
DEFEND YOUR COUNTRY IN THE COURTROOM

The JAG application process is competitive, rigorous and highly selective. We evaluate each candidate using the "whole person" concept, which means we look at academic performance, extracurricular activities, community service, prior military record (if any) as well as work and leadership experience. We also conduct interviews with every candidate to discuss your potential in person.
THE DIRECT APPOINTMENT PROGRAM
You have a degree (or you will soon), and you’re ready to put your knowledge to work. As a JAG, you’ll have a fulfilling career from day one, with opportunities to practice law in various areas while working with a team of people who want you to succeed.
QUALIFICATIONS
If you have completed your second year of law school or have completed two-thirds of your degree requirements, you may apply for a direct appointment as a JAG.
Applicant requirements
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Must be on track to graduate from, or a recent graduate of, an ABA-approved law school Juris Doctor program
- Must be commissioned before the age of 40
- If selected, you must complete and pass an Air Force medical examination and obtain admission to practice in the highest court of any U.S. state, commonwealth, territory or the District of Columbia before an offer of assignment will be extended to you.
SERVICE COMMITMENT
PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE
HOW TO APPLY
Selection boards are held in February, April, August and November. Applications are accepted through our online application processing system. You must submit all application materials online on or before the 10th of the month (i.e., January 10, March 10, July 10 and October 10) prior to the board. In addition to your online application, you must also schedule a hiring interview with a Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) at any Air Force Base (AFB) through the online application processing system. A SJA will contact you to schedule an interview AFTER you submit your application materials online. The interview must be completed on or before the first of the month (i.e., February 1, April 1, August 1, November 1) of the board.
After the interview, the SJA will prepare a report that is forwarded, along with your application materials, to HQ USAF/JAX. Please do not mail application materials directly to HQ USAF/JAX. If you need to add materials to your application after submission, contact the SJA who conducted your interview to assist you. Additional materials will not be accepted after the first of the month that the board meets.
Schedule Your SJA Interview
Recommendation Letters
BEGIN ONLINE APPLICATION
THE GRADUATE LAW PROGRAM
If you know a JAG career is right for you, this is how you make sure you’re on track to get the job. The Graduate Law Program (GLP) guarantees you a position as a JAG upon successful completion of a two-year AFROTC program, law school and legal licensing requirements.
QUALIFICATIONS
If you are a law student in your first year of law school, you are eligible to apply.
Applicant requirements
- Must be attending an ABA-approved law school that either offers an AFROTC program (a “host” school) or allows you to take AFROTC courses at a nearby school (a “crosstown” school). A list of host and crosstown schools can be found here.
- Be in good academic standing
- Meet AFROTC entry standards, such as U.S. citizenship, Air Force Officer Qualification Test minimum scores and AFROTC weight and medical standards
- Must be under age 40 at the time of commissioning
TRAINING
COMMISSIONING AND SERVICE COMMITMENT
HOW TO APPLY
A selection board is held in February of each year. Applications are accepted through our online application processing system. You must submit all application materials online on or before the 10th of the month (i.e., January 10) prior to the board meeting. In addition to your online application, you must schedule a hiring interview with a Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) at any Air Force Base (AFB) through the online application processing system. A SJA will contact you to schedule an interview AFTER you submit your materials online. The interview must be completed on or before the first of the month (i.e., February 1) that the board meets.
After the interview, the SJA will prepare a report that is forwarded, along with your application materials, to HQ USAF/JAX. Please do not mail application materials directly to HQ USAF/JAX. If you need to add materials to your application after submission, contact the SJA who conducted your interview to assist you. Additional materials will not be accepted after the first of the month that the board meets.
As part of this program, you must interview with your local AFROTC detachment (where you plan to receive training) during the first semester of the first year of law school. You must ensure your preferred detachment is willing to enroll you as a cadet if the Judge Advocate General selects you for the Graduate Law Program. In your application, you must upload a letter from AFROTC detachment indicating that you’ve met with the detachment personnel in preparation for applying to the JAG board.
Schedule Your SJA Interview
Recommendation Letters
THE ONE-YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAM
Become a JAG right after graduation, guaranteed. The One-Year College Program (OYCP) assures you a position as a JAG upon successful completion of a one-year AFROTC program, law school and legal licensing requirements. You’ll secure your future in a rewarding career that many graduating law students and new attorneys will be competing to enter.
QUALIFICATIONS
If you are a law student in your second year of law school, you are eligible to apply.
Applicant requirements
- Must be attending an ABA-approved law school that either offers an AFROTC program (a “host” school) or allows you to take AFROTC courses at a nearby school (a “crosstown” school). A list of host and crosstown schools can be found here.
