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27A Career Guide

Army

27A: Judge Advocate

Career transition guide for Army Judge Advocate (27A)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 27A veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Attorney

$148K
High matchHigh demand

Compliance Officer

$85K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Industry-specific regulationsCompliance certifications (e.g., CCEP)

Contract Manager

$98K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Contract Management Certification (e.g., CCCM)Specific industry knowledge

Mediator/Arbitrator

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Mediation/Arbitration CertificationSpecialized knowledge in a field (e.g., family law, labor law)

Professor of Law

$120K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

LLM or SJD degreePublished legal scholarshipTeaching experience

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 27A training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

Judge Advocates are trained to anticipate opposing arguments, assess weaknesses in their own case, and construct persuasive counter-arguments, whether prosecuting or defending.

This translates to the ability to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in business strategies, product development, or negotiations, allowing for proactive mitigation and stronger outcomes.

Procedural Compliance

Judge Advocates must adhere to strict legal procedures and regulations in all aspects of their work, from evidence gathering to courtroom conduct.

This meticulous attention to detail and understanding of complex rules makes you adept at navigating highly regulated environments and ensuring compliance standards are met.

Rapid Prioritization

With multiple cases and clients, Judge Advocates constantly prioritize tasks, deadlines, and legal strategies based on urgency and impact.

In the civilian world, this translates to effectively managing multiple projects, quickly identifying critical issues, and allocating resources to achieve optimal results under pressure.

Situational Awareness

Judge Advocates must understand the nuances of each case, the personalities involved, and the broader legal and social context to provide effective counsel.

This ability to read situations and understand the impact of your actions translates well into understanding market trends, competitor strategies, and client needs in the business world.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

You've been immersed in the world of legal regulations and procedural compliance. As a Compliance Officer, you'll leverage your expertise to ensure a company adheres to laws, regulations, and internal policies, mitigating risks and maintaining ethical standards.

Contract Negotiator

SOC 13-1041.06

You've honed your adversarial thinking and negotiation skills in the courtroom. Now, as a Contract Negotiator, you'll use those skills to craft favorable agreements, anticipate potential conflicts, and protect your organization's interests in complex transactions.

Mediator

SOC 29-9099.01

You've developed keen situational awareness and the ability to understand multiple perspectives. As a Mediator, you'll use these skills to facilitate constructive dialogue, resolve disputes, and help parties reach mutually agreeable solutions in various settings.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, VA

320 training hours8 weeksVaries depending on elective courses taken, typically up to 6 graduate-level semester hours recommended in law or related fields

Topics Covered

  • Military Justice
  • Administrative Law
  • Contract Law
  • Operational Law
  • Civil Law
  • Criminal Law
  • Legal Assistance
  • Claims

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP)60% covered

Study specific compliance regulations and ethical standards relevant to the civilian sector, focusing on industries outside of military law.

Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)50% covered

Focus on civilian data privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and industry best practices for data protection, as military legal training may not fully cover these specific regulations.

Recommended Next Certifications

Masters of Law (LLM) in a specific area of law (e.g., business law, environmental law)Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
LexisNexis Military Law LibraryLexisNexis Legal Research Platform
Westlaw Military Justice DatabaseWestlaw Legal Research Platform
Army Legal Assistance Program (ALAP) OnlineLegal Case Management Software
TJAG (The Judge Advocate General) Regulations DatabasePolicy and Procedure Management Systems
e-Milpers (Electronic Military Personnel Office)Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems
Court-Martial Case Management System (CM-CMS)Court Case Management Software

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