ALCGPSC 054/23 - AY24 SOLICITATION FOR JURIS DOCTOR (JD) POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES – OFFICER AND ENLISTED

ALCGPSC 054/23
SUBJ: AY24 SOLICITATION FOR JURIS DOCTOR (JD) POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES – OFFICER AND ENLISTED
A. ALCOAST 109/23
B. ALCGPSC 050/23
C. CG PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST
M1500.10 (SERIES)
D. ACTIVE DUTY OFFICER POSTGRADUATE AND ADVANCED EDUCATION
APPLICATION PROCESS GUIDE ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2024
1. This message solicits for high performing officers and enlisted members to apply for the Coast Guard Legal Program (CGJAG). CGJAG supports the workforce at all levels and in all mission areas by providing advice across the full spectrum of operations and mission support. CGJAG is central to the administration of military justice by advising leaders on disciplinary matters, as well as serving as prosecutors, defense counsel, and special victims’ counsel in courts martial. In addition, cyber law, intelligence law, and international law are growing and important areas of practice. Active-duty personnel whose performance and judgment demonstrate exceptional ability, dedication to mission and their shipmates, and commitment to excellence are ideal candidates to apply for the Juris Doctor program.
2. Selectees for the AY24 Law JD program, as allocated in ref (a), should anticipate beginning school in the fall of 2024 with an anticipated graduation in spring 2027. During law school, all selectees will remain on active duty and follow normal promotion or advancement schedules. Selectees will accrue obligated service per ref (c), which normally results in a five-year service obligation. During their summers, selectees are required to complete internships at a Coast Guard Legal Office. Upon graduation, selectees must take the bar exam and complete the Basic Lawyer Course at the Naval Justice School (NJS) in Newport, RI.
3. Enlisted members are eligible to apply and shall adhere to the deadlines prescribed in this message and in accordance with ref (b). Enlisted members shall meet commissioning standards prior to the panel and maintain commissioning standards throughout school. Those enlisted members selected for this opportunity will receive an enlistment or extension to their current enlistment for the duration of training. Enlisted members participating in this program should anticipate commissioning as an O-3 or O-3E, as applicable, upon graduation in the spring of 2027. Upon commissioning, enlisted selectees will attend and complete Direct Commission Officer (DCO) training in addition to taking the bar exam and attending Basic Lawyer Course at NJS.
4. The following deadlines will apply and will be strictly adhered to:
a. Direct Access (DA) Application Submission Deadline: 19 May 2023 (Officers Use Code LAWJDO/ Enlisted Use Code LAWJDE)
b. DA Waiver Submission Deadline: 19 May 2023 (Use Code PGWAIV)
c. OER submission to OPM-3: 19 May 2023
d. PDF Application Submission Deadline: 01 June 2023
e. EER marked final in DA: 01 June 2023
f. LSAT Scores entered in DA: 01 June 2023
g. OMPF Updated in iPERMS: 01 June 2023
5. Applying to this program includes multiple steps to validate candidate pools and adjudicate eligibility. All interested candidates shall apply in DA using “My Panel Submission” under the code LAWJDO (current officer applicants) or LAWJDE (current enlisted candidates) no later than 19 May 2023, to include a positive and finalized command endorsement. No comments should be included in the member comments or command endorsements as neither will be viewed by the panel. Commands should only endorse the applicant’s Panel Submission if they positively recommend the applicant for this program. This initial DA My Panel Submission is to establish the positively endorsed candidate pool for officers and enlisted members. Applicants should separately submit a PDF Application by the deadline prescribed above and in accordance with paragraph 9 below no later than 19 May 2023.
6. Additional eligibility requirements not listed in ref (b):
a. Officers: Fewer than 6.5 years of commissioned service and fewer than 10 years of total service at the time of the panel
b. Enlisted:
i. Fewer than 10 years of total service at the time of the panel
ii. Be eligible for a Secret security clearance
iii. Meets commissioning standards
iv. Holds U.S. citizenship
7. Eligibility Waivers: Waiver requests are required for any items listed in paragraph 6 or as outlined in ref (b). Waiver requests shall be submitted using the My Panel Submission application with DA Code PGWAIV. The nature of the waiver should be included in the member comments of the DA submission, which requires a command endorsement in DA. Refer to ref (d) for more information on this process. Tour completion waivers will not be granted for officer applicants unless “in play” for assignment under normal OPM Business Rules. Refer to ref (b) for non-tour complete circumstances that do not require a waiver. Officer aviators are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.
