Serving a Greater Purpose: A Career as a Department of Defense Attorney

For those contemplating a legal career that offers both professional fulfillment and a sense of national service, the path of a Department of Defense attorney presents a compelling option. Through the experiences of Andrew, a DoD attorney with over 30 years of experience, including 22 years as a Navy JAG officer, we gain valuable insights into this unique career trajectory.

A Non-Traditional Path to Legal Success

Andrew's journey to becoming a DoD attorney wasn't a straight line. Like many successful legal professionals, his path included diverse experiences that collectively prepared him for his career. "I think all of those—a little bit of this, a little bit of that—helped prepare me to be better suited to work in the law," Andrew reflects on his early experiences. His background included unexpected roles that built transferable skills: "I did intern at a civilian radio station in town, as well as the college radio station. I was an elementary school teacher assistant as an internship. I also interned as a US senator's assistant in his office down the street from the college."

These varied experiences developed crucial communication skills that would serve him throughout his career: "Some of the things that helped were classes such as public speaking, maybe debate. I was on the radio station as a DJ, those kind of things."

The Multi-Faceted Role of a DoD Attorney

A DoD attorney's career encompasses remarkable diversity, offering experiences far beyond what typical legal practices provide. Andrew's career exemplifies this variety: "I've been a Department of Defense attorney for thirty years. I was a naval officer working as a judge advocate. I had a number of different assignments. I worked in trial as a prosecutor, as a defense attorney. I was a judge. I also worked as a staff judge advocate, which is like a city attorney. I was a city attorney for a base. I was a city attorney for an aircraft carrier. I was a city attorney for an admiral."

Currently, Andrew represents the United States in security clearance hearings: "[In] my current assignment as a civilian attorney, I work in the world of security clearances, where individuals who may or may not be approved for a security clearance have an opportunity to challenge any kind of a declination or revocation in an administrative hearing. And in those administrative hearings, I represent the United States."

A Day in the Life: From Aircraft Carriers to Courtrooms

The daily routine of a DoD attorney varies dramatically depending on assignment, creating a career that remains engaging through decades of service. "A day in the life of a military attorney could be any number of things," Andrew explains. "It could be very military... but I've also served in military assignments that were very office-like."

This variety prevents stagnation: "My job now is much more corporate... It's really across the spectrum, and that's why it's been a pretty great career. I've never been bored."

Balancing National Security with Individual Rights

One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of being a DoD attorney is balancing important competing interests. In Andrew's current role, this means weighing national security concerns against individual circumstances in security clearance cases.

He explains, "I represent the Department of Defense, and individuals will come to the hearings who may have lost their security clearance or are in danger of losing it. And there are various reasons why that might be appropriate for them to lose it. But I represent the interests of the United States in these hearings to protect national security interests."

This responsibility requires thoughtful consideration of each case: "I need to keep reminding myself that this file is a person who has a career and a family as well. And I treat each file as being important and requiring my full attention."

Skills for Success in Military and Defense Law

Andrew identifies several key skills that contribute to success as a DoD attorney:

1. Dedication to a greater purpose: "We're in it because of something else, working for something bigger and a sense of purpose."

2. Honesty and thoroughness: "We owe our client... an answer and if you don't know the answer, sometimes you need to say, I don't know, but I will find out."

3. Mission-focused approach: "Our first obligation is to the ship or the bigger cause. Our next obligation is to the guy next to us, or the gal next to us. And then we come in third, because there's a greater dedication to the mission and getting things done."

4. Strong writing and communication: He emphasizes that "learning how to read and comprehend and to write and string sentences together" are crucial skills in his line of work. "I run into plenty of people who aren't that good at it in our field. And that's troubling."

The Rewards of Public Service Law

Despite the challenges, Andrew finds deep satisfaction in his work, primarily because of its connection to national purpose. "It's about being a part of something bigger, and even when you're working on a comparatively mundane part of an issue, you are still working on a bigger scale for a bigger picture."

This sense of purpose provides lasting motivation: "Sometimes I've worked in my career on fairly significant issues that were a big part of national security," but even when he is working on less momentous issues, "it's still part of the mission. It's still part of the Department of Defense, and it brings you back to work every day knowing you're working for something that's important."

Who Thrives in This Field?

DoD attorneys generally share a commitment to public service that transcends financial motivations. "In the law, you can run into any number of unhappy attorneys. But that's less so in my field. People who thrive are focused on the mission, not the minutiae," Andrew observes.

This creates a different kind of job satisfaction: "They are more interested in what is important to the country, more important in serving and public service. And when that is your focus, you are more satisfied than chasing a paycheck." As Andrew notes, "I'm not going to make millions of dollars doing this. But I think I'm happier than a lot of people who do."

Lessons for Aspiring Military Attorneys

For those considering a DoD legal career, Andrew offers several valuable insights:

1. Embrace flexibility: "The secret to success or to prevent yourself from being unhappy is to have the mindset or the right attitude of being flexible with what comes next."

2. Be open to unexpected opportunities: "Some of the greatest assignments I've had were ones that... I wouldn't have picked, but all of a sudden I was there and I [thought], this is awesome. I wouldn't have picked it because I didn't know about it. And now I know about it."

3. Develop resilience: "Never let one bad experience or one bad boss cloud your view of the future. You need to roll with it and understand that down the line, things tend to even out." When facing setbacks, you should "let it go, roll with it... Be a goldfish [with] short-term memory, and be prepared to move on and do better next time."

Conclusion: A Career with Purpose

A career as a DoD attorney offers a unique blend of legal challenge and public service. While it demands flexibility, resilience, and a commitment to something greater than oneself, it provides rewards that many traditional legal paths cannot match.

As Andrew's experience demonstrates, this career appeals to those who find fulfillment in contributing to national security and working within a mission-focused environment. For law students and attorneys looking to align their legal skills with a deeper sense of purpose, the Department of Defense offers a path worth considering.

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