Navy JAG Corps Judge Advocate General's Corps

The Navy JAG Community proudly nominated five legal assistance attorneys and three commands for the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) 2014 Distinguished Service Awards. We are pleased to announce that the LAMP Committee acknowledged the Navy's outstanding legal assistance program by making Navy the only service to receive three 2014 LAMP Distinguished Service Awards. The following recipients received 2014 LAMP Distinguished Service Awards: …

   1. It's Not (Just) SharePoint. Successful knowledge management activities focus equally on people, process and technology. There is an important and necessary culture-shift that creates an environment where collaboration and information sharing are natural and integrated in the way we work. Modernized processes help capture, organize and share critical information. These activities are enabled by technology (like SharePoint) but not primarily focused on it. Successful knowledge management activities focus …

PEARL HARBOR – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) is currently at the forefront of Navy training and education, but less discussed and publicized among SAPR topics is the issue of command or peer retaliation. 

The Victims’ Legal Counsel (VLC) program, established in 2014, protects the legal rights and interests of a victim of a sexual assault. VLC are trained military attorneys who provide legal guidance to sexual assault victims …

USS ANZIO, At Sea (NNS) -- After she finished law school eight years ago, Lt. Nancy Pham sought and earned her USS ANZIO, At Sea (NNS) -- After she finished law school eight years ago, Lt. Nancy Pham sought and earned her commission in the Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. The Navy provided Pham with an opportunity to put her legal skills to use in service to her country …

April marks sexual assault awareness and prevention month and the military has focused much effort on its prevention and care for victims of sexual assault.  One program lauded as an innovative, successful approach to victim support is the U.S. Navy’s Victim Legal Counsel (VLC) Program.  The VLC Program consists of 29 specially trained judge advocates in 24 fleet locations around the world.   The Navy implemented the VLC Program to offer …

Members of Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) traveled to Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Patuxent River) and provided a sexual assault p Members of Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) traveled to Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Patuxent River) and provided a sexual assault prevention and response workshop exercise for members of Scientific Development Squadron One (VXS-1) on Feb. 13, …

Please join me in congratulating Captain John G. Hannink, JAGC, U.S. Navy, on his Please join me in congratulating Captain John G. Hannink, JAGC, U.S. Navy, on his nomination by the President to be our next Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy/Commander, Naval Legal Service Command and for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (upper half). Captain Hannink is an exceptional naval officer with the background and expertise …

The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) presented Cmdr. Andrew House and Dwain Alexander II, with 2013 LAMP Distinguished Service Awards. The LAMP Award highlights exceptional support of the military legal assistance effort.  U.S. Army retired Maj. Gen. Butch Tate, Chairman of the LAMP Committee, presided over the award ceremony.

The Fiscal Year 2015 Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board met on Feb. 10, 2015 and considered 15 highly qualified applicants. The Fiscal Year 2015 Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board met on Feb. 10, 2015 and considered 15 highly qualified applicants.

The board used the "whole person" concept to identify those applicants with the greatest potential for successful service as a Navy …

March 3rd Marks the Celebration of U.S. Navy Reserve's 100th Anniversary

Lt. Cmdr. Paul C. Kapfer, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW), retired from active duty after twenty years of service in a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, Jan. 23, 2015.  Capt. Tammy P. Tideswell served as the guest speaker and spoke at length regarding Kapfer’s leadership and dedication to service.

Kapfer reported to Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, in 1995 as a trial counsel and branch …

Navy Victims' Legal Counsel (VLC) provide eligible victims of a military sexual offenses with a dedicated attorney to help them understand the investigation and military justice process, safeguard their legal rights and interests, advocate on their behalf, and obtain additional support in accessing resources that may assist in their recovery. 1. Navy Victims' Legal Counsel (VLC) provide eligible victims of a military sexual offenses with a dedicated attorney to help …

When does tax season start and end? The tax season began January 20th and ends April 15th for people in the United States and June 15th for those stationed overseas.  Those stationed in combat zones get an automatic extension of 180 days from the last date that the member is in a combat zone. The tax season began January 20th and ends April 15th for people in the United States …

The issue of retaliation, especially towards victims of sexual assault, has been in the news lately. Retaliation is a destructive behavior, and you can play a role in preventing and reporting it. Here are five things you need to know about retaliation: The issue of retaliation, especially towards victims of sexual assault, has been in the news lately. Retaliation is a destructive behavior, and you can play a role in …

The following message is from JAG Corps senior leaders Vice Adm. Nanette DeRenzi, Rear Adm. James Crawford, III, and Command Master Chief. Please join us in congratulating Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Yolanda Driscoll on her selection as the 2014 JAG Corps Legalman of the Year and Legalman 1st Class (AW) Tara Harris on her selection as the 2014 Naval Legal Service Command Sailor of the Year. These two outstanding Sailors …

On Sept. 12, 2014, 16 legalmen from duty stations around the world graduated from the Mid-Level Legalman Course held at Naval Justice School Detachment San Diego.  This week-long course was the second part of the newly revamped two-part training program, comprised of an online portion and an in-resident portion, aimed at mid-level leaders serving in a supervisory position or in their second tour as a legalman.  

Before attending the in-resident …

Two senior members from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), flew to Washington, D.C. from Atlanta, Ga., to present Lt. Ericka Droguett, judge advocate assigned to Office of the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Assistance Policy Division, with their Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication Service Award at the Washington Navy Yard, Nov. 13, 2014.  Robin Taylor, Chief of the IRS's Wage and Investment Division's Grant Program presented the award to …

What exactly is “non-judicial punishment?”  When would a commanding officer use a summary court martial?  And how can the Navy ensure that a defendant’s due process rights are guaranteed in a court martial conducted at sea?

These and other questions were on display in a discussion about life as a Navy judge advocate led by Lt. Cmdr. Elizabeth O’Connor, Region Legal Service Office Midwest (RLSO MW), at an event hosted …

Join the Navy and see the world?  Eighteen months into his first tour at Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Midwest, first tour judge advocate Lt. Adam Smith had seen more “amber waves of grain” than “blue of the mighty deep.”  This past summer, however, he got the chance to operate in the country of New Centralia, where he advised the land component of a United Nations (U.N.)-sponsored multi-national …

Life-work balance means different things to different people. To some, it means finding an equal place for work and the rest of your life.  For others, it’s a matter of at least finding enough time for “life” that you can tolerate the work.  For dual-military spouses, especially with children, it’s tough.  Military service is a difficult choice for anyone.  It’s a calling that places a set of demands on you …