New Cohort Starts:

Donate

9687 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9687: Criminal Law Attorney (LL.M.)

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Criminal Law Attorney (LL.M.) (9687)

Translate Your 9687 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9687 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Criminal Defense Attorney

$145K
High matchHigh demand

Prosecutor

$135K
High matchHigh demand

Compliance Officer

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Specific industry regulations (e.g., HIPAA, SOX)

Legal Consultant

$110K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Business developmentClient acquisition

Arbitrator/Mediator

$85K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certification in mediationNetworking within the legal community

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9687 training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

Masters of criminal law are trained to anticipate and counter legal arguments from opposing counsel, whether prosecuting or defending, developing a strategic mindset to identify vulnerabilities and craft persuasive rebuttals within the confines of the UCMJ.

This skill translates into the ability to dissect arguments, identify weaknesses in strategies, and develop persuasive counter-arguments, valuable in fields requiring negotiation, strategic planning, or dispute resolution.

Procedural Compliance

Adherence to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and complex legal procedures is paramount. Masters of criminal law must meticulously follow established protocols, ensuring fairness, legality, and the integrity of legal proceedings.

Your military experience has instilled in you an unwavering commitment to following established protocols and procedures. This skill is invaluable in civilian roles that require attention to detail, regulatory compliance, and adherence to industry standards.

After-Action Analysis

Following trials or legal proceedings, judge advocates conduct thorough after-action reviews to identify areas for improvement in legal strategies, case preparation, and courtroom advocacy, refining their approach based on past experiences.

This rigorous self-assessment and commitment to continuous improvement is directly transferable to civilian settings, allowing you to analyze project outcomes, identify lessons learned, and implement strategies for enhanced performance in future endeavors.

Situational Awareness

Masters of criminal law need to have an acute understanding of the environment they are operating in whether that be the courtroom dynamics, the social implications of a specific case, or the command climate on a military installation.

The ability to read a room, understand social dynamics and assess the implications of courses of action is key to success in client management, public relations or policy implementation.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

You've been immersed in a world of strict regulations and legal frameworks. As a compliance officer, you'll leverage your expertise to ensure organizations adhere to laws and ethical standards, mitigating risks and maintaining integrity.

Mediator

SOC 29-1129.00

Your experience in adversarial settings and understanding of legal principles make you exceptionally well-suited for mediation. You've honed the skills to facilitate communication, identify common ground, and guide parties toward mutually agreeable resolutions.

Policy Analyst

SOC 19-3051.00

You've developed deep understanding of the criminal justice system. Policy analysts leverage their research and analytical skills to shape public policy and influence decision-making at various levels of government and non-profit organizations.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Naval Justice School, Newport, RI, and various locations for continuing legal education

480 training hours16 weeksVaries; typically graduate-level credits in law-related studies

Topics Covered

  • Criminal Law
  • Military Justice
  • Evidence
  • Trial Advocacy
  • Constitutional Law
  • Rules of Criminal Procedure
  • Sentencing and Post-Trial Procedures

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)60% covered

Requires study of civilian fraud examination techniques, accounting principles, and business law not explicitly covered in military criminal law.

Certified Protection Professional (CPP)40% covered

Requires study of physical security principles, risk management in a corporate setting, and business continuity planning.

Recommended Next Certifications

Juris Doctor (JD) DegreeBoard Certification in Criminal Law (National Board of Trial Advocacy)Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC)Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
LexisNexis Military Law LibraryLexisNexis Legal Research
Westlaw Military Justice DatabaseWestlaw Legal Research
Defense Electronic Filing System (DEFS)Electronic Case Filing (ECF) systems
Joint Legal Information Exchange System (JLIX)Secure document sharing and collaboration platforms (e.g., Clio, NetDocuments)
NIPRNet (Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network)Commercial Internet Service Providers (Comcast, Verizon)
SIPRNet (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network)Secure virtual private networks (VPNs) and encrypted communication channels

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 9687 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free