How to Become a Marine Corps Lawyer

A Marine Corps lawyer is called a judge advocate and is assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General. Judge advocates represent the Marine Corps and its community. Representation includes transactional, maritime and criminal matters under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The job incorporates many of the same basic elements of civilian legal practice, such as legal research, writing, negotiating and trial practice.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Pursue a four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university as a full-time student. Successfully complete the first half of your freshman year to be eligible for the Platoon Leaders Class Program.

2. Become a commissioned officer through the Platoon Leaders Class Program. In this program, freshmen and sophomores attend Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia in two six-week summer sessions. Financial assistance is available after successful completion of your first summer of training. Juniors and seniors attend OCS in a ten-week session. Post graduates participate in the Officer Candidate Course, which is a ten-week session at Quantico.

3. Enroll in the PLC-Law Program once you have your four-year college degree. This program enables you to postpone active-duty service until after you complete law school and passed the bar exam.

4. Attend the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia and elect law as your Military Occupational Specialty. Assignments are received prior to completion of the school.

5. Take the Law School Admissions Test, which is a prerequisite for anyone applying to an accredited law school in the United States regardless of military or civilian status. As an officer and judge advocate candidate you must score at least 30 on a 50 point scale or at least 150 on a 180 point scale.

6. Enroll in the Funded Law Education Program once you are accepted into law school. This allows you to attend the law school of your choice with tuition and expenses paid by the Marine Corps. You also receive full pay and allowances during law school.

7. Graduate from law school and sit for the bar exam. Once you pass the bar, you are a Marine Corps judge advocate assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General.

Tips & Warnings

• To be a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps you must be between 20 and 30 years old at the time you receive your commission. It is possible to waive the age up to 35 years old.