Attorney / Judge Advocate (JAG)

The Promise If you become a Judge Advocate (JAG) in the U.S. Air Force, you'll wield the most powerful force in the world: the rule of law. From advising commanders on disciplinary issues to training foreign attorneys, your dual professions as a lawyer and an officer allow you to help strengthen this fundamental tenet domestically and around the world.
You'll receive training and immediately engage in an exciting, diversified practice of law which includes criminal, international, operations, environmental, medical, labor, space and civil law to name a few, with complementary opportunities to hone one’s litigation skills. You'll focus on your profession without the distraction of rainmaking or billable hours. So you'll have time for more important things such as promoting justice, providing for the common defense and securing the blessings of liberty.

Quality of Life
The experience of practicing law in a military environment is markedly different from -- and we believe better than -- that afforded lawyers in the private sector. Beyond the career itself, Air Force officers enjoy a quality of life second to none. A calling in the Air Force ensures an extremely rewarding and stable career with benefits such as competitive salaries, food and housing allowances, full comprehensive medical and dental insurance, and thirty days of vacation with pay each year. The Air Force provides you and your family the option of retirement with full pension and benefits after only 20 years of service.

Continuing Education
Specialized training courses and continuing legal educational opportunities are abundant and provided at government expense. There are short courses for prosecutors, defense counsel, and military judges. Also, specialty courses are provided in such areas as medical law, labor law, environmental law, information and operations law, utility contract negotiation, and government contracts.

In addition, JAGs are competitively selected every year to return to law school for LL.Ms in specialties like government contracts (procurement), labor law, military justice (criminal law), air and space law, international law, computer/information technology law, health law, and environmental law. Upon completion of the program, judge advocates can expect an assignment to a position dealing primarily with their areas of expertise.



THIS IS AN ACTIVE DUTY POSITION IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

YOU MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN TO APPLY

YOU MUST BE LESS THAN 35 YEARS OF AGE

YOU MUST BE A GRADUATE OF AN ABA-ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOL AND BE ADMITTED TO THE HIGHEST COURT OF ANY STATE

YOU MUST BE WILLING TO TRAVEL AND RELOCATE


Want More Information?
For more details on becoming a Judge Advocate in the Air Force, contact Captain Eric Merriam, HQ USAF/JAX, Office of The Judge Advocate General, 1–800–JAG–USAF, or for more information on our programs and to download an application, visit