12 Jobs You Can Get in the Military With a Law Degree

Entering active-duty military service with a degree is one of the easiest paths to commissioned officer status. Service members must hold at least a bachelor's degree to begin Officer Candidate School, the focused officer training program of the U.S. military branches. Different degrees will prepare you for various roles, similar to civilian career paths.

Service members can opt to go to law school while on active duty. Law students can enter different military branches and use their degrees to practice law in a military-focused career. Service members with a Juris Doctor can complete the application process for multiple legal jobs throughout the military, but some opportunities may be specific to the branch.

Top Military Careers for Law Degree Holders

Civilians with a law degree have diverse career opportunities, and it's no different for military personnel. Military law jobs vary within the branches, but all main branches and the Coast Guard have positions for legal professionals to practice law.

The military legal field is subject to the guidelines established by the American Bar Association (ABA). Military lawyers must pass the bar exam before entering full-time military service.

1. Judge Advocate General Officer

The Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG Corps) provides legal advice and services within the military. Members of the JAG Corps study the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and provide legal services in court martials.

The Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps all have individual JAG Corps that provide legal assistance to other members of their branches.

2. Military Lawyer

Military lawyers are like JAG Officers, but they don't work for the Department of Defense, and they don't have to be active-duty service members. This is a career path that can be pursued by veterans as they leave active-duty service but who want to continue their legal career in military law.

3. Legal Advisor

Sometimes you don't need a lawyer, but you still need advice on legal issues. A legal advisor provides consultation on legal matters but doesn't serve the same role as an attorney. Military law is different from civilian criminal law, and having access to legal advisors with knowledge of the UCMJ is crucial for service members.

4. Contracting Specialist

Contract law is one of the largest legal practices for civilian and military lawyers alike. These specialists focus on writing, negotiating, and finalizing contracts between two or more parties. Additionally, these lawyers monitor for contract breaches and are usually responsible for any legal response to a violation.

5. Military Policy Analyst

A military policy analyst role can be in a military branch or an intelligence agency, such as the CIA. These analysts review the policies of different global military organizations and provide briefings to senior members of intelligence agencies or military branches.

This role isn't specifically a legal-based one, but students who focus on international law will have advantages when comparing these policies to international legal guidelines.

6. International Law Specialist

The branches of the U.S. military are truly global organizations with bases located around the world. International law specialists serve two main functions for their military branches: helping service members abide by the laws of the countries they are stationed in and helping interpret international guidelines.

Law enforcement varies from country to country, and members of the armed forces might need legal support and advice for legal codes they aren't familiar with.

7. Military Justice Administrator

The UCMJ guidelines apply to all of the individual branches of the military, and military justice administrators help ensure that these guidelines are followed properly. This is often done in a way to try to prevent the need for legal action.

8. Legal Researcher

Legal researchers are experts in studying and researching laws and precedent cases to help lawyers develop their cases. In civilian law firms, this role is often filled by paralegals, but military legal research usually requires more specialization. Military legal researchers will study past cases and laws specific to their branch to support Judge Advocates and military lawyers.

9. Family Law Attorney

Family lawyers within the military require different skill sets than their civilian counterparts. Cases of divorce, custody, and preparation of wills involving military personnel often include knowledge of benefits packages like military healthcare and the GI Bill, which can be used by qualified dependents.

10. Environmental Law Specialist

Environmental law has changed as the world becomes more conscious of humanity's impact on the planet. Even the military isn't immune to laws around clean water and air. Environmental law specialists can help their branch respect the environmental regulations of the U.S., individual countries where bases are located, and international laws.

11. Administrative Law Judge

Military-trained judges serve the role of civilian judges in military trials. These judges hear arguments and render verdicts on administrative law cases, such as contracts, oaths, and other civil law matters.

12. Civil Rights Advocate

Civil rights advocates focus on discrimination laws for factors such as age, race, and sexual orientation. Civil rights advocates stand up for service members who feel they've been discriminated against or treated unfairly based on their role in a protected class.

FAQs About Military Careers for Law Degree Holders

When people think of the military, they often don't think of lawyers, but many positions are available to military members with law degrees. These positions are less known than some other roles, so it's common for law degree holders to have questions about their roles in the military branches.

Can I Join the Military While in Law School?

You can join the military while in school with the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program. These programs allow students to receive funding for their schooling while working towards officer status. There are pathways for service members to become officers without ROTC programs, but they provide one of the more direct pathways to officer status.

What Rank are Lawyers in the Military?

Lawyers hold ranks differently in different branches. The Coast Guard and Marines don't have separate JAG corps and maintain whatever rank they earn. In the U.S. Army and Air Force, lawyers can receive non-legal command posts based on their rank, but this isn't done often. Lawyers in the Navy only hold legal positions and have a different ranking system than other officers or enlisted members.

Does the Military Pay for Law School?

The U.S. Army offers the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) to a limited number of enlisted service members yearly. Students must meet eligibility requirements including a qualifying Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score, holding a bachelor's degree before application, and submitting a current Soldier Talent Profile. This program is only for members of the U.S. Army.