270A Legal Administrator

OVERVIEW

A Legal Administrator is responsible for ensuring that all orders, legal records and processes are in compliance with legal mandates. 

DUTIES

• Oversee a complete range of legal services to the assigned military community
• Provide technical advice and assistance to military and government attorneys and judges, commanders and staff, and enlisted and civilian legal support personnel in all areas of legal administration
• Act as adjutant or assistant adjutant in legal support organizations
• Coordinate with counterparts from sister services, other agencies and allied military services with the goal of building the best industry-wide legal practices
• Have substantial knowledge, formal military education and experience in management of military operational law and procedure
• Act as legal operations specialist at a headquarters, carrying out general court-martial jurisdiction or major commands
• Act as internal control officer for military justice, ensuring that all orders, legal records and processes are in compliance with legal mandates
• Act as chief operations officer of Guard legal offices, providing management of business processes and strategic planning
• Supervise subordinate personnel, resources, facilities and equipment required to support legal services provided at various organizational levels and across the range of military operations
• Act as a link between lawyers and staff, officers and enlisted personnel, and military and civilian employees
• Be highly motivated and possess tact, initiative and mature judgment
• Be a leader, mentor and technical expert who can easily transition from garrison to field operation environments
• Be a visionary leader in the continuing transformation of the Judge Advocate General's Corps
• Review and provide technical oversight and support for:
• Military justice functions
• Expert witness procurement
• Court-martial orders
• Records of trial preparation
• Processing times
• Coordinate attorney contracts in accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 27-50 in overseas environments
• Review and authenticate military justice and administrative legal documents
• Manage the overall military and civilian paralegal and administrative functions of Guard core legal disciplines (administrative law, civil law, claims, international law, legal assistance and military justice) and operational law
• Ensure legal and administrative documents and processes comply with procedural rules
• Formulate, recommend and execute administrative policy for the staff judge advocate (SJA)

Technology Manager

• Manage the staff judge advocate (SJA) information management functions and equipment
• Direct the training of personnel and use of Command, Control, Communication and Computers (C4) equipment in legal operations
• Plan, coordinate, provide, secure, operate and maintain C4 in home station and field environments
• Locally manage the Judge Advocate Warfighting System and ensure integration into Future Combat Systems
• Ensure the confidentiality of attorney work-product and attorney-client-privileged information on automated information systems

Resource Manager

• Develop plans, programs and fiscal requirements; execute program budget guidance; authenticate funding obligations; monitor expenditures, manpower utilization and resourcing; and manage the Internal Controls Program
• Manage training and temporary duty (TDY) mission, court witnesses and expert travel programs
• Ensure that legal staff is prepared, manned, equipped and funded for military operations

Human Resource Manager

• Create and change job descriptions; manage pay, time and attendance issues; manage training, awards and discipline issues
• Oversee and review ratings of military and civilian personnel, ensuring timely and accurate reports to the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC)
• Act as point of contact (POC) for force management at the local level
• Coordinate Active and Reserve Component combined operations or training
• Analyze legal operations and recommend methods of improving operation and delivery of total legal services, manpower utilization, and execution of fiscal authority to the staff judge advocate
• Seek feedback from client base for analysis
• Promote the use of legal services and represent the JAGC in the community

Army National Guard Law Libraries Manager and/or Accountable Officer (AR 27-1) (hard copy and/or electronic)

• Serve as JAGC POC to Army National Guard Law Library Service
• Train legal staff in the use of automated legal research materials and ensure legal research capability in remote and tactical environments and monitor research accounts for effective use of resources
• Provide procedural guidance and technical assistance and training to military judges, attorneys, commanders and staff, legal support staff, and subordinate elements
• Legal office/operations historian
• Report operational experiences to the Legal Center and School and command historians
• Serve as office protocol officer with responsibilities for awards ceremonies, promotions and visiting dignitaries from the legal community
• Act as recorder on administrative boards in National Guard and Reserve organizations

MINIMUM PREREQUISITES
Military Education:
Serving as a legal administrator requires successful completion of the Army National Guard Legal Administrator Pre-Appointment Correspondence Course. For enrollment information, contact The Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army (JAGS-ADN-C), 600 Massie Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22903-1781. You may also call (434) 971-3308 or DSN 521-3308, or visit the TJAGLCS website.

Civilian Education:
To serve as a Legal Administrator, you must possess a civilian education level of 14 years (two years of college) or higher. Applicants must have completed at least six credit hours of college-level English. Successful completion of the English College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is the only substitute for the English requirement.

Military Experience:
To serve as a Legal Administrator, you must be in the grade of sergeant (E-5) or above and have served in Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) 27D for at least five years.

GT Score:
Applicants must have a General Technical (GT) aptitude area score of 110 or higher.

Staff Judge Advocate Interview:
Each applicant will be personally interviewed by the command SJA. The SJA will candidly evaluate and report on the applicant's:

• Management potential
• Motivation
• Military bearing
• Sincerity
• General physical appearance and condition
• Oral communicative skills
• Any other matters considered appropriate

The report will conclude with an evaluation of the applicant's ability and potential for assuming Legal Administrator duties in a staff judge advocate office. Additionally, if the applicant has requested a waiver, the SJA will comment on whether they support the request.

Legal Administrator Interview:
The current Legal Administrator (LA) will interview each applicant. The LA will candidly evaluate and report on the applicant's knowledge of law office administration, including but not limited to:

• Budget administration
• Security management
• Information management
• Manpower management
• Automation management/systems

The report will conclude with an evaluation of the applicant's ability and potential for assuming LA duties in a staff judge advocate office.

If the applicant does not serve with an LA or has performed duty in the current position for a short period of time (normally less than three months), the LA evaluation is not required. In those cases, the SJA/JA evaluation will include areas normally covered in the LA's evaluation.

Chief Paralegal Interview:
Each applicant will be interviewed by their chief paralegal noncommissioned officer (NCO). The chief paralegal NCO will candidly evaluate and report on the applicant's:

• Leadership ability
• Paralegal experience
• Army National Guard Values
• Work ethic

The report will conclude with an evaluation of the applicant's ability and potential for assuming LA duties in an SJA office.

Each report will be forwarded separately to: HQDA, Office of the Judge Advocate General, ATTN: DAJA-PTW, 1777 N. Kent St., Suite 10001 Rosslyn, VA 22209-2194

NOTE: Contents of interview reports will not be disclosed to the applicant, except as authorized by law.

NOTE: Army National Guard programs and benefits are subject to change. Your local Warrant Officer Strength Manager has the most up-to-date information about job availability and bonuses in your state.