Scholarships available for officers interested in law careers
6/21/2010
by Ed Barker
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Active duty and full-time support officers interested in a challenging career change can apply for scholarships via the Law Education Program (LEP) announced June 10, in Naval Administrative message 198/10.

The program affords selected Department of the Navy officers the opportunity to earn Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degrees and to serve the Navy and Marine Corps as career members of the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps.

"The key to a successful future for the Navy's JAG Corps begins with our people," said Vice Adm. James Houck, Judge Advocate General of the Navy. "The Law Education Program allows the JAG Corps to select experienced naval officers to attend law school and become judge advocates. These officers bring valuable military knowledge and experience to our legal practice. As a graduate of LEP, I would recommend it to any officer who wants to pursue a career in law while continuing to serve in the Navy." A surface warfare officer early in his Navy career, Houck was selected for the LEP in 1982, graduating from the University of Michigan Law School in 1985.

"This is an excellent program for anyone who has the desire to go to law school and become a JAG," said Lt. Cmdr. Megan Smith, the JAG Corps accessions detailer at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tenn. "One of the things that make this program great is that the Navy completely funds the program, and the student remains on active duty and continues to draw a military paycheck while attending law school earning a professional degree. Once they've completed their degree, they'll get to serve in a challenging career field."

The Navy typically selects seven officers to attend law school each year. Candidates must be serving on active duty as a commissioned officer in pay grades O-1 to O-3 and have no more than six years of active duty service as of their law school class convening date. LEP students have up to 36 months to complete their degree program.

"I decided to apply to the LEP because I wanted to follow the footsteps of my father in practicing law, while at the same time, staying in the Navy," said Cmdr. Jason Baltimore, deputy special assistant for recruiting for the Navy office of the Judge Advocate General military personnel division. "My previous Navy experience as a supply officer definitely adds to my abilities as a JAG Corps officer. Since I was familiar with how the regular Navy fleet functions, I was comfortable handling issues and advising senior officers the appropriate course of action." Baltimore attended University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Law School from 1995-1998.

Upon graduation and admission to the practice of law, which in most jurisdictions includes passing the bar exam, Navy and Marine Corps officers will be designated as judge advocates. Upon completion of the Basic Lawyer Course at the Naval Justice School, they are certified as qualified and competent to perform duties as trial and defense counsel of general courts-martial. They will then be detailed to one of several large Naval Legal Service or Region Legal Service Offices where they will be exposed to the many legal areas found in today's Navy, including: criminal, international, administrative and tort law; legal assistance; maritime law and environmental law.

Eligible participants who desire to apply for the FY11 program must submit a letter request and application package via their commanding officer to: Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), Voluntary Education Detachment, Attn: Code N2A2LEP, 6490 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola, FL, 32509-5204 prior to Dec. 1, 2010. Letters must include the applicant's current work mailing and e-mail addresses and contact numbers.

In addition, all applicants must ensure official college transcripts from each school attended are forwarded to CPPD. Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores must be received prior to the FY-11 selection board convening in February 2011 but may be submitted by separate correspondence.

For specific guidance on the Law Education Program and application requirements, see SECNAVINST 1520.7F and NAVADMIN 198/10. Questions about the application process should be directed to Billie Colonna, Center for Personal and Professional Development, by phone at 850-452-1807 (DSN 922-1807) or by e-mail at billie.colonna@navy.mil. All other program questions should be directed to Lt. Cmdr. Megan Smith, Naval Personnel Command, at 901-874-4084 (DSN 882-4084) or by email at megan.k.smith@navy.mil.