Paralegal Specialist (27D)

Overview:
The paralegal specialist is not like being a legal assistant, they are expected to provide legal/administrative support in all areas of criminal law, international law, civil/administrative law, contract law and fiscal law. They assist judges, Judge Advocates and unit commanders with a wide range of legal matters and judicial work.

https://www.goarmy.com/info.html?iom=APG7

Job Duties:

• Paralegal support to unit commanders and the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
• Provide legal documents in courts-martial, Article 15 actions and other military justice matters
• Review line of duty determinations, AR 15-6 investigations, separation board proceedings and other administrative law matters
• Assistance in family law such as power of attorney, wills and separation decrees

Requirements:

• Those who want to serve must first take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a series of tests that helps you better understand your strengths and identify which Army jobs are best for you. If your ASVAB scores qualify, you will then undergo training and learn how to become a paralegal specialist.

Training:

• Training for a paralegal specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training, and 10 weeks of Advanced Individual Training with on-the-job instruction at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Some of the skills you’ll learn are:

• Legal terminology and research techniques
• Preparation of legal documents
• Army judicial process
• Interviewing witnesses

Helpful Skills:

• Ability to supervise those in a command
• Provide technical guidance to subordinates
• Maintain law/administrative library
• Monitor and review actions for accuracy