How do you become a lawyer in the Air Force?

Asked by: Mathias Parker  |  Last update: September 20, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (46 votes)

QUALIFICATIONS
  1. Must be a citizen of the United States.
  2. Must be a graduate of an ABA-approved law school and be admitted to practice law in the highest court of any U.S. state, commonwealth, territory or the District of Columbia.
  3. Must be commissioned before the age of 40.

Can I go to law school while in the Air Force?

Under FLEP, commissioned officers and enlisted members on active duty may apply and be competitively selected to attend law school through the Air Force's funding.

What branch of the military is best for lawyers?

The JAG Corps is the legal branch of the military, concerned with military justice and military law.

How hard is it to get into JAG?

Depending on the service branch, the acceptance rate for JAG Corps applicants is typically between 4-7%. The Army, for instance, receives about 4000 applications every year and only accepts around 200.

Does the military pay for law school?

Will the JAG Corps pay for my law school? Yes, through the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), the Army covers the cost of law school for up to 25 active-duty Officers and non-commissioned Officers every year.

How to Become an Attorney in the Air Force | Air Force JAG Corps | Air Force Attorney

39 related questions found

How much do Air Force JAG lawyers make?

The salaries of Air Force Jags in the US range from $10,085 to $237,745 , with a median salary of $42,868 . The middle 57% of Air Force Jags makes between $42,868 and $107,389, with the top 86% making $237,745.

Does the Air Force have lawyers?

These highly trained attorneys handle a wide variety of legal issues including international law, operations law, environmental law and military and civilian personnel issues.

Do military lawyers see combat?

Yes, JAGs do get deployed to areas all over the world. JAGs serve as legal advisers to military commanders and have many responsibilities, including providing legal opinions on whether military actions comply with the laws of armed conflict to prosecuting or defending service members in courts martial.

Is being a JAG worth it?

By becoming a JAG, you are guaranteed a career that has rotating assignments by location and practice area, exposing you to the world and the law in ways you could have never imagined. It provides unrivaled practical and hands-on experience to springboard your career.

Will the Air Force pay my college debt?

The Air Force College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP) is available to any person enlisting with past student loan debt. It awards up to $10,000, made in yearly payments of 33.33 percent of the debt or up to $1,500 — whichever is higher. For more details, please see our Presentation.

How long is Air Force school JAG?

JASOC is a nine-week course at The Judge Advocate General's School, which is also located at Maxwell Air Force Base. JASOC teaches Air Force officers the basics of serving as a JAG and you will be trained on the various topics of military law.

Do you need to pass the bar to be a JAG?

To qualify for enlistment into the JAG Corps of any branch and practice law in the military, you must pass the bar exam. You may take the exam in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. While it is not required, you should strongly consider taking the bar exam in the same state you attended law school.

Can I become a lawyer while in the military?

It is possible to work in any military branches (The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard). What is this? As a military lawyer, you also have the option to become a JAG (Judge Advocate General) and practice law in the military court.

What benefits do you get after 4 years in the Air Force?

After you complete your initial four-year service obligation, you can qualify for a retention program that allows the service to pay you up to $60,000 if you stay with the Air Force. Sign up for another two years after your initial four-year commitment and you receive $20,000.

Can you become a lawyer in the Air Force Academy?

This program allows one Academy graduate (Legal Studies major or Mock Trial participant) one year to attend law school directly after commissioning, with a follow-on appointment and assignment as an Air Force Judge Advocate (JAG).

Is being a JAG stressful?

For some JAGs, this is an insanely stressful but incomparably rewarding experience. For others, it's just insanely stressful. Deployments can cause divorces, missed births of first-born children, missed NFL seasons, and just an overall miserable six months to a year of your life.

Does Air Force JAG get deployed?

JAG Corps Airmen perform most of their work at legal offices located at Air Force installations and deployed locations around the world.

How do I get into JAG?

In order to become a JAG officer, you'll need to meet the following requirements:
  1. Graduate from an ABA-approved law school (you may apply in your third year of law school)
  2. Be admitted to the bar and serve in the National Guard of the same state.
  3. Be mentally and physically fit.
  4. Be of good moral standing and character.

Do JAG officers go to bootcamp?

Military officers, including JAG lawyers, do not undertake the same bootcamp-style basic training as enlistees, but they must complete an officer basic course that teaches military protocols and includes physical fitness training.

Is Air Force JAG competitive?

The JAG application process is competitive, rigorous, and highly selective. We evaluate each candidate using the "whole person" concept, which means we look at academic performance, extracurricular activities, community service, prior military record, and work and leadership experience.

Does JAG pay law school loans?

The highly touted Air Force JAG Corps Student Loan Repayment Program pays eligible JAGs up to $65,000 toward student loan debt. Payments are made directly to a qualified lender over a three-year period, starting after completion of the first year of service as a JAG Officer.

Is being an attorney worth it?

The median annual salary for lawyers in 2016 was $118,160, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). * For some, the pay is just the cherry on top of a career that allows them to help enforce justice and use their influence to improve their community.

How long do you serve in Air Force?

SERVICE COMMITMENT

The initial active duty commitment is four years.