How to Join the U.S. Army JAG Corps

The US Army JAG (Judge Advocate General) Corps has been serving the legal needs of the military since it was established by George Washington in 1775. Whether in the United States or on foreign soil, every member of the military has access to the services provided by the JAG Corps. This includes criminal prosecution and legal assistance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Join the U.S. Army JAG Corps

1. Familiarize yourself with the purpose of the JAG Corps, which is to provide a wide scope of legal services to the military personnel and their families. Careers are available such as criminal law, civil litigation, medical law, international law, labor aaw and much more.
2. Have the skills needed to be considered as a member of the U.S. Army JAG Corps, which include proven leadership abilities. Competence in commanding control is essential to conducting the services provided by a JAG officer.
3. Obtain a degree in law from an approved ABA (American Bar Association) school. In addition, before you can join the JAG Corps in the U.S. Army, you must have been admitted to the bar of a state's highest court (including the District of Columbia) or a federal court.
4. Download the application documents from goarmy.com to apply for either full time active duty or part time reserve duty (see Resources below). Every question in this lengthy document must be answered precisely. All supplemental information (such as transcripts) must be provided before the application process can go forward.
5. Plan for an interview by an active duty JAG Corps officer. Following a review of the application, you will be contacted for further evaluation. Criteria for consideration to be admitted to the JAG program includes your character, scholastic record, leadership skills and work experience.
6. Expect your application to be reviewed by The Judge Advocate General to determine if you will be considered a viable candidate to join the JAG Corps.
7. Consider the fact that once you have been approved for active duty, you will be given the opportunity to review your assignment before making the three-year commitment to the US Army.

Tips & Warnings

• If you prefer to keep your current job and also have the experience of a JAG lawyer, consider joining the U.S. Army JAG Corps Reserves.
• There are few openings compared to the number of applicants. You must have the best qualifications in order to be considered for a U.S. Army JAG Corps position.