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The Marine Corps is interested in hiring 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls for the summer of 2027 and full time thereafter. Once admitted to practice, this summer internship will develop into a guaranteed full-time offer, contingent upon graduating law school and being admitted to the bar. To be clear, the Marine Corps will guarantee qualified applicants a full-time job following law school, as a 1L, 2L, or 3L.

After successfully completing a summer contract, Marine Corps Judge Advocates prove themselves in the same training pipeline as every Officer in the Corps. You will attend Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) over the summer for 10 weeks in Quantico, VA as an Officer Candidate. Upon completion of OCS this summer, you will earn the title of Marine Officer. You’ll then return to law school (whether that is 2L or 3L year), complete your JD, apply for admission to the state bar, then enter active duty as a Judge Advocate with the Marine Corps. During law school, you will accrue time in service (seniority), which will translate into higher pay and accelerated eligibility to draw pension benefits.

Marine Judge Advocates will immediately carry a robust caseload and will quickly be first chair on felony level trials in federal court. During your first tour, you’ll serve in many of the following roles: prosecutor, defense attorney, victim’s legal counsel, and legal assistance attorney. You’ll have the unique opportunity to practice law across diverse legal portfolios, gain criminal litigation experience from the start, and lead a team. The work of Judge Advocates may also involve advising commanding officers, overseeing criminal/administrative investigations, and practicing in other areas of law, including but not limited to: civil litigation, law of armed conflict, maritime law, tort claims, labor law, environmental law, operational law, cyber law, and international law.

Very few lawyers in the private sector get exposure to such a variety and high-level experience immediately upon graduation from law school. Even fewer earn the right to do so as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Marines possess critical character traits, a team-building mindset, and are not driven by billable hours, marketing, or profit. Marine Corps Judge Advocates have an accelerated promotion timeline and competitive compensation, receiving a salary above equivalent entry-level state and federal legal positions.

The Marine Corps is offering you a chance to practice law in its purest form free of the distractions inherent in civilian practice: you don’t need to advertise and win clients, there is no minimum billable hour requirement, you don’t even need to bill your time. Unlike working in a state’s attorney’s office or as a public defender, the Marine Corps will start you off on a team of prosecutors or defense attorneys working on felony and misdemeanor cases.

MARINE JUDGE ADVOCATE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A Marine Judge Advocate serves in a wide range of legal roles that directly support Marines, commanders, and military operations. Their duties are diverse and often rotate throughout their career to build broad legal expertise:

  • Military Justice: Immediately serve as a first chair attorney as either trial counsel (prosecutor), defense counsel, or victims’ legal counsel in courts-martial, handling felony-level cases involving criminal investigations, trial litigation, and post-trial actions.
  • Command Legal Advisor: Advise commanders on legal issues affecting daily operations, including military justice, administrative separations, investigations, rules of engagement, and the lawful use of force.
  • Operational & International Law: Provide legal guidance during training, deployments, and combat operations on the law of armed conflict, targeting, detainee operations, and international agreements.
  • Administrative & Civil Law: Handle matters such as misconduct processing, adverse fitness reports, line-of-duty investigations, ethics reviews, and claims involving government liability or property damage.
  • Victims’ Legal Counsel (VLC): Represent and advise victims of sexual assault and other crimes, ensuring their rights are protected throughout the military justice process.
  • Legal Assistance: Provide personal legal services to Marines and their families, including wills, powers of attorney, consumer law issues, family law guidance, and landlord-tenant disputes.
  • Training & Education: Conduct legal training for Marines and commanders on military law, ethics, and operational legal considerations to ensure lawful and effective decision-making.

PIPELINE OF A MARINE JUDGE ADVOCATE

A Marine Judge Advocate’s pipeline begins with Officer Candidates School (OCS), a physically and mentally demanding program designed to evaluate leadership, endurance, and character, rather than teach law or tactics. Candidates are assessed on their ability to lead under stress, maintain discipline, and embody Marine Corps values.

After commissioning, officers attend The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia, a six-month course where all Marine officers—regardless of specialty—are trained as provisional rifle platoon commanders. At TBS, Judge Advocates learn infantry tactics, weapons employment, land navigation, and small-unit leadership to ensure they can lead Marines and understand the operational environment.

Following TBS, Marine Judge Advocates attend the Naval Justice School (Naval School of Law) in Newport, Rhode Island, where they complete the Basic Lawyer Course, receiving intensive instruction in military justice, operational law, administrative law, and ethics before reporting to their first fleet assignment.

MARINE JUDGE ADVOCATE CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE CREDIT

This is an accelerated promotion offered to Marine Judge Advocates providing significant professional and financial benefits by recognizing their advanced education and immediate responsibilities as licensed attorneys. Judge Advocates are typically promoted to Captain (O-3) within their first year of commissioning, resulting in increased pay, allowances, and leadership authority at a faster rate. This accelerated timeline also enhances career progression by allowing Judge Advocates to assume greater legal and advisory roles sooner, gain more senior-level experience earlier in their careers, and remain competitive for future assignments and leadership opportunities within the Marine Corps.

HEALTH CARE

Active-duty military qualify for free health care called Tricare Premium. This plan requires no monthly payments, no co-pays, no annual fees, and no premiums. Your dependents automatically receive tri-care premium by virtue of you being active duty. When you or a family member experiences a health incident, Tri-care will provide 100% coverage of those medical fees which is rare amongst other American health-care plans in 2026. This means none of your direct compensation must go into healthcare, a factor most folks in the civilian world must consider when planning their yearly expenses, but not active-duty personnel.

OTHER BENEFITS

  • Up to $110,000 in additional compensation (Judge Advocate Continuation Pay)
  • Post 9/11 GI Bill for you or your dependents’ education expenses
  • 30 days paid vacation per year
  • Federal holidays off
  • 401K retirement with employer match
  • Secret Security Clearance

If you are interested in applying for this summer or beyond, now is the time to reach out. Contact the Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer, Captain Brandon Jackson, by email at brandon.jackson@marines.usmc.mil.