<p>My son was accepted to the Naval Academy and also to an Ivy League. He's struggling with his decision. He wants to pursue law and eventually work in the private sector, not make the military his career. Can anyone offer any guidance?</p>
<p>If law is what he wants then I would say go Ivy League for sure because USNA wants kids who want to be officer's first, over the prestige of the academy. However, that's not saying that the academy expects every Mid to go career military. He's just got to realize that his law career may be put on hold for a while at USNA. (How many mids, if any, can go directly to law school? I'm sure, if possible, its extremely difficult)</p>
<p>My son was told USNA does not have a law program. Our BGO said there were plenty of fresh out of college attorneys willing to commission to JAG , so they did not need to pay mids to go to law school. USMA does have a career path for this; however, it's as competitive as getting into the medical corps.</p>
<p>I would say that he should go ivy league. First off there are about 7 billets (so ive heard) for law school, and if your son wants law and doesnt get one of those bilelts than he might be disappointed.</p>
<p>Might be good to make that decision after college too. Ivy league</p>
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<p>His BGO is correct. There is no program at USNA whereas graduates can go directly to law school. I think there is one to which they can apply after they have been in the fleet for a few years but not sure about the particulars.</p>
<p>I think your first statement makes it obvious that he should choose the Ivy league... "not make the military his career." The mission of the USNA is to "provide graduates who are dedicated to a career of naval service..."</p>
<p>The first question I would ask him would be; does he want to focus on the speed of his trip or what he will have the opportunity to learn and experience along the way?</p>
<p>If he attends an Ivy in four years he will join the ranks of some thousands of other Ivy graduates applying for law school. Upon his graduation from law school he will join most of the same applicants in pursuit of the same jobs in the same firms with much of the same credentials. </p>
<p>If he attends the Naval Academy he may show at law school up 5 or more years later than his contemporaries. The difference being when he enters law school he will bring with him a level of maturity, values and experience that his contemporaries probably do not possess and may never even understand. Those experiences will set him apart from his peers and within a few years the difference between those years in practice will matter less, while the skills learned from those experiences will matter more. </p>
<p>I also assume he applied to the Naval Academy for a reason beyond “it’s there”, as in he had or still has some interest in becoming a Naval Officer? You don’t accidentally apply to the Academy, as I’m sure you know it’s a very involved and lengthy process. My question is exactly who is struggling with this decision, or has he interests and/or priorities changed?</p>
<p>My husband did his five years active duty then stayed in the reserves to do his 20. While he worked full time ,had a family , did reserves, he attended law school at night. He did it in 4 yrs and he now has a successful career as a Patent Attorney. Plus he has his 20yrs as a Naval Officer. He wouldn't change a thing. We still share in all the benefits of the military plus a nice pension to come. Just a another way to do it it all. Good luck with your decision!!!</p>
<p>Your replies are so appreciated. Having input from different points of view is invaluable. Ultimately it is his decision, but hearing from people who attended USNA are giving him much-needed guidance. Thank you for being so honest.</p>
<p>I'm currently a civilian attorney and am a USNA grad. However, when I went to USNA, the LAST thing I wanted to do was become an attorney. That desire came to me about 5 yrs into my naval career. I fully enjoyed my time in the USN and also know that I left that career at exactly the right time for me -- and am very happy and fulfilled as an attorney.</p>
<p>Personally, I believe that having a military background and a technical education only help you as a lawyer for reasons too numerous to go into here. I also believe that people are typically happier in law school and as a lawyer if they've had another job/career first. Not universally true, but often the case.</p>
<p>I suggest he consider why he wants to be an attorney -- does he want to help the little guy (something most attorneys do NOT do, sad to say), make a lot of money (something only some attorneys achieve), be challenged intellectually all the time, or something else. Is this something he sees as a long-term goal or something he wants to do right away?</p>
<p>The above notwithstanding (how's that for lawyer-speak?), if your son's overwhelming desire is to be an attorney, I'm not sure USNA is the best path for him. It will be at least 9+ years before he can even attend law school. If, every minute of that time, he hates what he's doing, what's the point? </p>
<p>Happy to discuss further via PM.</p>
<p>some great responses here that go beyond the initial conventional wisdom of "go Ivy." rjr57 and usna1985 have some partiular insites on this, especially in light of the fact that I darn few attorneys who knew they wanted to be such at 17 or 18 ... and a great many who thought they did and ended up elsewhere. IF you're comparing undergraduate experiences AND a potential 5 year work experience like none other ... well the answer is quite clear.</p>
<p>As noted the Naval Academy does not have a program to send graduates directly to law school. The Naval Academy exists to provide line officers to the Navy and Marine Corps. The Navy does offer fully-funded law school to line officers who have completed at least one tour on active duty (it was five annually, not sure what the current number is). USMC has a similar program. </p>
<p>RADM Houck, the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy is a member of the class of '80 and participated in this program (see his bio in at navy.mil in the /leadership/biographies section. One aspect the show "JAG" did correctly portray is that the higher ranks of the JAG Corps have a high representation of former line officers. (The F-14 part is outdated; now they all get an F-18). </p>
<p>To paraphase President Kennedy, there are few ways to better prepare for practicing law than to serve as a Navy officer. </p>
<p>There were "too many" (my personal evaluation) attorneys in the Navy Reserve. I knew many who had completed law school and served as attorneys or judges but remained line officers. Several Reserve Admirals have been attorneys. </p>
<p>I also know of many who completed law school either in the later years of active duty or after retirement. </p>
<p>An academy and service as a line officer is an excellent path to a law degree.</p>
<p>Choose the Ivy League if he wants to be a 'young' lawyer. Otherwise come here if it's not all that important when he gets it. I think 3 people from '08 got JAG but I'm not sure. It's like an a quarter of a percent or something like that. Don't come here if you want to go something that specialized. We're constantly bombarded with the phrase "needs of the navy" and apparantly the navy doesn't need academy graduated jag.</p>
<p>Perhaps I'm confused, but weren't decisions due nationwide to all university's May 1st? Or at least post-marked by 05/01. Any clarification is welcome.</p>
<p>but you can aways accept to more than one place as long as you pay the security deposit, which is what i assume bahamaman's son has done.</p>
<p>Ah ha..........never thought about saying 'yes' to more than 1 school angle. Thank you DSL for responding!</p>
<p>there are some that will go even further.</p>
<p>At some schools, it is possible to "defer" your admission for one year, while you accept- and attend- at another.</p>
<p>Not sure it is what I would recommend- but it can, and has, been done.</p>