Applications now being accepted for law school programs

  • Published
  • By 45 Space Wing Staff Judge Advocate
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Officers interested in attending law school now have two options. The Funded Legal Education Program and the Excess Leave Program are accepting applications until March 1 from active duty officers who will be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the day they begin 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. Tamona L. Bright, chief of the Accessions Branch, Professional Development Directorate, Office of the Judge Advocate General. "The FLEP and ELP will ensure that we can continue to maintain a corps of officers whose military experience complements their legal training providing commanders with the highest caliber of legal support."

The FLEP is a paid legal studies program where participants receive full pay, allowances, and tuition and assignment action. The FLEP is subject to tuition limitations established by the Air Force Institute of Technology, and availability is determined by funding. FLEP candidates must have between two and six years total active duty service time.

The ELP, on the other hand, is an unpaid legal studies program. 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.

Both the FLEP and ELP programs require attendance at an American Bar Association accredited law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law, 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, (acceptance is not required at the time of application for FLEP/ELP), receive Law School Admissions Test results, and interview with a Staff Judge Advocate by 15 February 2013. Officers must also provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field.

Applications meet a selection board in early March, and selections are made based on a review of the application package using a "whole person" concept. Selection for both programs is competitive, and the number of applicants selected is determined on the needs of the Air Force.

For more information and application materials, visit http://www.airforce.com/jag, contact your base legal office, or contact Major Sean Elameto, HQ USAF/JAX (sean.elameto@pentagon.af.mil or 1-800-JAG-USAF). AFI 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3, also discuss the FLEP and ELP.

 

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