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So as background I go to a school ranked in the mid 30s (although I've read school rank doesn't matter as much for JAG) , I'm mid pack of my class right now (rising 2L) and I'm debating about journal. So I've been offered a spot on one of my school's secondary journals but it was the one I put as my last ranked option. Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has insight on to the impact of journal on a JAG application? I would much rather spend more time focusing on getting my grades up or finding an externship for the Fall than work on this journal that I have absolutely zero interest in, but I don't want to put myself in a corner.

Idk how much this helps, but I was at a mid-t13 and was on a secondary journal (albeit the top journal in its subject area in the country). A classmate of mine got Navy Jag 3L year while on the journal. This classmate said having the journal was helpful in his/her interviews.

Anonymous User wrote:So as background I go to a school ranked in the mid 30s (although I've read school rank doesn't matter as much for JAG) , I'm mid pack of my class right now (rising 2L) and I'm debating about journal. So I've been offered a spot on one of my school's secondary journals but it was the one I put as my last ranked option. Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has insight on to the impact of journal on a JAG application? I would much rather spend more time focusing on getting my grades up or finding an externship for the Fall than work on this journal that I have absolutely zero interest in, but I don't want to put myself in a corner.

It might be better to post the JAG long forum to have better site on your post. But if you do journal, be sure to get a leadership position your 3L year. JAGs want to be sure you can be a leader, so journal is a good place to get that especially if it lacking elsewhere on your resume.

Anecdotally, my friend in JAG did not do any journal but was a student leader in our law school government. They did more experiential stuff like clinics, which I think is more helpful for JAG work.

If your issue with your journal is that it's not a "top secondary" I wouldn't worry about that FWIW. Non-academics don't know/care what the "top secondary journals" are. It's #1 law review, then everything else is the same