Active duty service members interested in joining the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps (AFJAGC) may be eligible for the Air Force to cover the cost of law school using the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP). If selected for FLEP, service members continue to serve as active duty officers, and the Air Force covers the cost of tuition, fees, and books.

Enlisted members selected for FLEP must attend Officer Training School (OTS) prior to attending law school. FLEP students are required to perform legal internships with the AFJAGC during their summer breaks after their first and second years of law school. For officers, the active duty service commitment (ADSC) for FLEP is six years. For enlisted members, the ADSC is 10 years.

• United States citizenship (birth or naturalization)
• Active duty Department of the Air Force Officer or enlisted member
• Currently serving on extended active duty for at least two, but not more than six years, including enlisted time, by the time law school would begin
• Officer applicants in the pay grade of O-3 or below, with less than three years’ time in grade as an O-3
• Graduate from a regionally accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree
• Obtain a conditional release though the Air Force Personnel Center from your career field should you be selected for the Funded Legal Education Program
• Apply to an American Bar Association-approved law school (includes previously taking the LSAT to apply to law school). Admission to an ABA-accredited law school is ultimately required, but is not a prerequisite to applying

The Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) provides a unique opportunity for service members to attend law school fully funded by the Air Force and become judge advocates. Enlisted personnel have the opportunity to apply to commission as an officer and attend law school through FLEP. Airmen and Guardians continue to serve on active duty, receive full pay and allowances, and benefits while attending law school. The cost of tuition, fees, and books are paid by the Air Force. Application fees and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) fees are the applicant’s responsibility.

The FLEP tuition limits are set by Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) on an annual basis and vary from year to year based on available funding. If selected for FLEP, participants are not permitted to supplement tuition expenses or fees with any need-based scholarships, private/personal funding sources or the GI Bill.

Prerequisites:

Service members must:

• Be a citizen of the United States (birth or naturalization)
• Be an Active duty Department of the Air Force Officer or enlisted member
• Currently serve on extended active duty for at least two, but not more than six years, including enlisted time, by the time law school would begin
• Be in the pay grade of O-3 or below, with less than three years’ time in grade as an O-3 (officer applicants only)
• Be a graduate of a regionally accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree
• Obtain a conditional release though the Air Force Personnel Center from your career field should you be selected for the Funded Legal Education Program
• Apply to an American Bar Association-approved law school (includes previously taking the LSAT to apply to law school).
• Admission to an ABA-approved law school is ultimately required but is not a prerequisite to applying. Enlisted Service members must also meet the requirements of the enlisted to Officer Training School commissioning program as directed in DAFMAN 36-2032, and have six months retainability past their projected graduation date.

Apply to an American Bar Association-approved law school (includes previously taking the LSAT to apply to law school). Admission to an ABA-approved law school is ultimately required, but is not a prerequisite to applying Enlisted Service members must also meet the requirements of the enlisted to Officer Training School commissioning program as directed in DAFMAN-36-2032, and have six months retainability past their projected graduation date.

Application Procedures:

Service members can apply online at: https://www.airforce.com/careers/specialty-careers/jag. You must upload the following items when applying:

• Full-length color photograph in service dress (5” X 7” OR 8” X 10”; Max file size: 1MB; JPG format)
• Release letter from AFPC Functional Manager (PDF)
• Motivation Statement (limit 1 page, double-spaced)
• Résumé (PDF)
• Official LSAT Report
• List of applications to law schools
• DD 214 (if prior military)
• Officer / Enlisted SURF and Training Reports
• Officer Performance Reports/Briefs or Enlisted Performance Reports (PDF)
• Undergraduate / Graduate transcripts (PDF, unofficial copies are acceptable)
• AF ROTC Field Training Report (if applicable)
• Letters of Recommendation (up to five, PDF)
• Writing sample (Optional - 10 pages or less, PDF)
• FLEP Agreement

Letters of recommendation should be written by someone who can attest to the applicant’s work ethic, duty performance and leadership potential. Address all recommendation letters directly to “Selection Board Members.”

The online application allows the applicant to select which Air Force Base they would like to have their Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) interview. When the online application is submitted, the SJA or a representative from the legal office will contact the applicant to schedule an interview.

Legal Internships:

During the first two years of the program, officers must participate in legal internships during summer breaks. Internships must begin within two calendar days of the officer’s last examination or class and may not end earlier than two calendar days before the start of fall classes. No later than February 1, officers must contact Air Force Institute of Technology and The Professional Development Directorate (AF/JAX) with the beginning and end dates of your summer break along with the names of the closest Air Force Bases. AF/JAX will make internship assignments.

Winter internships are available for Service members living in the local area of an Air Force Installation. There is a minimum work requirement of 10 duty days, and leave is not authorized.

Upon Graduation:

Upon completion of law school, the officer is responsible for the fees and expenses of bar review courses and bar examinations.
Officers must obtain a legal license as soon as possible and take the first scheduled bar examination following graduation from law school.
An active duty service commitment of two years active duty for each academic year or part thereof of legal training is accrued. Officers who are dropped from the program incur an active duty service commitment of one year for each year of participation in the program.
The active duty service commitment for commissioning through Officer Training School is four years. The service commitments run consecutively and begin following law school.

Department of Air Force Instructions 51-101
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_ja/publication/dafi51-101/dafi51-101.pdf

The Judge Advocate General’s Corps
https://www.afjag.af.mil

U.S. Air Force Careers
https://www.airforce.com/careers/specialty-careers/jag/active-duty-military

Air Force Institute of Technology
https://www.afit.edu/CIP/page.cfm?page=1638