 18 months after graduation before you attend TBS. You could take the risk that you ask for a LOA from your firm after being there for a year (while waiting for TBS). If the firm says no, you quit, attend TBS/NJS and then attempt to get back into the big law game (also tough to pull off).

I m rambling while typing on a phone. Here are the realistic options I see for you to become a USMC JA (hopefully someone else can add more)

1. Graduate Dec 2015, take Feb 2016 bar, go OCC summer class 2016, ask you firm to defer you until Fall 2017.

2. Graduate Dec 2016, go PLC summer 2016, ask your firm to start Jan 1 2017, prepare to be deferred by your firm until fall 2017, run the risk that you have to ask for a LOA/quit to attend TBS first half of 2018. Try to get back in to biglaw in the final quarter of 2018 with 1 year experience and almost a year away from practice.

3. Graduate May 2016, start application process for OCC Jan 1 2017, attend OCS around summer of 2017. Ask for a LOA from your firm/quit, try to get back in to biglaw beginning Jan 1 2019 as an attorney with 1 year biglaw experience and 1 year away from practice.