Military Law Forum

[nickc321]

Does the military predominantly draw its JAG Corps members from a certain bank of law schools or is "becoming JAG" more up to the applicant? What I mean is must you be a top 25 law grad, top 50,..??..U. of Arkansas is #94 as ranked by TLS although I personally don't care anything about rankings.

Going to a better school will help just like having good grades will help. However, no one factor is going to get you in or keep you out. JAG takes people from all ranges of schools based on the "entire person" concept.

I will be on my 3rd application with the Air Force this August and had a chance to speak with one of the April selection board members about what they generally look for.

[Patrick Bateman]

Does the military predominantly draw its JAG Corps members from a certain bank of law schools or is "becoming JAG" more up to the applicant? What I mean is must you be a top 25 law grad, top 50,..??..U. of Arkansas is #94 as ranked by TLS.

My supervisor is a Harvard AB/JD. My SJA is T4. I went to a T25, the two other new guys I came in with were T2s. There truly is no set criteria or any discernible hiring pattern.

It is, very much, the whole person concept. In LSAT parlance, the usual resume perks of a high GPA, moot court, and the like are necessary, but not sufficient.

[wreckem]

Does the military predominantly draw its JAG Corps members from a certain bank of law schools or is "becoming JAG" more up to the applicant? What I mean is must you be a top 25 law grad, top 50,..??..U. of Arkansas is #94 as ranked by TLS.

Im not sure about the Navy or Air Force as they dont post their accession board results, but the Army does and they used to post where the candidates went to school. The bulk of new JAG officer for the army come from T2 and T3, with the rest split pretty evenly between T1 and T4. So the answer is no, they don't predominately select people from certain law schools.

Everyones "favorite" school Cooley is quite well represented atleast in the Army.

As are schools like Texas Tech, Widner, New England etc.

[J-Rod]

Does the military predominantly draw its JAG Corps members from a certain bank of law schools or is "becoming JAG" more up to the applicant? What I mean is must you be a top 25 law grad, top 50,..??..U. of Arkansas is #94 as ranked by TLS.

Im not sure about the Navy or Air Force as they dont post their accession board results, but the Army does and they used to post where the candidates went to school. The bulk of new JAG officer for the army come from T2 and T3, with the rest split pretty evenly between T1 and T4. So the answer is no, they don't predominately select people from certain law schools.

Everyones "favorite" school Cooley is quite well represented atleast in the Army.

As are schools like Texas Tech, Widner, New England etc.

this goes for the internship too . . . the other people interning where I am are from BC, Richmond, and Santa Clara, and W&M

[Veritas]

For the past couple days I have been thinking about JAG (after considering it a while ago) and I can't seem to shake the idea from my head. Usually these things are fleeting thoughts, but after researching and reading about it all I can't really see myself practicing law any other way.

This thread has been really informative, thanks!

[H.E. Pennypacker]

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[Patrick Bateman]

Well, commissioning can occur no later than 35, so there is a cap in that sense.

My office is totally mixed. We have one new JAG that just turned 26. We also have some older 0-3s that were either prior enlisted or officers in a different AFSC before going to law school. My JASOC class also followed that same general pattern. We had plenty of new JAGs that spent a few years doing ____ before entering law school.

I don't think you would be out of place at all. It will probably give you greater credibility with the Commanders and Shirts.

[wreckem]

I hope thats the case. I'll be graduating law school at the age of 31 or 32.

Also, the Navy and Army have their age requirements set at under 42..

[Esquire]

For those of you serving or with summer experience, what is the age range like in the JAG corps? Does it skew younger, meaning someone graduating at ~30 would be out of place relative to other career options?

I wouldn't be afraid to commission at 25 or 35. There's a large range of ages. I've encountered many here on base. I wouldn't think much of it at all.

[J-Rod]

Bateman, any updates on the AF offering money along the lines of the Army? I know that the CG, Navy, and Marines will not be.

[Patrick Bateman]

Bateman, any updates on the AF offering money along the lines of the Army? I know that the CG, Navy, and Marines will not be.

No updates, official or unofficial, for me to pass down. That said, my SJA has been out for the past month and he has been my primary source of information on this.

If I learn anything valuable that is approved for dissemination, I will post.

[J-Rod]

Also, if anyone is interested, I gathered some valuable information in having my personal statement for my Navy application reviewed by a CDR here, which I can post up later today. It was pretty useful, and I'm sure relevant, no matter what branch you would be applying to.

and thanks for the heads up PB

[therickster182]

Bateman, any updates on the AF offering money along the lines of the Army? I know that the CG, Navy, and Marines will not be.

No updates, official or unofficial, for me to pass down. That said, my SJA has been out for the past month and he has been my primary source of information on this.

If I learn anything valuable that is approved for dissemination, I will post.

Thanks Bateman. While I like the idea of AF or Navy JAG, any additional loan repayment would jump it to the top of my aspiration list.

[helfer snooterbagon]

Also, if anyone is interested, I gathered some valuable information in having my personal statement for my Navy application reviewed by a CMDR here, which I can post up later today. It was pretty useful, and I'm sure relevant, no matter what branch you would be applying to.

and thanks for the heads up PB

CDR

[J-Rod]

Bateman, any updates on the AF offering money along the lines of the Army? I know that the CG, Navy, and Marines will not be.

No updates, official or unofficial, for me to pass down. That said, my SJA has been out for the past month and he has been my primary source of information on this.

If I learn anything valuable that is approved for dissemination, I will post.

Thanks Bateman. While I like the idea of AF or Navy JAG, any additional loan repayment would jump it to the top of my aspiration list.

Right now with AF and Navy you just qualify for LRAP, and unless your school's is better than the government, I'd suggest using the government one . . . you don't have to repay it if you leave before 10 years I believe.

