A military attorney is a lawyer twice over: a licensed member of a civilian bar and a commissioned officer practicing military law. That dual identity defines their continuing education, because each side imposes its own ongoing obligations. Staying qualified means satisfying both the bar that licensed them and the service that employs them.
The foundation: a licensed attorney
The starting point is that a judge advocate must be a fully qualified lawyer. The requirements generally include being a graduate of an ABA-accredited law school and a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, with a license to practice. Beyond that, a judge advocate must complete military legal training and be certified as competent by the service’s Judge Advocate General. So the role sits on a civilian license and a military certification at once.
Continuing obligation one: maintaining bar good standing
Because a military attorney must remain a member in good standing of a civilian bar, they carry that bar’s ongoing requirements, and most state bars require continuing legal education (CLE) to keep a license active. The specific number of hours and subjects vary by jurisdiction, but the principle is constant: the attorney must keep up their civilian bar’s CLE obligations to remain licensed, and remaining licensed is itself a condition of serving.
Continuing obligation two: ongoing military legal education
On top of the civilian requirement sits a military one. Judge advocates receive ongoing military legal education through their service’s legal schools and courses, such as the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and the other services’ equivalents, covering the Uniform Code of Military Justice, operational law, and the specialized fields they practice. Advanced and specialty courses keep judge advocates current as military law evolves, and the service’s continuing certification reflects that.
Suppose a judge advocate’s state bar requires continuing legal education: they must meet it to keep the license that qualifies them to serve, on top of the military legal training the service provides.
The central point is that a military attorney must stay current as both a civilian lawyer and a military-law practitioner. Keeping a civilian bar license in good standing carries that jurisdiction’s CLE requirements, while the service provides continuing military legal education, and meeting both is what keeps a judge advocate qualified to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a military attorney have to be licensed in a civilian state bar?
Yes. A judge advocate must generally be a graduate of an ABA-accredited law school and a member in good standing of a state, territory, D.C., or Puerto Rico bar, and be certified as competent by the service Judge Advocate General.
Do military attorneys have continuing legal education requirements?
Yes, in two ways. They must satisfy their civilian bar’s continuing legal education requirements to stay licensed, and they complete ongoing military legal education through their service’s legal schools.
Where do judge advocates get military legal training?
Through their service’s legal schools and courses, such as the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and the equivalent schools of the other services, including advanced and specialty courses.
This article is general information about military attorney education requirements. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Requirements vary by service and jurisdiction and can change. Specific requirements should be confirmed with the relevant service and bar.
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