NFO or SWO to JAG

[redsox4516]

Ah, yep, good point.

OK, I assume that if you went through the ass pain and expense of law school, you actually want to be a lawyer. I know the JD job market isn't great, but you're much better off getting some experience in the civilian law world (even if not as a practicing attorney) than you are trying for a very slim chance getting into JAG.

How are you're law school grades? Are you coming out of a top 25 program? Top 50?

Top 50. (Its on the bubble). I had a job lined up, but the firm merged. It was either me, or someone else who had worked there for years, who wouldn't have a job so I agreed to start looking for a new job. Everyone who I have spoken to has said to get a job in a law related field, since it is damned hard to find a job as a lawyer. (One of my professors, who is a Federal Judge suggested I try to become a probation officer.) But that doesn't seem as promising a prospect. Also, I really want to serve my country. I went into the recruiter to talk about the reserves, but It is clear I can't have my cake in being a naval reserve officer and an associate at a firm. That's why I'm applying now. Only reason I asked is because of what the recruiter said.

Good catch...missed that bit about previous rejections for JAG...which could be significant to a lat transfer attempt.

Would it help or hurt my chances?

Just to be clear, there is nothing wrong at all with coming in with the goal of laterally transferring to JAG if that's what you're really after. And yes, it can absolutely be done. But.....you knew there was a but, right....but, you have to do so with your eyes wide open and giving 100% to whatever your current function is. If you come in thinking you're just passing through and giving anything less than your best, you will get eaten alive...no matter if you're a pilot, NFO, SWO, or whatever.

On the bright side, you'll be the XO's BFF.

My eyes are wide open. I've wanted to serve in the navy longer than i've wanted to be a lawyer. If i go in as an NFO or SWO, it will be to be a NFO or a SWO, not on the hopes of some future possible transfer. (My eyes are too bad to be a pilot).

I am also burned out by law school. I want to do something else with my life other than sit behind a desk all day. Something with more meaning than racking up billable hours. In hindsight I probably should have done things differently.

 

[BigRed389]

Would it help or hurt my chances?

Well I don't think it would hurt a lat transfer, you don't have to inform the board that you did unless you wanted to, and they probably wouldn't know. However, whatever was a knock on you in the past may be viewed unfavorably to a different board when reviewed again.

It could maybe help in the sense that they'd see you're committed on greater level to the Navy as an organization. And if you did well as a SWO/NFO...a direct lat transfer would be cheaper than sending someone off to LEP...

That said, I don't know what the transfer process would be for you as a law school grad. Interestingly JAG is not listed (or even mentioned) in the transfer quota letters of the last 2 lateral transfer boards (which serves all other communities). Your circumstances wouldn't quite fit into any of the traditional paths they advertise. I'd like to think they could figure something out but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[redsox4516]

Well I don't think it would hurt a lat transfer, you don't have to inform the board that you did unless you wanted to, and they probably wouldn't know. However, whatever was a knock on you in the past may be viewed unfavorably to a different board when reviewed again.

It could maybe help in the sense that they'd see you're committed on greater level to the Navy as an organization. And if you did well as a SWO/NFO...a direct lat transfer would be cheaper than sending someone off to LEP...

That said, I don't know what the transfer process would be for you as a law school grad. Interestingly JAG is not listed (or even mentioned) in the transfer quota letters of the last 2 lateral transfer boards (which serves all other communities). Your circumstances wouldn't quite fit into any of the traditional paths they advertise. I'd like to think they could figure something out but I wouldn't count on it.

And there is no word on it in the JAG site.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Undergraduate Grades were excellent. Law School was mediocre. I had solid references. Also, they had accepted 3 other students for JAG. If I had to guess it was the grades.

That might be it.

The info I am about to say is 18 months old, but I was at an event with a JAG officer who would sit the panel boards, he said it is tough to get in, and the ones they picked pretty much as he put it "aced" law school.

 

[redsox4516]

That might be it.

The info I am about to say is 18 months old, but I was at an event with a JAG officer who would sit the panel boards, he said it is tough to get in, and the ones they picked pretty much as he put it "aced" law school.

The Navy has the best reputation of all the JAG Corps. It is the hardest to get in to. Followed by the Air Force, Army and Marines. None of them are easy to get into in this Job Market.

 

[wink]

The Navy has the best reputation of all the JAG Corps. It is the hardest to get in to. Followed by the Air Force, Army and Marines. None of them are easy to get into in this Job Market.

Have you looked into other service reserves or National Guard? My brother in law went Army Reserve JAG and within a couple years transferred to Guard. He did have more than 5 years of practice before he applied. No sitting behind a desk for him. Went to Air Assault School and Airborne. Deployed to Afghanistan. A few months in the Pentagon as well.

 

[obligatory1]

Also, being that you must apply to LEP with a recommendation from your CO, if you were to get denied wouldn't that torpedo your career as an NFO due to the fact that a CO only has a limited number of EPs and MPs to hand out for fitreps and wouldn't waste them on someone trying to peace out of the community?