- Be in good academic standing
- Meet AFROTC entry standards, such as U.S. citizenship, Air Force Officer Qualification Test minimum scores and AFROTC weight and medical standards
- Must be under age 40 at the time of commissioning
TRAINING
COMMISSIONING AND SERVICE COMMITMENT
HOW TO APPLY
A selection board is held in February of each year. Applications are accepted through our online application processing system. You must submit all application materials online on or before the 10th of the month (i.e., January 10) prior to the board meeting. In addition, you must schedule a hiring interview with a Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) at any Air Force Base (AFB) through the online application processing system. A SJA will contact you to schedule an interview AFTER you submit your application materials online. The interview must be completed on or before the first of the month (i.e., February 1) of the board meeting.
After the interview, the SJA will prepare a report that is forwarded, along with your application materials, to HQ USAF/JAX. Please do not mail application materials directly to HQ USAF/JAX. If you need to add materials to your application after submission, contact the SJA who conducted your interview to assist you. Additional materials will not be accepted after the first of the month that the board meets.
As part of this program, you must interview with your local AFROTC detachment (where the applicant plans to receive training) during the first semester of the second year of law school. You must ensure your preferred detachment is willing to enroll you as a cadet if the Judge Advocate General selects you for the Graduate Law Program. In your application, you must upload a letter from AFROTC detachment indicating that you’ve met with the detachment personnel in preparation for applying to the JAG board.
Schedule Your SJA Interview
Recommendation Letters
EXTERNSHIPS-YEAR-ROUND (UNPAID)
Gain hands-on experience in diverse areas of legal practice while learning more about the Air Force and the JAG Corps. You must be a U.S. citizen and enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school to apply.
QUALIFICATIONS
Externs for the United States Air Force JAG Corps work in either a base legal office or in the national capital region.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
As an extern, you will work under attorney supervision in numerous practice areas of the JAG Corps, including:
- Preparing criminal and civil cases by conducting legal research, writing briefs and opinions, conducting investigations and interviewing witnesses
- Assisting attorneys who counsel and represent Airmen, Guardians, their family members and retirees in personal legal matters in areas such as family law, estate planning, landlord-tenant law, tax, bankruptcy, immigration and naturalization law and military administrative law
- Supporting attorneys in other areas, such as federal tort claims, government procurement law, employment law, international law, environmental law, air and space law, cyber law and operational law
REQUIREMENTS
- U.S. Citizen (birth or naturalization)
- 1L or 2L at an ABA-approved law school (at the time of application)
- Must have approval from your law school to extern with the USAF JAG Corps
- Serve 8–10 weeks if externing during the summer, 14-16 weeks if externing during the fall or spring semesters
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION EXTERNSHIPS
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS
- Externships are unpaid positions.
- Externs will be assigned to a base legal office or office in the national capital region.
- Externs must pay for their travel to and from the job location and be able to secure housing. No housing allowance will be provided.
- Candidates must undergo a background investigation to determine suitability for employment.
- Selection for this position is contingent upon proof of U.S. citizenship.
- We will not accept late submissions.
- If you have any questions, please call 1-800-JAG-USAF or email airforcejagrecruiting@gmail.com
HOW TO APPLY
The JAG Corps has fall, spring and summer externship opportunities at Air Force bases across the country. Externships are unpaid positions, but students may receive school credit. Generally the spring externship applications are accepted from 1-15 September, summer 2L externship applications are accepted from 15-30 September, summer 1L externship applications are accepted from 15-31 January, and fall externship applications are accepted from 1-15 June. However, all externship application windows and instructions are announced on our various social media pages. We also notify all law school Career Service Offices, and you can contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or at airforcejagrecruiting@gmail.com for more information. We do not accept mailed or faxed applications. All externs must pay for their own travel and secure their own housing.
- A memorandum describing your availability. The memorandum must include a privacy act waiver that states, “I agree to the use of my Privacy Act Information in the USAF externship application process. I understand those transmitting personal information will exercise caution and adequately safeguard it in accordance with applicable Air Force instructions.”
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
In order to apply, please follow the application instruct ions for the applicable selection board, which can be found on Facebook, with your CSO or by contacting us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or at airforcejagrecruiting@gmail.com. Typically, the following documentation is required:
- A résumé (one page) A memorandum describing your availability. The memorandum must include a privacy act waiver that states, “I agree to the use of my Privacy Act Information in the USAF externship application process. I understand those transmitting personal information will exercise caution and adequately safeguard it in accordance with applicable Air Force instructions.”
