Legal training programs to begin accepting applications Published Sept. 23, 2009 By Capt. Afsana Ahmed Chief of Recruiting, Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps BOLLING AFB, D.C. (AFNS) -- Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from Jan. 1 to March 1, 2010. The FLEP, which is a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers, is an assignment action and participants receive full pay, allowances and tuition. Applicants must have between two and six years active-duty service -- enlisted or commissioned -- and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the day they begin law school. The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers. Participants do not receive pay and allowances; however, they remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes. Applicants must have between two and ten years active-duty service and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school. In addition to prosecuting and defending clients brought before courts-martial, JAG officers routinely participate in nearly every facet of the Air Force mission including developing and acquiring weapons systems, ensuring availability of airspace and ranges where those systems are tested and operated and assisting commanders in the day-to-day operations of military installations around the world, according to Col. Robin Moro, director of professional development in the Office of The Judge Advocate General. "Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and commanders deserve to have access to legal advisors with a broad background of military experiences," said Colonel Moro. "The FLEP and ELP will ensure that we can continue to maintain a corps of officers whose military experience complements their legal training, providing commanders with the highest caliber of legal support." Applications for fiscal 2010 FLEP and ELP will be accepted from Jan. 1 to March 1. Both FLEP and ELP require attendance at an American Bar Association-accredited law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law in the highest court of any state, territory of the United States or a federal court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates. To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must have completed all application forms and applied -- acceptance is not required at the time of application -- to at least one ABA-accredited law school, received their law school admissions test results and completed a staff judge advocate interview by March 1. Officers also must provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. For more information and application materials, log on to http://www.airforce.com/jag or e-mail Capt. Afsana Ahmed at afsana.ahmed@pentagon.af.mil.