JGJudge Advocate General
JG
Career

Judge Advocate General

By the numbers
Typical pay
$159,670 / yr
Education to start
Doctoral or professional degree
Future demand
+4.1% by 2034
People in this job
755K
Figures shown for ·closest of 2 O*NET occupations
The work
A day, hour by hour
06:00
PT & formation

Run, lift, or drill with the unit — uniform on, fitness standards met.

07:30
Case triage

Review overnight misconduct reports; decide what rises to courts-martial level.

08:15
Commander brief

Tell the colonel whether today's planned operation clears the rules of engagement.

09:30
Courtroom prep

Drill witnesses, sharpen arguments, stress-test the evidence before trial.

11:00
Courts-martial

Prosecute or defend a service member in open military court — no rehearsal now.

13:30
Legal assistance

Back-to-back appointments: a will, a divorce question, a debt crisis.

15:00
Opinion drafting

Write a formal legal memo a general will sign off on by end of week.

16:30
Troop training

Brief a platoon on their rights and limits under military law — plain language only.

17:30
Misconduct findings

Finalize written findings from an investigation; flag one case for senior review.

Things you do
  • Prosecute or defend service members in military courtrooms called courts-martial.
  • Advise commanders on whether a military operation is legal before it happens.
  • Explain rules of engagement to soldiers so they know what's allowed in combat.
  • Help service members with personal legal issues like wills, divorces, and debt.
  • Investigate misconduct allegations and write up formal legal findings.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Does this military operation cross a legal line, or is it within the rules of engagement?
  • Should I prosecute this service member, or does the evidence not hold up?
  • Is my commander's order legally sound, or do I need to push back right now?
  • Does my duty to my client conflict with my duty to the military justice system here?
  • Is this the right moment to flag a legal risk, or will it derail a time-sensitive mission?
Education Pathways · how you get there
100 in 100 went the college route · 0 in 100 found another way in None, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:Lawyers · 92% related
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