Do Starfleet JAG officers have to go to law school?

[mattman8907]

So I've been re-watching old episodes of JAG (a number of Star Trek actors have made appearances here and there) and It made me wonder how about Judge Advocate General Corps of the Star Trek world and if they had to go to Law school before being assigned to the JAG corps?

 

[Oddish]

Maybe Starfleet has a legal schooling program, like it has a medical schooling program

 

[The Wormhole]

Logically, you would think so. But given Starfleet pretty much puts its stamp on everything, there likely is a law school attached to Starfleet Academy.

 

[C.E. Evans]

The only thing we officially know about Starfleet JAG officers is that they do exist. But if it's anything like how the USN JAG works, they begin with a five-week officer training program, earn their entry-level commission, and then attend "Starfleet Justice School" (or whatever they might call it) for nine- to ten-weeks to earn their certification as a Starfleet lawyer.

If so, it'd probably one of the quickest ways to become a Starfleet officer or a lawyer, but you'd be lumped in with doctors and counselors as far as your authority goes, IMO.

 

[The Wormhole]

but you'd be lumped in with doctors and counselors as far as your authority goes,

So, they'd have to take a holodeck test in which they order Geordi to his death before they can take command of the bridge?

 

[publiusr]

After Khitomer, I think many might want someone from outside Starfleet…for awhile.

 

[Mojochi]

Well, I'd say just as they likely have a medical school, they probably have a law school too, but it seemed on TNG like in the event that Starfleet lawyers aren't available, even the command officers have been given law training & can be used as subs... which always seems kind of silly to me TBH

 

[JonnyQuest037]

So, they'd have to take a holodeck test in which they order Geordi to his death before they can take command of the bridge?

It is now in my headcanon that no matter WHO it is that's up for a promotion, or WHAT the job is, they only pass the test by ordering Geordi La Forge to his death. Even people who've never served with Geordi. Even in the 23rd Century before Geordi was even born.

"...But WHY do I have to order this blind engineer from 100 years in the future to his death? When is this EVER going to come up in my job?"
"--JUST DO IT, OKAY, ROGER?!?"

 

[Mojochi]

It is now in my headcanon that no matter WHO it is that's up for a promotion, or WHAT the job is, they only pass the test by ordering Geordi La Forge to his death. Even people who've never served with Geordi. Even in the 23rd Century before Geordi was even born.

"...But WHY do I have to order this blind engineer from 100 years in the future to his death? When is this EVER going to come up in my job?"
"--JUST DO IT, OKAY, ROGER?!?"

So when Geordi got promoted to Captain LaForge, he was like "OH WTF? C'MON!"

 

[C.E. Evans]

So, they'd have to take a holodeck test in which they order Geordi to his death before they can take command of the bridge?

Only if they want to be more or other than a JAG officer. Otherwise, they wouldn't need to take the Starfleet Bridge Officer Exam to advance to the rank of commander and beyond.

In Trek, though, it seems you're more likely to find a JAG officer on a starbase than on a starship, but if it was closer to how things work in the USN, a ship as big as the Enterprise would probably have a small JAG contingent as part of her regular crew.