The army is offering a lot of money right now, but keep in mind it comes at stretegic times . . . the second $60k is for an additional 4 years, which means a second deployment, and the third batch of $60 is for the third 4 years, which includes the grad course, and another deployment, and by which point they'll be dangling O5 rank/pay in your face, and leading you right to the career path. If that's what you want, then it's a freakin awesome deal, but just a few things to consider

[J-Rod]

Also, if anyone is interested, I gathered some valuable information in having my personal statement for my Navy application reviewed by a CMDR here, which I can post up later today. It was pretty useful, and I'm sure relevant, no matter what branch you would be applying to.

and thanks for the heads up PB

CDR

thanks, I noticed that right after I posted it, edited for correctness

[Veritas]

Also, if anyone is interested, I gathered some valuable information in having my personal statement for my Navy application reviewed by a CDR here, which I can post up later today. It was pretty useful, and I'm sure relevant, no matter what branch you would be applying to.

and thanks for the heads up PB

I would love to hear your advice, while I am quite a way from applying, I would hate to miss out on some solid information.

[Veritas]

I know the Navy offers internship opportunities in San Diego, are there any other branches that offer them in this location? Also, I think I read here that the AF internship is paid. The Navy internship program is unpaid, what about the Army?

I feel quite certain that if I go JAG I will go Navy; however, I am willing to intern with any branch simply for the experience within a military office. (This is all based on the assumption that I am competitive enough for an internship - fingers crossed).

Also, say I intern 1L summer, apply after 1L and am accepted. What would I do 2L summer? Just get a summer gig like everyone else?

[wreckem]

I'm not sure if the Army program that gives $60k is any better than the LARP offered for public service.

IBR/LARP in my opinion will be a superior choice if you plan to be in for 10 years. Unless you have private loans.

With IBR you dont have to pay taxes on the amount forgiven. With the $60k you have to pay taxes on it. Again I feel the Army's program is only useful if you have private loans. I'm not suprised other branches aren't following the Army's path.

[J-Rod]

I'm not sure if the Army program that gives $60k is any better than the LARP offered for public service.

IBR/LARP in my opinion will be a superior choice if you plan to be in for 10 years. Unless you have private loans.

With IBR you dont have to pay taxes on the amount forgiven. With the $60k you have to pay taxes on it. Again I feel the Army's program is only useful if you have private loans. I'm not suprised other branches aren't following the Army's path.

they offer a way to take your private loans and consolidate them into a package that qualifies for the LRAP though

[Rotor]

I know the Navy offers internship opportunities in San Diego, are there any other branches that offer them in this location? Also, I think I read here that the AF internship is paid. The Navy internship program is unpaid, what about the Army?

I feel quite certain that if I go JAG I will go Navy; however, I am willing to intern with any branch simply for the experience within a military office. (This is all based on the assumption that I am competitive enough for an internship - fingers crossed).

Also, say I intern 1L summer, apply after 1L and am accepted. What would I do 2L summer? Just get a summer gig like everyone else?

I can't speak to the internships specifically, but Navy and USMC are pretty much the only game in town-- Navy moreso in the city, USMC in the northern stretches of the county at Camp Pendleton (though they do have MCRD and Miramar in town too). As a general rule, the more members of X service in an area, the more X JAGs there will be too, so you can at least guesstimate the opportunities that way.

No USA/USAF presence that I can think of.

[ArkansasFan]

Bateman, any updates on the AF offering money along the lines of the Army? I know that the CG, Navy, and Marines will not be.

Any reason why they won't be?

[ArkansasFan]

For those of you serving or with summer experience, what is the age range like in the JAG corps? Does it skew younger, meaning someone graduating at ~30 would be out of place relative to other career options?

I wouldn't be afraid to commission at 25 or 35. There's a large range of ages. I've encountered many here on base. I wouldn't think much of it at all.

The only thing I would worry about is age associated with rank. Just as an example, not having anything to do with law school or JAG, I'd hate being say a 30 year old second lieutenant/ensign.

[wreckem]

For those of you serving or with summer experience, what is the age range like in the JAG corps? Does it skew younger, meaning someone graduating at ~30 would be out of place relative to other career options?

I wouldn't be afraid to commission at 25 or 35. There's a large range of ages. I've encountered many here on base. I wouldn't think much of it at all.

The only thing I would worry about is age associated with rank. Just as an example, not having anything to do with law school or JAG, I'd hate being say a 30 year old second lieutenant/ensign.

Fortunately thats not really an issue. JAGs don't start at second lieutenant/ensign. They start out as 0-2 and are typically promoted to 0-3 6 months after active duty commissioning. Promotion to 0-3 typically happens shortly after graduation from basic legal school.

[wreckem]

I'm not sure if the Army program that gives $60k is any better than the LARP offered for public service.

IBR/LARP in my opinion will be a superior choice if you plan to be in for 10 years. Unless you have private loans.

With IBR you dont have to pay taxes on the amount forgiven. With the $60k you have to pay taxes on it. Again I feel the Army's program is only useful if you have private loans. I'm not suprised other branches aren't following the Army's path.

they offer a way to take your private loans and consolidate them into a package that qualifies for the LRAP though

The Federal Loan Forgiveness program requires loans be eligible for Direct Consolidation. You have to do a direct consolidation with the Dept. of Ed. Private loans do not qualify for that. They have to be govt. backed loans. To my knowledge there are no programs that allow you to convert private loans into govt. backed loans. You can add your private loans into the IBR payment calculations, but they are not forgiven.

Or it is possible you might be thinking about the part where traditionally you must have atleast one federal direct loan in order to do direct consolidation. That is wavied for the 10 year public service loan forgiveness program.