The Judge Advocate Legal Services (JALS) Civilian Bar Dues Reimbursement (CBDR) program furthers the recruitment and retention of skilled and experienced civilian attorneys and enhances job performance of JALS civilian attorneys supporting Army missions and goals. In furtherance of the program’s purpose, TJAG recently has approved three significant policy changes beginning in FY24:

     1. Expanded Eligibility:  The eligibility of this program has been expanded in FY24 to include all JALS civilian attorneys, including those in Permanent, Temporary, Term, and Local National status. The JALS CBDR program now applies to all full-time appropriated fund civilian attorneys in occupation series 0905 or 1222 under the qualifying authority of the Army TJAG who remain in good standing within their legal licensing authority.  

    2.  No Pre-approval Request Required:  Beginning in FY24, TJAG has approved reimbursement of all mandatory attorney license fees for eligible civilian attorneys. While bar dues reimbursement is not an entitlement and remains a discretionary program subject to the availability of funds and annual TJAG approval, this change allows civilian attorneys to now pay their bar dues without requesting “pre-approval” for reimbursement. Bar dues reimbursement remains limited to one licensing fee in one attorney licensing jurisdiction where an attorney is currently licensed and is not approved for those JALS civilian attorneys who receive bar due reimbursements from another federal entity or where fees have been waived. The annual TJAG memorandum approving mandatory bar due reimbursement is available on the JAGCNET PPTO, Civilian, Licensing Fee Reimbursement Tab.  

     3. Full Mandatory Fee Reimbursement:  TJAG has eliminated the $350 reimbursement limit. Civilian attorneys may now claim full reimbursement for mandatory fees required to remain in good standing with their legal licensing jurisdiction. Mandatory fees do not include voluntary fees, convenience processing fees, section fees, CLE fees, voluntary pro bono donations or other fees that are not required to maintain good standing in the licensing jurisdiction.

Specific reimbursement filing guidance will be published soon on the JAGCNET PPTO, Civilian, Licensing Fee Reimbursement Tab. For any questions regarding the CBDR Program, please contact Mr. Corey Bradley at corey.l.bradley2.civ@army.mil.