FUNDED LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Soldiers obtain a legal education at the Army's expense.

FUNDED LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) authorizes the yearly selection of 25 Active Duty Army officers and enlisted Soldiers to obtain a legal education at the Army's expense.

The Process

The FLEP application will be available online beginning July 1 and will close on October 1, annually. The selection board meets each November to consider applicants for the FLEP. When considering an applicant's file, the selection board members use the “whole-person” concept. Board members evaluate the undergraduate and graduate school transcripts, LSAT score, Soldier Talent Profile, Officer Evaluation Reports/ Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Reports, Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) interview letter, and the applicant's statement of motivation to attend law school. The selection board’s results are released no later than the first week in December. Selected individuals begin law school in the fall immediately following the selection board.

Tuition

Individuals selected for FLEP will normally attend a state-supported school where they qualify for in-state tuition or where military members are granted in-state tuition rates.

Service Obligation

FLEP participants incur a two-year Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) for each academic year (or part thereof) spent in law school under the program.

Assignment and Training

The Permanent Change of Station assignments are determined prior to law school graduation. After law school graduation, FLEP participants attend the Direct Commission Course and the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course.

FLEP MILPER message

The FLEP selection board is announced each year via MILPER message. The 2024 MILPER message is available HERE. The FLEP MILPER message contains general information about the application, but complete instructions will be available within the online application. Interested individuals must interview with the Staff Judge Advocate of their command within the application year. Interested individuals should have taken or be scheduled to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) at the time of application. Applications will not be considered by the board without a valid LSAT score.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Be a Regular Army Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant First Class, Staff Sergeant, or Sergeant in the Operations Division, Operations Support Division, Force Sustainment, Health Services, Special Operations, or Cyber Branch
  • Be a US citizen on the Active Duty List in the grade of O-1 to O-3 or E-5 to E-7 while applying and at the time of selection
  • Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Officers:  Have not less than 2 years nor more than 5 years of active duty, including prior warrant officer and enlisted service, as of the law school start date (those with more than 5 years and less than 6 years may request an exception to policy)
  • Enlisted: Have not less than 4 years nor more than 8 years of active duty, including prior enlisted service, as of the law school start date
  • Possess at least a secret security clearance
  • Not have an approved resignation or separation date
  • Eligibility requirements are statutory and cannot be waived
  • Eligibility is outlined in Army Regulation (AR) 27-1, Chapter 10
  • AR 621-1, paragraph 6-4b, Active Guard Reserve commissioned officers and noncommissioned officers are not eligible for this program