It's natural for some lawyers to develop an intense interest in criminal law. But how long after you begin your career can you try a fully contested criminal case? For Captain Trey Alford, it took only nine months in the Army JAG Corps.
Immediate experience is one of the valuable benefits the JAG Corps offers, according to Captain Alford, "The kind of cases, the complexity of cases, the amount of responsibility I was entrusted with—I don't think very many public defenders get that kind of experience that early." Alford has served as a prosecutor and defense counsel, and while each is a serious challenge, by no means does he do it alone: experienced Judge Advocates offer guidance and support along the way. Captain Alford agrees, "The camaraderie and collegiality of the Army JAG Corps is unmatched. It's hard to imagine a legal community that fosters a better work environment than the one found in the Army JAG Corps."
Another benefit of JAG Corps service is the opportunity to travel, which Captain Alford took full advantage of. "Whether I was traveling in a Blackhawk helicopter to defend a court-martial down in Seoul or investigating a fraud case in Bangkok, Thailand, my service as a defense counsel with the Second Infantry Division was truly second to none."
Captain Alford believes he made the right decision in choosing the JAG Corps over civilian practice: "Here, we're concerned with accomplishing the mission, not billable hours. I didn't become an attorney because I wanted to keep track of how many minutes I was talking on the phone. I'm more interested in effectively and zealously advocating for my client."
The JAG Corps is also focused on exposing lawyers to new experiences to fully develop their legal skills. As Captain Alford puts it, "The Army provides a lot of opportunity for doing exciting things—you don't get in a rut of doing the same thing over and over again. In four years, I've worked in three different, great locations—to me that's exciting."
Enlisted
Officer
