Officers may apply for the Armed Forces-funded legal education program before applying to civilian law school. Up to 25 officers are chosen from 80 who apply to receive up to $30,000 per year to complete law school. The funds may not be used for books, fees or exams. Like admission to law school, this opportunity is extremely competitive. An officer must have two to six years of experience, high LSAT scores and good performance evaluations to be eligible. The offer must agree to two years of active duty service for each year of law school paid for by the U. S. Armed Forces.
Judge Advocates in the Navy, Marines or Coast Guard enter as U.S. citizens with J.D. or LL.B degrees. They must be admitted to the bar of a federal court or a U.S. appellate court. Naval Justice School offers a 10-week basic law course for JAG officers. Judge advocates receive up to $65,000 repayment on student loans for law school, a tax-free housing allowance and a monthly basic allowance for groceries in addition to military pay. Some judge advocates prosecute and defend complex cases.
The U.S. Army Judge Advocate basic course for officers consists of three phases. Phase 1 at Fort Lee, Virginia, is a 12-day orientation for creation of personnel and financial records, purchasing uniforms, training in basic military life and physical fitness training. Phase 2 at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School on the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia, focuses on military criminal law, government contract and financial law, claims, legal assistance, administrative law and international law. Attorney client issues and use of computers are also covered.
Phase 3, the final six weeks of training, is at Fort Benning, Georgia. Phase 3, the Direct Commissioned Officer course, challenges new army officers physically and mentally. Physical fitness, marching, combat training, rifle firing and practical leadership in nuclear, biological and chemical operations, and use of night vision equipment challenge officers to overcome fear.
Navy Justice School trains paralegals, called legalmen. Legalmen have the knowledge, skills and training to support law offices in the U.S. Armed Forces and the knowledge of civilian substantive and procedural law to work under the supervision of an attorney in a civilian law office. Legalmen receive 10 semester hours of American Bar Association-approved credits in paralegal studies. They prepare and process legal documents.
The Naval Justice School also trains U.S. Navy and Marine Corp reserve officers in annual reserve training. Naval War College in New Port, Rhode Island provides extensive training for one semester in command leadership and naval submarine law.