Hello out there. I'm considering going to law school after my undergrad... but I am also open to joining the military. I've heard about JAG officers but I'm not sure which branches have these positions. Can someone enlighten me?
Hello! Yes, you can become a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in any branch of the U.S. military, and each has its own JAG Corps: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, as well as the newly established Space Force.As a JAG officer, you'll function as a legal counsel within your specific branch, handing a wide variety of legal matters such as military law, international law, environmental law, and more. The JAG Corps in each military branch has its own specific application and acceptance process, and it's quite competitive.
Most JAG programs require you to complete law school before applying (some even provide funding for law school). After being admitted to a state bar, you can then apply to the JAG Corps of choice, and if accepted, you'll go through a specific Military Law training course for your branch before you can begin your work as a JAG.I recommend reaching out to recruiters for each of the branches you're interested in to get the specifics and start charting your path forward. Good luck!
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