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4402 - Judge Advocate

Summary

Judge Advocates provide legal advice and support to commanders, Marines, Sailors, and their families to promote the readiness of the force and contribute to Marine Corps mission accomplishment.

As company grade officers, Judge Advocates ordinarily serve as litigators, legal assistance attorneys, victims’ legal counsel, assistant review officers, or command legal advisors.

Litigation opportunities exist as trial, defense, and victims’ legal counsel in courts-martial; as Special Assistant United States Attorneys in United States Federal Court; and as recorders, counsel for the respondent, or victims’ legal counsel in administrative discharge boards.

Judge Advocates either conduct or supervise investigations into claims for and against the United States and other matters required by regulations.

Judge Advocates provide command legal advice on matters including military justice, administrative law, civil law, standards of conduct, ethics, operational law, and international law.

As majors, Judge Advocates may serve as staff judge advocates or deputy staff judge advocates and provide command legal advice.

Judge Advocate majors may also serve as senior trial counsel, senior defense counsel, or regional victims’ legal counsel at either a legal services support section (LSSS) or a legal services support team (LSST).

Lieutenant Colonels may also serve as staff judge advocates, deputy staff judge advocates, regional trial counsel, regional defense counsel, or officers-in-charge of an LSST.

Colonels may serve as staff judge advocates or officers-in-charge of an LSSS.

All field grade Judge Advocates may serve as military judges after being screened by a judicial screening board.

Professional military education and continuing legal education opportunities exist for all Judge Advocates.

Prerequisites

The 4402 MOS is assigned as a primary MOS to an officer who has: Must have obtained a juris doctor from a law school that at the time of graduation was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Must have been admitted to the practice of law before a federal court or the highest court of a state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

Requirements

Complete one of the following: Complete the Basic Lawyer Course (N0501P1).

Upon the written recommendation of the SJA to CMC, the Judge Advocate General may, when in the best interests of the Marine Corps, waive the requirement to complete the Basic Lawyer Course (N0501P1) and assign MOS 4402 to otherwise qualified Marines.

Any 4402 assigned to a miltary justice billet will complete Military Justice Orientation (N05Y221) .

Since nearly all newly qualified Marine judge advocates go into a litigation billet, this course may be completed immediately following completion of the Basic Lawyer Course.

POI CID

N0501P1, N05Y221

Duties

For a complete listing of duties and tasks refer to reference (bh), Legal Services Training and Readiness Manual.

Related SOC Title & Code

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates 23-1023.

Lawyers 23-1011.

None.