GW Law's National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program and the Military Law Society (MLS), co-hosted the annual Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) recruiter panel which included several accomplished JAG panelists from each military branch. This year’s panelists included Army Captain Konley Bell, Class of 2024, Army Captain Shane Bagwell, Navy Lieutenant Robert Baxter, JD ‘15, Navy Lieutenant Commander Lauren Brinker, JD ‘14, Marine Corps Captain Najera Morales, Air Force Major Josiah Bragg, JD ’16 and LLM Class of 2024, Air Force Major Candice Schubbe, LLM ‘14, and Coast Guard Lieutenant Jacob Thayer, BS ‘13.
The event offered an opportunity for GW Law students interested in serving in the JAG Corps to have their questions answered and learn more about each service’s distinctive characteristics. Hosting a crowd of over 40 students, this year’s event was one of GW Law’s most well-attended JAG recruiter panels. Many students turned out for this engaging and enlightening discussion.
The MLS president, Grady Stevens (3L and selectee for the US Army JAG Corps), hosted the event and asked the panelists an array of questions about the JAG Corps. Aside from routine subjects such as duty stations, travel, and physical fitness tests, several important topics stood out. Students especially benefited from hearing the panelists’ motivations for becoming military lawyers, reasons for choosing one branch over another, each branch’s distinct mission and culture, how to balance military and family life, and the specific legal areas in which JAG officers practice.
Each panelist offered unique, valuable insights into his or her military branch and individual experience. Many JAG panelists joined the JAG Corps directly from law school and had no military experience. However, every panelist’s motivation for joining the JAG Corps stemmed from a desire to serve their country while practicing law.
Moreover, for each topic area discussed, the panelists gave unique responses that shared several key themes. Regardless of branch, every panelist emphasized the JAG Corps’ breadth of legal fields that include everything from contracts to national security law. Additionally, each panelist expressed their satisfaction with working with a well-deserving client base comprised of service members and leaders who defend our country. Finally, every panelist emphasized the camaraderie and support military communities offer to ease stress related to deployments, duty station moves, and job changes.
After the panel’s formal portion, student attendees also asked questions and personally met the panelists. This successful event emphasizes GW Law’s National Security, Cybersecurity, & Foreign Relation Law Program’s dedication to supporting students with an interest in all facets of national security law, including military law.