- Legible copies of undergraduate and law school transcripts
- A personal statement (limited to one page, double-spaced, one-inch margins, 11-point font)
- A writing sample (five pages or fewer)
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities memorandum (limited to one page, double-spaced, one-inch margins, 11-point font)
- A full-length photo (head to toe in professional attire)
INTERNSHIP–SUMMER (PAID)
Gain hands-on experience in diverse areas of legal practice while learning more about the Air Force and the JAG Corps. You must be a U.S. citizen and enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school to apply.
QUALIFICATIONS
Interns for the United States Air Force JAG Corps work in either a base legal office or in the national capital region.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
As an intern, you will work under attorney supervision in numerous practice areas of the JAG Corps, including:
- Preparing criminal and civil cases by conducting legal research, writing briefs and opinions, conducting investigations and interviewing witnesses
- Assisting attorneys who counsel and represent Airmen, Guardians, their family members and retirees in personal legal matters in areas such as family law, estate planning, landlord-tenant law, tax, bankruptcy, immigration and naturalization law and military administrative law
- Supporting attorneys in other areas, such as federal tort claims, government procurement law, employment law, international law, environmental law, air and space law, cyber law and operational law
REQUIREMENTS
- U.S. Citizen (birth or naturalization)
- 1L or 2L attending an ABA-approved law school (at the time of the application)
- Serve 8–10 weeks during the summer
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION INTERNSHIPS
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS
- Interns are paid based on the General Schedule (GS) US civil service pay scale. The GS level is determined each year and will be announced when the application opens.
- Interns must pay for their travel to and from the job location and be able to secure housing.
- Candidates must undergo a background investigation to determine suitability for employment.
- Selection for this position is contingent upon proof of U.S. citizenship.
- We will not accept late submissions.
If you have any questions, please call 1-800-JAG-USAF or email airforcejagrecruiting@gmail.com
HOW TO APPLY
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
We will only consider complete applications submitted to Air Force Judge Advocate General, Professional Development Directorate during the appropriate application window via www.USAJobs.gov. The position will be titled “Air Force Law Clerk.”
In order to apply, please follow the application instructions for the applicable selection board, which can be found on Facebook, with your CSO or by contacting us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or at airforcejagrecruiting@gmail.com. Typically, the following documentation is required:
- A résumé (one page)
- A memorandum describing your availability. The memorandum must include a privacy act waiver that states, “I agree to the use of my Privacy Act Information in the USAF internship application process. I understand those transmitting personal information will exercise caution and adequately safeguard it in accordance with applicable Air Force instructions.”
- Legible copies of undergraduate and law school transcripts (unofficial accepted)
- A personal statement (limited to one page, double-spaced, one-inch margins, 11-point font)
- A writing sample (five pages or less)
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Memorandum (limited to one page, double-spaced, one-inch margins, 11-point font)
- A full-length photo (head to toe in professional attire)
All internship positions are subject to the availability of funds. We will not accept mailed or faxed applications.
AFROTC EDUCATIONAL DELAY PROGRAM
If you’re on track to pursue a career in the Air Force and now have dreams of becoming a JAG, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Educational Delay Program was designed for you. This option allows you to delay your entry into active duty to study law. While you’re not guaranteed a JAG position in this program, you will be taking advantage of a great opportunity to pursue a law degree.
QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered, you must currently be enlisted in an ROTC program and meet the requirements set forth in the Department of the Air Force Instruction (DAFI) 51-101 and the Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 36-2032. You must also attend an ABA-accredited law school.
Please note that you must compete for selection for entry into the program (Ed Delay In) and for entry into JAG at the end of the program (Ed Delay Out). Details are outlined in the How to Apply section.
TRAINING
SERVICE COMMITMENT
HOW TO APPLY
ED DELAY IN
In this first application phase, you must complete two steps:
Step 1: You must apply through your local AFROTC detachment to the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at the beginning of the spring semester of your senior year of undergraduate school.
Step 2: A selection board is held in February of each year. Applications are accepted through our online application processing system. All application materials must be submitted online on or before the 10th of the month (i.e., January 10) prior to the board meeting. In addition to your online application, you must schedule a hiring interview with a Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) at any Air Force Base (AFB) through the online application processing system. A SJA will contact you to schedule an interview AFTER you submit your application materials online. The interview must be completed on or before February 1.
After the interview, the SJA will prepare a report that is forwarded, along with your application materials, to HQ USAF/JAX. Please do not mail application materials directly to HQ USAF/JAX. If you need to add materials to your application after submission, contact the SJA who conducted your interview to assist you. Additional materials will not be accepted after the first of the month that the board meets.