JA announces Law School programs

  • Published
  • By Capt. Terence Dougherty
  • 82nd Judge Advocate
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are accepted from Jan. 1 through March 1, 2011. Interested officers are encouraged to compete.

FLEP is a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers. The FLEP is an assignment action. Participants receive full pay, allowances and tuition. Applicants must have between two and six years active-duty service, enlisted or commissioned, and must be in the rank of captain or below as of the day they begin law school.

FLEP is subject to tuition limitations that are established by the Air Force Institute of Technology. Positions may be limited due to overall funding availability. Academic Year 2010 was set at approximately $16,000 per year. However, this amount may change year to year.

ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers. ELP participants do not receive pay and allowances but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes. ELP applicants must have between two and ten years active-duty service and must be in the rank of captain or below as of the first day of law school.

Col. Mark Garney, 82nd Training Wing Staff Judge Advocate said the programs are a good pathway into a new career.

"The JAG Corps is an interesting and challenging way to serve in our Air Force," he said. "We are involved in every aspect of the global Air Force mission, and the FLEP and ELP programs are great ways for dedicated officers to make the leap into a great new life."

Both the FLEP and ELP programs require attendance at an American Bar Association accredited law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law in the highest court of any state, territory of the United States or a federal court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates.

To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must have completed all application forms, applied to at least one ABA accredited law school, received their Law School Admissions Test results and completed a Staff Judge Advocate interview by February 15, 2011. Officers must provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. Selection for both programs is competitive. Acceptance is not required at the time of application for FLEP or ELP.

Applicants meet a selection board in early March and selections are made based on a review of the application package using a "whole person" concept. Chapters 2 and 3 of AFI 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, explain the FLEP and ELP.

For more information and application materials, visit http://www.airforce.com/jag, call the base legal office at (940) 676-4262. Applicants may also contact Capt. Laura DeSio, Air Force Headquarters JA, via email at laura.desio@pentagon.af.mil or call 1-800-JAG-USAF.