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LAW CROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
Judge Advocate General Corps [Adam Silver] For those attorneys looking to use their legal degree to serve their country, the Judge Advocate General Corps provides great opportunity.
If “lieutenant” suits you better than “associ-
The recent 60th anniversary of D-Day and
to go through the same rigorous training that
a Memorial Day in which many soldiers are
soldiers do; but there are some require-
ate,” the JAG Corps is for you. Working for
battling overseas were profound reminders
ments, such as instruction in military law at
the army will not offer nearly the same fi-
of the military’s importance to our society.
TJAGSA in Charlottesville, Virginia. Though
nancial reward as the private sector and will
However, combat is not the only way to aid
not mandatory, there is the opportunity for
also entail a commitment of several years
the army’s cause. While many men and
further legal studies. The JAG Corps offers
for those who want to be soldiers. However,
women continue to fight for freedom in Af-
continued education to those desiring LL.M.
there is no other place where such dramatic
ghanistan, Iraq and around the world, there
degrees.
experience can be had in matters of national security.
are a host of opportunities for young lawyers to serve their country by using their legal
Throughout the course of history, Judge
expertise. The Judge Advocate General (JAG)
Advocates have prosecuted some of the most
Corps is a unique and exciting possibility for
important international cases, none more
lawyers who, with all due respect to Martin
visible than the Nuremberg Trials of 1945-46.
Luther, want to prove that peace and justice
The JAG Corps aided United States Supreme
are equally important.
Court Justice Robert Jackson in the prosecu-
For those unfamiliar with the department,
Goering, Rudolph Hess and Albert Speer. The
or the CBS drama of the same name for that
proceedings, which was the legal response to
matter, the JAG Corps, founded by none
the atrocities of World War II, were per-
other than George Washington, is the oldest
haps the most visceral of the 20th Century.
established congregation of lawyers in the
However, they were but a small slice of the
U.S. Though many private firms possess
JAG Corps’ contributions. Over the years,
storied legacies, not one can trace its roots
Judge Advocates have had the responsibil-
back as far as 1775. The JAG Corps played
ity of bringing thousands of war criminals to
an important role in the founding of America,
justice.
tion of Nazi war criminals such as Hermann
and it continues to be a vital element of the country today. Military attorneys are the ones
While military justice may be the most visible
facing the responsibility of making sure that
branch of the firm, attorneys can explore
situations such as the prisoner mistreat-
almost every aspect of the legal world, from
ment at Abu Ghraib are dealt with and not
labor to environmental law. The diversity of
repeated.
the experience is compounded by the chance to be stationed around the globe and gain
In addition to its unrivaled history, the JAG
immediate first-hand knowledge of a court-
Corps remains one of the world’s largest
room. Judge Advocates generally have the
firms. The majority of Judge Advocates are
chance to earn meaningful experience more
enlisted soldiers. However, there are numer-
quickly than their private practice counter-
ous positions for civilians as well.
parts, so it is a situation befitting hungry attorneys that would like to eschew otherwise
Civilians entering the JAG Corps do not have
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necessary banalities.