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Lawyers and Judges

The military has its own system of laws and courts. Lawyers in the various services Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps administer activities within the military judicial system. They also perform legal research, prosecute and defend court cases, and are judges in military courts.

What They Do:

Lawyers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
Give legal advice about government real estate, commercial contracts, patents, and trademarks
Prepare pretrial advice for clients in court-martial cases
Act as prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, or judge in court cases
Prepare legal documents, such as wills and powers of attorney
Interpret laws, directives, regulations, and court decisions
Preside over court cases and make judgments based on the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Help train new military lawyers

Training Provided:

Job training consists of classroom instruction. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes: