Law school programs available to Air Force company grade officers

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VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Company grade officers interested in law school can apply for the Funded Legal Education Program and the Excess Leave Program between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2011.

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

The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers. Participants do not receive pay and allowances but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes. Applicants must have between two and 10 years active duty service and be a captain or below the first day of law school.

"Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and commanders deserve to have access to legal advisors with a broad background of military experiences," said Maj. Jim Annexstad, the 71st Flying Training Wing Staff Judge Advocate. "FLEP and ELP will ensure that we continue to maintain a corps of officers whose military experience complements their legal training, providing commanders with the highest caliber of legal support."

According to Major Annexstad, Air Force JAGs do more than just provide legal assistance. In addition to prosecuting and defending clients brought before courts-martial, JAG officers routinely participate in nearly every facet of the Air Force mission. They participate in developing and acquiring weapons systems and ensure availability of airspace and ranges where those systems are tested and operated. They consult with commanders about how those systems are employed in armed conflict and assist commanders in the day-to-day running of military installations around the world.

"Every facet of every Air Force mission is bound by elements of the law," Major Annexstad said.

FLEP is subject to tuition limitations. The Air Force Institute of Technology establishes the tuition limit. For the 2010 academic year, the limit was approximately $16,000 per year and the amount can change year to year. The number of openings for the program are limited by overall funding availability. FLEP is an assignment action.

Applications for FLEP and ELP will be accepted from Jan. 1 through March 1, 2011. Both 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 complete all application forms, apply to at least one ABA accredited law school, receive their Law School Admissions Test results and complete a Staff Judge Advocate interview by Feb. 15, 2011. Officers must also provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. Selection for both programs is competitive.

Applicants will meet a selection board in early March 2011 and selections are made based on a review of application packages using a "whole person" concept. Information about both FLEP and ELP is available in Air Force Instruction 51-101, "Judge Advocate Accession Program," chapters 2 and 3.

For more information and applications, go to www.airforce.com/jag, contact the Vance Legal Office at 213-7404, or call 1-800-JAG-USAF.