Service members interested in joining the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC) may be eligible for the Army to cover the cost of law school using the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP). Service members continue to serve on active duty and the Army covers the cost of tuition. This program is based on funding availability and limited up to a total of 25 commissioned and noncommissioned officers per fiscal year.

The deadline for the 2023 application period has ended. The 2024 FLEP application will be available online beginning July 1st and will close on October 1st.

Soldiers must meet the following requirements to be eligible for FLEP:

• Be a Regular Army Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant First Class, Staff Sergeant, or Sergeant in the Operations Division (OD), Operations Support Division (OSD), Force Sustainment Division (FSD), Health Services Division (HSD), Army Special Operations Force (ARSOF), and Cyber branches (CB)
• Be a U.S. citizen on the Active Duty List (ADL) in the grade of O-1 to O-3 or E-5 to E-7 while applying and at the time of selection
• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Officers: Have not less than two years nor more than six years of active duty, including prior warrant and enlisted service, as of the law school start date. (NOTE: For the next FLEP application cycle in 2023, the maximum time-in-service for officers as of the law school start date may change from six to five years of active duty service.)
• Enlisted: Have not less than four years nor more than eight years of active duty, including prior enlisted service, as of the law school start date
• Possess at least a secret security clearance
• Not have an approved resignation or separation date
• Eligibility requirements are statutory and cannot be waived
• Eligibility is outlined in Army Regulation 27-1, Chapter 10

TIMEFRAME

The FLEP selection board is announced each year via MILPER message, typically in February. The selection board meets in December. Selected individuals begin law school in the fall immediately following the selection board. The 2023 MILPER message is available here.

SERVICE OBLIGATION

The Active Duty Service Obligation is two years for each year of law school completed. Enlisted FLEP participants will be offered an officer appointment in the JAG Corps upon graduation from law school, passage of the bar exam, and admission to practice law.

ELIGIBLE LAW SCHOOLS

FLEP selectees must:

• Apply to and be accepted by a law school in the United States accredited by the ABA. Selectees will normally attend an institution in their State of legal residency or an institution that will grant in-state tuition rates to out-of-State students.

• Pay all expenses incurred by applying to a law school.

TJAG will determine which law schools selectees will attend and may direct that selectees apply to additional schools.

SELECTION CRITERIA

When considering an applicant's file, the selection board members use the "whole person concept". Board members evaluate the undergraduate and graduate school transcripts, LSAT score, ORB/ERB, OERs/NCOERs, SJA interview letter, and the applicant's statement of motivation to attend law school.

APPLICATION

The FLEP application will be available online beginning July 1, 2024, and will close on October 1, 2024. The FLEP MILPER message contains general information about the application, but complete instructions are available within the online application. Applicants will apply at https://www.jagcnet8.army.mil/852585B6003EBA25/Login.html. The online application will consist of the following items:

• Official transcripts for college-level and graduate-level education

• All officer evaluation reports (OERs), noncommissioned officer evaluation reports (NCOERs), and academic evaluation reports (AERs)

• Current “board” Officer record brief (ORB) or Soldier Record Brief (SRB). Submission of a regular ORB/SRB is discouraged. Ensure the board ORB/SRB retains sex and race and redacts the number of dependents, religion, marital status, and spouse birth place (if applicable). A copy can be obtained through the S-1

• Personal statement describing motivation for participation in the FLEP and serving as a Judge Advocate (limited to 2,500 characters)

• List of law schools to which the applicant has applied or will apply. Prior application or acceptance to law school is not a prerequisite for selection for the FLEP

• Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score report or anticipated test date. For details on registration and upcoming test dates, visit https://www.lsac.org/lsat

  • LSAT score report. Applicants who have taken the LSAT multiple times will submit copies of all LSAT score reports

  • Take the LSAT exam NLT September 2023. Applicants scheduled to take the LSAT before the FLEP application deadline must provide a score report before the board convenes or their application will not be considered. The November 2023 LSAT exam is too late for consideration.

• Comprehensive time-in-service documentation including, but not limited to, DD Form 214, DA Form 71 (Oath of Office), Enlistment Contract, NGB 22, and NGB 23

• A request to HRC for a branch release upon acceptance into the FLEP. The request will be submitted on a DA Form 4187 and signed by the company-level and battalion-level commanders. A sample DA Form 4187 will be available on the application website.

• Date and location of the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) interview. Applicants must interview with the servicing SJA for their unit in the 12 months prior to the application deadline.

• Disclosure of any military adverse action and/or civilian criminal misconduct

• The name, email address, and phone number for the applicant’s branch/personnel manager at HRC

• DA Form 5500/5501 Body Fat Content Worksheet (if applicable)

Submit letters of recommendation (no more than three).

Funded Legal Education Program:
https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/GoArmyJAG/Funded-Legal-Education-Program 

Army Regulation 27-1, Judge Advocate Legal Services:
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/AR27-1_Web_FINAL.pdf

Army Regulation 621–1, Advanced Education Programs and Requirements for Military Personnel: 
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN6351_AR621-1_Web_FINAL.pdf