This issue of the Army Lawyer pays homage to the concept of substantive mastery of the law. It is one of the foundational constants for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, alongside stewardship, servant leadership, and principled counsel.

News & Notes 2021 Issue 1

The Judge Advocate General’s (TJAG) directive for attorneys to become masters in one or two areas of the law as their careers progress1 fulfills the “expert” part of his description of judge advocate legal service (JALS) personnel—expert and versatile. For military attorneys, versatility is a must as they cycle through necessary and varying assignments in almost all areas of military law. 

Like fingers pointing to the moon . . . diverse disciplines from anthropology to education, behavioral economics to family counseling, similarly suggest that the skillful management of attention is the sine qua non of the good life and the key to improving virtually every aspect of your experience, from mood to productivity to your relationships.

In January 1965, Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins abandoned his post and, without authority, walked across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into North Korea. After surrendering to enemy soldiers guarding the border, Jenkins spent the next four decades in North Korea—as a captive of the Pyongyang regime.

The following members of our Regiment, in alphabetical order, passed away in 2020.

You are, by your own estimation, a relatively-seasoned trial counsel. Your panel case is a week away. You double-check the military judge’s pre-trial order and peer over one of the last items on the list: Provide the judge copies of proposed voir dire questions no later than three business days before trial.

Mercenaries have been used since the dawn of war. For much of history, it was preferable to rent an existing, trained force rather than going through the expense of creating one from within.

The title of this article remains a constant aspiration for many military paralegals within our Corps. We must find ways to remain ready in our field craft as Soldiers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) just as much as we need to remain relevant in our technical trade as paralegal specialists.

Picture this: It is the night of 10 October 1985. Four Islamic terrorists with American blood on their hands are huddled in a grounded airplane in Sicily, Italy. They are surrounded by Italian and U.S. forces, but the two allied militaries are pointing their guns at one another, not at the terrorists.