Legalmen work under the supervision of attorneys, preparing and processing legal documents in the areas of military justice, legal assistance, and administrative, civil, and operational law. This includes providing assistance to Sailors and family members, conducting research, and preparing official accounts of investigations and courts-martial.  Therefore, interested Sailors must possess excellent problem solving and oral expression skills, maturity, personable, have character, neat personal appearance and have military bearing.  Legalmen community leadership asses these skills and determine which candidates join the rating after careful review of their application package and the completion of their oral board.
 
Once selected for the legalman rating, Sailors will attend an intense 13-week training course at Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island.  This is followed by a condensed 8-week semester of college through Roger Williams University as part of the Paralegal Education Program (LPEP) program.  LPEP allows members to continue working towards the Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies without having to apply for Tuition Assistance.
 
To be eligible for PACT or lateral conversion, interested candidates must meet the following requirements:
 

• Have less than 10 years of active service, and currently be serving at a paygrade of E-3 - E-6 (E-3 personnel must be eligible for advancement to E-4);
• Type at a speed of at least 35 words per minute;
• Possess the general administrative knowledge and skills required for an E-4 serving in the Yeoman rating through completion of YN Basic NAVEDTRA 1500.9B;
• No speech or hearing impairments;
• No record of Non-judicial punishment or court-martial within 36 months of the date of application;
• No record of alcohol or drug abuse within 36 months of the date of application;
• Be eligible for a Secret security clearance;
• Prepare a typewritten statement within 60 minutes;
• Be within physical readiness standards and have passed or properly waived from the last three consecutive physical readiness assessments;
• Be worldwide assignable;
• Have an ASVAB score of VE + MK = 105 OR combined VE + MK + CS = 157. Minimum VE of 52 (PAY 97) or 54 (PAY 80); and
• Incur a minimum of 36 months of obligated service as part of the LPEP program.

“The legalman community continues to recruit Sailors with diverse backgrounds,” said Master Chief Legalman Brook L. Larkins, senior enlisted advisor for the Judge Advocate General. "Their fleet experience provides valuable perspectives for our attorney’s and warfighting mission. Bottom line:  as we continue to grow as a Judge Advocate General Corps and we want the best and brightest in the community,” she added.
 
All in all, if you have a passion for justice, then the legalman rating is for you! As Legalman 1st Class David Schneider, a PACT Sailor who was selected for the legalman rating in 2017, states, “Justice Never Rests!”
 
For more information about the legalman conversion process, read JAGINST 1440.1F, visit the Navy JAG community website at www.jag.navy.mil talk with your command career counselor, and contact the senior enlisted leader of your nearest Region Legal Service Office or Defense Service Office.