As a Judge Advocate, you will have immediate opportunities to use and hone your legal skills. You will work in a variety of fields doing impactful and purposeful work and continue to learn and grow as an attorney, leader, and person backed by a team of unparalleled professionals.
Judge Advocates provide legal advice to Army commanders and staff to ensure compliance with statutes, regulations, policies, and legal precedent governing the Army. This practice includes many specialized legal areas, including military personnel law, government information practices, administrative investigations, military installation management, regulatory law, intellectual property law, and government ethics.
Commanders and other leaders rely on Judge Advocates for advice about appropriate disciplinary actions of all kinds. In addition to advising commanders, Judge Advocates may serve as trial counsel, special trial counsel focusing on felony level crimes, and defense counsel before courts-martial. They may also serve as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and government or defense appellate counsel. More seasoned Judge Advocates may also serve as military judges at both trial and appellate levels.
Every piece of equipment that a Soldier needs to fight and defeat our adversaries – from the rifle, rucksack, body armor and boots they wear, to the vehicles and helicopters they ride, to the tanks and artillery systems they employ to win our nation’s wars – is supplied through a contract. Contract and Fiscal Law Judge Advocates play a key role in ensuring that the Army acquires the vital supplies and services that it needs for mission success. From serving as legal advisors to Army teams that are developing and procuring future high tech capabilities, to defending the Army’s contractual and intellectual property interests as first-chair trial attorneys engaged in high-stakes civil litigation, Contract and Fiscal Law Judge Advocates serve as the legal spearheads of the Army’s multi-billion-dollar acquisition enterprise.
National Security Law is the application of U.S., foreign, and international law to military operations and activities. Army Judge Advocates address issues concerning domestic and international authorities for the use of military force, the conduct of military operations across all domains, the oversight of intelligence operations, application of treaties and customary international law, and limitations when operating domestically.
Judge Advocates and civilian attorneys across the world serve as legal assistance attorneys to address the civil legal needs of individual clients, ranging from Soldiers, Family Members to Retirees. These professionals offer a wide range of services, from helping clients with estate planning needs to promote deployment readiness, counseling on consumer law matter to protect financial interests, advocating with respect to special education topics to ensure access to education rights, to assisting with military administrative topics to look out for Soldier’s due process rights, and more.
Judge Advocates represent the Army in all aspects of labor and employment issues. They daily advise commanders and supervisors within of the Army’s civilian workforce on all aspects of hiring, firing, discipline, recruitment, and retention of civilian employees. They also practice a wide array of labor relations issues, including advice on changes in conditions of employment; collective bargaining agreements; and the Fair Labor Standards Act. This vital work allows Judge Advocates to represent the Army before Federal Labor Relations Authority; the Merit Systems Protection Board; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and federal arbitrators.
Army Judge Advocates work with the Department of Justice to investigate and prepare cases affecting the Army for trial. Judge Advocates interview witnesses, conduct depositions, craft arguments, and draft pleas, motions, and briefs at the trial and appellate level. Army Judge Advocates negotiate settlements and argue cases before administrative judges and federal courts.
Judge Advocates investigate, adjudicate, and negotiate property, personal injury, and medical malpractice tort claims filed against the Army. Judge Advocates also assert and recover monetary damages from third-party tortfeasors who injure Army personnel and damage Army property.
Special Victims' Counsel (SVC) deliver exceptional legal representation and advice to victims of sex-related offenses and domestic violence. Their mission is to empower clients through professional competency and zealous advocacy to ensure their interests and rights are recognized and protected throughout all military criminal and administrative proceedings. SVCs represent clients during investigations, in court, in boards, and to the command. Their clients are military and civilian victims. SVCs make direct impact on the victim-clients by ensuring they are heard.
Environmental Law directly impacts the Army’s mission, including installation management, unit training, and the health and safety of its people. These impacts are especially relevant as the Army enhances resiliency in the face of climate change and demands for natural resources. Judge Advocates serving at the Environmental Law Division represent the Army in environmental litigation in federal and state court and provide compliance and policy advice to senior Army leaders. At the installations, Judge Advocates advise commanders on environmental compliance in support of mission readiness.
