Also called: Army 27A, Navy JAG 2500, Air Force 51J, Marine 4402
Military lawyer who prosecutes and defends courts-martial, advises commanders on the law of war, and helps troops with legal problems.
A young JAG might prosecute a court-martial in the morning, review a mission plan for legal issues at lunch, and help a soldier with a landlord dispute in the afternoon. JAGs get courtroom experience years earlier than most civilian lawyers. Afterward, they become prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and corporate counsel.
RMC (base pay + housing/food allowances + tax advantage) for officers O-1 (2nd Lieutenant/Ensign) to O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/Commander), 2026 estimate. A 20-year career also earns a lifetime pension starting right after retirement.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 7 years after high school. Bachelor's, law degree (JD), and a bar license; the Army's Funded Legal Education Program can pay for law school for some officers. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Political Science, History, Philosophy, Pre-Law.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds legal research and drafting; courtroom advocacy and advising commanders stay human.
Classes: English composition, Government / Civics, Speech and Debate, US history.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.