8. OMPF Materials: Applicants are required to enter the following information into their Official Military Personnel File by 01 June 2023:
a. LSAT Scores are required to compete for this opportunity and must be current within the last 5 years. All applicants should have their LSAT scores entered into DA. A step-by-step process can be found in ref (d). Competitive applicants normally obtain a score of at least 155.
b. All transcripts for degrees conferred by a regional or nationally accredited institution. ETQC enters degree conferral data into DA and a members OMPF. Instructions for reporting conferred degrees to ETQC can be found here: https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/forcecom_spo/ETQC/SitePages/Degree-Reporting.aspx
9. Application Packages: Submit applications directly to OPM-1 at the email listed in paragraph 14 below no later than 01 June 2023. Applications shall be combined into one PDF document in
the order prescribed below. Portfolio PDFs will not be accepted. Application packages shall be in the template provided on SharePoint in paragraph 14.c., which contains:
a. Officer
i. Personal Narrative – not to exceed one page, use template provided.
ii. Command Endorsement – not to exceed one page, use template provided.
iii. Letters of Recommendation – maximum of two, not to exceed one page each, use template provided.
iv. Proof of LSAT Score
v. Transcripts for Any Educational Degrees In-Progress
b. Enlisted
i. Personal Narrative – not to exceed one page, use template provided.
ii. Command Endorsement – not to exceed one page, use template provided.
iii. Letters of Recommendation – maximum of two, not to exceed one page each, use template provided.
iv. Officer Interview Form CG-5527L – the interview should be coordinated through ESO and include at least one attorney. The interview panel shall conduct an Administrative Review of the application package and resolve any information the Selection Panel would likely need clarified on page four of the CG-5527L.
v. Professional Resume – not to exceed two pages, use template provided
vi. Proof of LSAT Score
vii. Transcripts for Any Educational Degrees In-Progress
10. Templates: Refer to Post Grad & Advanced Education Panels (sharepoint-mil.us)for templates and more information on the Law JD program. PDF Applications submitted without using the prescribed templates will not be accepted.
11. Panel Materials: Each applicant shall ensure their record is up to date and accurate while adhering to the deadlines outlined in paragraph 4 of this message. The panel will view the following items while in session:
a. Official Military Personnel File in iPERMS
b. Employee Summary Sheet (in Panel View)
c. Application Package
d. Reviewing Officer OER Comparison Scale Data in DA
f. Enlisted evaluations for current enlisted members.
12. OER Submission: Applicants intending to submit an annual or semi-annual OER ahead of the panel shall review paragraph 12 of ref (b) and adhere to the OER submission deadline of 19 May 2023. LT Applicants are authorized an adjusted End of Period (EOP) of 30 April 2023 for the annual OER with delivery to OPM-3 no later than 19 May 2023. LTJG Applicants are authorized a Boards and Panels OER with an EOP no earlier than 03 May 2023 with delivery to OPM-3 no later than 19 May 2023. ENS applicants are not authorized a Boards and Panels OER but shall ensure submittal of the semiannual 31 March 2023 OER on time no later than 15 May 2023.
13. EER Submission: All EERs for enlisted applicants must be marked final in DA no later than 01 June 2023.
14. POC and References:
a. Law JD Program Manager: CDR Brian Sattler, Brian.G.Sattler@uscg.mil
b. OPM Post Grad/Adv Ed Coordinator: LT Anna Ruth, Anna.L.Ruth@uscg.mil
c. OPM Post Grad/Adv Ed SharePoint Site:
Post Grad & Advanced Education Panels (sharepoint-mil.us)
d. Law Application Templates and Instructions:
Post Grad & Advanced Education Panels (sharepoint-mil.us)
e. OPM Submission Inbox: HQS-SMB-CGPSC-opm-1-PGPanels@uscg.mil
15. RADM Melissa Bert, Judge Advocate General, endorses. RDML David C. Barata, Commander, Personnel Service Center, sends.
16. Internet release is authorized.