Expert: Douglas Dribben - 1/22/2001

Question
Could you reference a website, or other literature that can provide details on the JAG program?  Also, is there a 'judge advocate general' equivalent in the Airforce?

Currently, I attend law school, at night.  During the day, I work as a customized web-application developer.  Upon graduation from law school, I would like to, eventually, practice e-commerce intellectual property litigation and consultation.  

As preparation for a successful law career, I believe working with the JAG program would be extremely beneficial. However, I don't know any details of the program.  

Answer
Yes, there is a website for the JAG program.  The Army's website is:

http://www.jagcnet.army.mil/

All services have their own JAG Corps.  The Air Force's site is:

http://www.ja.hq.af.mil/

The JAG Corps has summer intern programs that are available to you if you have the time in the summer.  Since you are a full-time employee, you may not have that opportunity, but you should check out the JAG recruiters (of all services) at your law school's placement office.

Any JAG Corps is a great way to learn courtroom skills for litigation.  While our practice is generally confined to criminal law, if you excel at courtroom advocacy, you have a chance to be assigned to the Litigation Division, which works with the Justice Department representing the service in front of courts all over the US on many matters.  We also have an intellectual property division, but that is small, and usually open only after years of demonstrated ability.

But the JAG Corps requires only a three-year commitment, and during that first commitment, you will be in court as a first chair attorney in a federal felony case, as all court-martials are.  Also, you can travel, have the world to choose from for assignment locations, and will receive additional continuing legal education from the JAG School (you may ultimately get an LLM, as the school is fully ABA-accredited).  And, if you choose to stay beyond the three year commitment, we have a program to help you with school loans - $10k at essentially the end of the first 3 years, $25k essentially 2 years later, and another $25k at the 10 year mark.

Check out the websites, and see a JAG recruiter, either at your school or call the main office at:

http://www.jagusaf.hq.af.mil/ask4more.htm

for air force or

http://www.jagcnet.army.mil/JAGCNETInternet/Homepages/AC/JARONew.nsf/JARO-Main?O...

for army (watch the wrap).

Good luck.