The Judge Advocate General’s Corps announces law school programs

  • Published
  • 48th Fighter Wing Legal Office
RAF LAKENHEATH, England --  Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from Jan. 1 through March 1. Interested officers are encouraged to compete.

The FLEP is a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers. The FLEP is an assignment action, and participants receive full pay, allowances and tuition. FLEP applicants must have between two and six years of active duty service (enlisted or commissioned) as of the day they begin law school, and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school.

The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers. ELP participants do not receive pay, allowances or tuition, but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes. ELP applicants must have between two and 10 years of active duty service as of the day they begin law school, and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school.

Both the FLEP and ELP programs require attendance at an American Bar Association approved law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law before any state's highest court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates.

"This is an excellent opportunity for any company grade officer interested in pursuing a law degree and becoming an Air Force Judge Advocate," said Capt Don Biard, 48th FW Legal Office. "Selection for both FLEP and ELP is highly competitive; only the best-qualified will be accepted."

To be considered for FLEP and/or ELP, applicants must have submitted all application forms, applied to an ABA accredited law school (acceptance is not required at the time of application for FLEP/ELP), received their Law School Admission Test results and completed an interview with a Staff Judge Advocate by March 1.

AFI 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3, discuss the FLEP and ELP programs.

For more information and application materials, visit www.airforce.com/jag, contact Captain Biard at 226-3553 or contact Capt. Eric Merriam, HQ USAF/JAX at eric.merriam@pentagon.af.mil or 1-800-JAG-USAF.