The 22nd Special Victims’ Counsel Certification Course (SVCCC) will be from 4-8 August 2025 at The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS) in Charlottesville, Virginia. Successful completion of the SVCCC is required to serve as a Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC). Core instruction provides students with lessons on military justice and policy overview while focusing on the roles, relationships, and professional responsibilities of SVCs when representing adult victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. This is not a SVC certification course to represent child victims. Special emphasis is placed upon substantive military law directly related to special victim crimes as well as instruction on behavior, services, and medical issues specific to special victim crimes. Guest lecturers and current/former SVCs offer practical insight into the SVC Program and representing victims. Instruction will also address roles of other stakeholders such as The Office of Special Trial Counsel and Trial Defense Service, SHARP professionals, Victim Advocates, Family Advocacy Program, and medical health professionals. Participation in practical scenario-driven exercises is a substantial portion of the course. Attendees for this course should be assigned or pending assignment as an SVC or SVC paralegal within the next 6 months.

This is not a SVC certification course to represent child victims.
   
Under 10 U.S.C. § 1044e, serving as an SVC requires TJAG certification. To be certified, all attendees, including Army Reserve and National Guard personnel, must be nominated by their Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) and are required to complete the course application available at https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/anjvFadQrg.  The application portal is now open and will close on 1 July 2025. ATRRS course enrollment will also close after 1 July 2025. All required documents must be included when completing the application. Templates for the required documents are provided below.  

Attendees for this course should be assigned or pending assignment as an SVC or SVC paralegal within the next 6 months.

Civilian SVCs are a crucial part of the SVC team. Civilian legal assistance attorneys are welcome to request attendance at the 22nd SVC Certification Course and to serve as a Civilian SVC. Please reach out directly with any questions to COL Evah McGinley at evah.k.mcginley.mil@army.mil, MAJ Benjamin Asare at Benjamin.a.asare.mil@army.mil,  and Ms. Melissa Halsey at melissa.j.halsey.civ@army.mil.    
   
All attendees, including Army Reserve and National Guard personnel, must complete the application using the provided templates and submit through the course application provided above. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please reach out to Mr. Chris Genrich at christopher.w.genrich.civ@army.mil , CW2 Timothy Ludwig at timothy.w.ludwig.mil@army.mil, and Mr. Richard Barnett at richard.r.barnett2.civ@army.mil. If you have any questions regarding the course, please reach out to the course manager, MAJ Melissa Eisenberg at melissa.a.eisenberg.mil@army.mil.
   
Attorney (JAs) nominations must include:  
1.  SJA Nomination;  
2.  Self-certification;  
3.  CATCH Training Certificate; and  
4.  STP / ORB.  
   
Paralegal nominations must include:  
1.  Self-certification;  
2.  STP / ERB; and  
3.  CATCH Training Certificate.  

Civilian Legal Assistance Attorneys nominations must include:  
1.  SJA Civilian SVC Endorsement;  
2.  Self-certification;  
3.  CATCH Training Certificate; and  
4.  Resume.