Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington's recruiting team hosted a successful "Day in the Life of a Navy JAG" event, welcoming law students and career service advisors from local law schools to the Pentagon.
The event included various briefs and panel discussions on life as a JAG at the Pentagon, the various JAG Corps career paths, the first tour judge advocate (FTJA) program, and the Navy JAG Corps application and selection processes.
In preparation for the event, we reached out to 13 law schools within the wider National Capital Region including Georgetown University Law Center, The George Washington University School of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, The Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America, Howard University School of Law, American University Washington College of Law, University of Maryland School of Law, University of D.C. David A. Clarke School of Law, West Virginia University College of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Penn State University Law School, Widener University Delaware Law School, and the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Nearly a dozen students from six different law schools attended. We were also joined by two career services advisors from Catholic University and George Mason University, both of whom reported that the event provided them with helpful resources to share with their students who are interested in the JAG Corps.
The event kicked off with a panel discussion with Capt. Randall Vavra, Capt. Thomas Leary, Cmdr. David Melson, and who each shared their personal career experiences and provided insight into the mission of the Navy JAG Corps and life as a JAG at the Pentagon. Leary, Director of Military Personnel (Code 61), then briefed the students and advisors on the JAG Corps' application and selection process. Afterward, several junior judge advocates including Lt. Ben Maddox, Lt. Rob Bombard, and Lt. j.g. Chris Kimmel joined the law students for an informal lunch discussion on life as a junior JAG, the FTJA program, and Officer Development School and Naval Justice School.