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9685 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9685: Labor Law Attorney

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Labor Law Attorney (9685)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9685 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Labor Relations Specialist

$85K
High matchGrowing demand

Human Resources Manager

$120K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certificationExperience with HRIS systems

Compliance Officer

$78K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of industry-specific regulationsCertification in compliance (e.g., Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional)

Mediator/Arbitrator

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certification in mediation or arbitrationExperience in negotiation and conflict resolution

Professor of Labor Law

$110K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

PhD in Law or related fieldPublications in peer-reviewed journalsTeaching experience

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9685 training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

Labor lawyers in the military analyze opposing arguments and strategies in legal cases, anticipating challenges to their positions and developing counter-arguments to protect the Marine Corps' interests.

In the civilian world, you can apply this to contract negotiations, dispute resolution, or competitive analysis, where anticipating an opponent's moves and formulating responses is crucial for success.

Procedural Compliance

These judge advocates must meticulously adhere to complex statutory and regulatory guidelines within civilian personnel and labor law to ensure actions are legally sound and defensible.

This translates to a deep understanding and commitment to following established protocols and regulations, a key asset in regulated industries or roles requiring strict adherence to legal standards.

After-Action Analysis

After legal proceedings, labor lawyers analyze the outcomes and strategies employed to identify areas for improvement in future cases and refine their approach to legal challenges.

You can leverage this to evaluate project outcomes, identify lessons learned, and implement changes to improve future performance. This skill is highly valuable in roles focused on continuous improvement and strategic planning.

System Modeling

Military labor lawyers need to understand the complex interplay of laws, regulations, and policies governing civilian personnel to predict outcomes and develop effective legal strategies.

This skill translates into understanding how different components of a system interact, allowing you to predict consequences and optimize strategies in various professional environments.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-2000

You've been immersed in the intricacies of labor law, ensuring adherence to complex regulations within the Marine Corps. This experience gives you a rock-solid foundation for a Compliance Officer role, where you'll be responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing compliance programs within an organization.

Human Resources Consultant

SOC 13-1141

You've developed a deep understanding of civilian personnel law and its impact on the workforce. As an HR Consultant, you can use this expertise to advise organizations on best practices for employee relations, legal compliance, and talent management, helping them create a fair and productive work environment.

Mediator

SOC 29-2051

You've honed your skills in resolving disputes and navigating adversarial situations. As a Mediator, you can utilize your expertise to facilitate communication and negotiation between conflicting parties, helping them reach mutually agreeable solutions in a variety of contexts, from workplace conflicts to commercial disputes.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Naval Justice School, Newport, RI (LL.M. Program)

600 training hours40 weeksUp to 9 graduate level semester hours recommended in Law or related fields

Topics Covered

  • Federal Sector Labor Relations
  • Employment Discrimination Law
  • Wage and Hour Law
  • Administrative Law
  • Federal Civil Procedure
  • Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Contract Law
  • Legal Writing and Research

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

SHRM-CP60% covered

Requires studying SHRM's Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK) related to HR strategy, talent acquisition, learning & development, compensation & benefits, and employee relations, with a focus on general HR practices rather than exclusively legal aspects.

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)40% covered

Requires focused study on employee benefits design, administration, and compliance, including retirement plans, health & welfare benefits, and executive compensation, topics only partially covered by legal expertise.

Recommended Next Certifications

SHRM-SCPSenior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
LexisNexis Military AdvantageLexisNexis or Westlaw legal research platforms
Department of the Navy (DON) TrackerCase management software (e.g., Clio, MyCase)
Defense Civilian Personnel Data System (DCPDS)Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) like Workday or PeopleSoft
Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF)Electronic document management systems (EDMS) like Laserfiche or DocuWare
Microsoft Teams (DoD Version)Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom

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