Judge Advocate Jobs
Judge Advocate jobs are open across the military, federal government, and defense contracting sectors, from entry-level JAG Corps positions to senior staff judge advocate and general counsel roles, with specializations in military law, administrative law, and national security law. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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UCS-23
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENT
STATE OF NEW YORK
UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM
PLEASE POST
ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 23640
POSITION TITLE: PRINCIPAL LAW CLERK TO JUDGE JG: 31
LOCATION: SUPREME COURT, NEW YORK COUNTY - CIVIL TERM
BASE SALARY: $130,061 + $4,920 LOCATION PAY
CLASSIFICATION: EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL
QUALIFICATIONS: Admission to the New York State Bar and two (2) years of service in the Associate Law Clerk to Judge title;
or five (5) years of relevant legal experience, including up to 18 months of pre-admission experience.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Principal Law Clerks to Judge are responsible for researching and analyzing uniquely
intricate, complex and sensitive legal issues and questions for individual judges. They also provide other personal and confidential
assistance to an individual judge or judges. Principal Law Clerks to Judge are personally appointed by the judge or judges for whom
they work and serve at their pleasure.
ASSIGNMENT: This position is assigned to Hon. Leslie A. Stroth, New York State Supreme Court Justice in New York County, Civil
Term. Duties include, but are not limited to: researching and analyzing legal questions and issues and preparing memoranda with
recommendations; drafting opinions, decisions, orders, jury charges, correspondence and other written material; conferring with
lawyers on complex proceedings and reviewing legal documents filed in connection with such legal proceedings; reviewing and
verifying citations; conferring with and advising the judge on legal issues; and conducting conferences with attorneys and other
parties to legal actions to clarify issues to be resolved or to settle cases.
Law Clerks to Judge must: possess knowledge of the laws and rules governing civil practice; proficiency in legal writing; the ability
to read, comprehend, and communicate complex legal and other technical data; the ability to analyze legal issues and identify
relevant case opinions and facts; the ability to establish work priorities; the ability to handle sensitive matters on a confidential basis;
and preferred experience in civil litigation.
GENERAL INFORMATION: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by
persons assigned to this title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in the title, and every position does not
necessarily require these duties. All applications received from this announcement may be used to fill any vacancies in this title that
may occur in this court or agency within the next six (6) months. Position(s) available at the present time: 1 .
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a UCS-5
Application for Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at
www.nycourts.gov/careers/UCS5.pdf),cover letter, a resume, and two (2) writing samples by email to sfc-part12-clerk@nycourts.gov
with Reference: Application for Principal Law Clerk.
APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DATA COLLECTION FORM.
POSTING DATE: November 6, 2026 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: November 30, 2026
The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital
status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
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Find Judge Advocate JobsJudge Advocate Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in judge advocate jobs.
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school and active bar membership
- Completion of a Judge Advocate Officer Basic or equivalent military legal training course
- Experience advising commanders or senior officials on legal matters under the UCMJ
- Active or current eligibility for a Secret or Top Secret security clearance
- Demonstrated experience in military justice, administrative law, or government contracts law
- Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills in a government or military setting
Tips for Your Judge Advocate Job Search
Tailor your resume to military law
Highlight bar admission, your JAG Corps branch, and any specialty court experience like court-martial, administrative discharge boards, or claims work. Civilian employers want to see how military legal practice translates to their compliance or litigation needs.
Get your security clearance documented early
Many judge advocate roles in federal agencies and defense contractors require an active clearance. Know your clearance level, when it was last adjudicated, and have your SF-86 dates ready before applications begin, since gaps can slow offers.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists judge advocate openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that match your specialty area
Federal agencies, the Department of Defense, and legal aid organizations each hire for distinct practice areas. Search by keywords like government contracts law, claims, or UCMJ to surface openings where your specific courtroom or advisory experience is directly relevant.
Prepare concrete examples of independent judgment
Interviewers for judge advocate roles consistently probe how you advised commanders or agency heads under time pressure. Prepare two or three specific examples where your legal recommendation shaped a decision, naming the stakes and outcome without disclosing protected information.
Negotiate start dates around transition requirements
If you're separating from active duty, your terminal leave and permissive TDY windows affect when you can realistically begin civilian work. Know those dates before salary conversations, so you can negotiate a start date that works without forfeiting benefits.
Judge Advocate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most judge advocates?
NYS Unified Court System, Starbucks, and LCMC Health are hiring the most judge advocates right now, with openings concentrated in New York, Louisiana, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors and federal agencies account for the largest share of civilian openings for attorneys with military law backgrounds.
How many judge advocate jobs are remote?
About 0% of judge advocate openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with legal advisory and policy roles more likely to allow remote work than positions tied to a military installation or federal courthouse. Operational and garrison legal support roles almost always require an on-site presence.
How do you become a judge advocate?
You need a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school and bar admission in at least one state before commissioning as a judge advocate. Each military branch then requires completion of its own officer and judge advocate training course before you assume legal duties. Federal civilian judge advocate positions follow a similar path but substitute agency onboarding for military training.
How do you get hired as a judge advocate with little experience?
Clerking for a military judge or working as a legal assistance attorney right after your basic course gives you courtroom exposure that civilian employers recognize. Emphasize any court-martial advocacy, administrative separation board work, or operational law assignments from your early service, since those translate directly to federal and defense-sector hiring even with a short service record.
What does the judge advocate interview process look like?
Most federal and defense-sector judge advocate interviews involve a panel of senior attorneys and human resources staff, a review of writing samples or redacted legal memoranda, and scenario-based questions about advising under pressure or handling competing priorities. Some positions add a supervisory skills component if the role involves managing paralegal or legal support staff.
Where can I find and apply to judge advocate jobs?
You can find and apply to judge advocate jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your practice area and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 14 Judge Advocate Jobs
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