If your main goal is to be an Air Force JAG and everything else is a backup, I would do what Patrick said and apply to the programs starting your 1L year. If you get accepted to either GLP or OYCP, I would use that as a reason to scale back on the extra-curricular activities your 2L and/or 3L years. Classes after your 1L year shouldn't take up a tremendous amount of time, especially if you already have a job lined up. But you have a lot of time for things beyond classes your last two years. Many people do law review, moot court/mock trial, and other extra-curriculars all at the same time during those years.Fluentlegalese wrote:Hi all! Talking to you as an undergraduate about to start her senior year. I’m in the process of applying to law school, and my dream is to be an Air Force JAG. This dream probably would have been easier to realize if I had done ROTC as an undergraduate, but I never really considered the military as an option for me. I’m assessing my options for JAG- from what I can tell, I have the options of doing
- the One-Year College Program (OYCP) which requires a one year AFROTC program and a six week field training course in summer before 3L
- The Graduate Law Program (GLP) which requires a two year AFROTC program and field training in summer before 2L or 3L
- Direct Appointment Program, which is the whole selection board process.
I could be wrong, but looking at the Air Force website, it looks as though a career as a JAG is guaranteed if one goes through the AFROTC route while the acceptance rate for Direct Appointment Program are quite low. However, I’m also hesitant about the ROTC programs. Most of the T-20 law schools where I’m looking don’t have an AFROTC program and rely on a distant crosstown program which, for the sake of time, I don’t want to have to do. I also read that the fitness requirements for the Direct Appointment Program are less intense (this could be wrong), and while I’m in good shape and meet the weight requirement, it would be nice to have an easier route. I also know that law school is extremely busy, and the prospect of doing ROTC simultaneously concerns me. I’d also like to be able to do internships during the summer, which I can’t do if I’m spending 6 weeks at field training during the summer.
I’m currently leaning most heavily towards OYCP but am still hesitant. Im trying to get an idea of my plan because it’s relevant to the places I’m applying for law school; for example, I’m taking into consideration distance to the crosstown AFROTC program and whatnot.
Would seriously appreciate any and all recommendations!
The GLP and OYCP application processes are extremely similar to the DAP process, so they would be extremely helpful in preparing for that. You can get feedback after each application cycle, and you would also get time speaking with current JAGs. You can also avoid the question, "You say you've always wanted to do this, but you missed the first 4 application cycles you could have participated in during law school. How come?"
) . My first job out of law school was in Big Law, and when I emailed a few of the partners I worked with to see if one or more might act as a reference, I was told that though they'd be happy to, firm policy prevents individual attorneys from writing reference letters. At first I thought they were just BS'ing and didn't want to write a letter or be a reference at all, but one of them mentioned that the policy was in the firm's handbook and a friend of mine who is still at the firm checked this for me. The handbook does indeed say that the only option is to get a reference from HR. 
