The Judge Advocate General's Corps announces law school programs: FLEP/ELP Published Jan. 17, 2012 Courtesy of the 6th Air Mobility Wing Legal Office MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from now through March 1. Interested officers are encouraged to compete. The JAG Corps is interested in not only providing high caliber legal support, but also in obtaining candidates with valuable military experience and knowledge. According to Maj. Heavener, Chief of the Accessions Branch, Professional Development Directorate, Office of The Judge Advocate General Air Force, JAGs do more than just provide legal assistance. 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, consulting with commanders about how those systems are employed in armed conflict, and assisting commanders in the day-to-day running of military installations around the world. The FLEP is a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers. Participants receive full pay, allowances, and tuition. The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers. ELP participants do not receive pay and allowances but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes. Applicants for either program must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school. Both the FLEP and ELP programs require attendance at an American Bar Association accredited law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates. To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must complete all application forms, apply (acceptance is not required at the time of application for FLEP/ELP) to at least one ABA accredited law school, receive their Law School Admissions Test results, and interview with a Staff Judge Advocate by Feb. 15. Officers must provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. Applications meet a selection board in early March, and selections are made based on a review of the application package using a "whole person" concept. AFI 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3, discuss the FLEP and ELP. For more information and application materials, visit http://www.airforce.com/jag, or contact Capt. Erin Kenny, erin.kenny.1@us.af.mil at the base legal office.