Warrant Officer Prerequisites and Duty Description
270A – Legal Administrator
***ATTENTION: Active Duty Application Restrictions***
The Active Component 270A MOS is currently overstrength. As a result, we will NOT be accepting applications from the following sources for the Active Component in FY26/27:
1. Timelines:
a. Active Duty: The FY26 WOSB for 270A concluded. When published by USAREC, the FY27 Warrant Officer Selection Boards (WOSB) MILPER will detail the board schedule and mandatory packet due dates for MOS 270A.
(1). Active Duty (AD) applicants are boarded once annually, typically in the first quarter of the fiscal year (FY). Selected candidates must be ready to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) in the second quarter of the FY. After being appointed to WO1, most will move to a new station in the third quarter and attend the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) in the fourth quarter.
(2). Example: If selected in Q1 (October to December), candidates will attend WOCS in Q2 (January to March), move to a new station in Q3 (April to June), and attend WOBC in Q4 (July to September).
b. Army National Guard: Applicants may apply at any time as permitted by their State and Warrant Officer Strength Managers (WOSM), which can be found at: ARNG WO Recruiting. Please refer to the ARNG Predetermination Checklist for detailed requirements.
c. Army Reserve: Applicants for appointment in the USAR may apply at any time and be boarded by the next available WOSB, regardless of MOS. Interested candidates must contact the Army Reserve Career Group (ARCG) to being the process USAR WO Recruiting. Please see the ARCG Checklist for detailed requirements.
2. Legal Administrator Overview:
a. Duties: A Legal Administrator is a dynamic leader and manager who plays a crucial role in overseeing legal operations processes and systems to support the Army’s legal practice. They provide essential technical expertise, leadership, and management of legal services, planning, preparing, and executing military legal operations. Legal Administrators mentor officers, noncommissioned officers, enlisted Soldiers, and Army civilians, and manage systems and resources for legal services across the full spectrum of conflict. They are vital enablers and leaders within the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, applying multidisciplinary insights to enhance legal service delivery.
b. Core Competencies: JAGC Warrant Officers possess specialized expertise in legal operations, human resources, budget, security, project management, information and knowledge management, and the JAGC Core Legal disciplines. They serve as system administrators and technical experts for JAGC applications, hardware, and facilities, ensuring the effective execution of legal functions.
c. Why Join Us as a Legal Administrator? Whether you're early in your Army career or have years of experience, becoming a Legal Administrator offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact. You'll be at the forefront of legal operations, using your skills to support mission success and mentor the next generation of Army leaders. This role is perfect for those who are ready to take on new challenges, work in a high-paced, highly educated, and autonomous environment, and take their careers to the next level.
d. References:
(1). FM 3-84 for additional information regarding Legal Administrators.
(2). Smartbook DA PAM 600-3 for core competencies.
(3). Smartbook DA Pam 611-21 for duties and responsibilities.
e. Before starting your application, it is highly recommended to consult with a legal administrator in your component to fully understand the MOS and evaluate your suitability and interest in the position.
(1). AD Legal Administrators are located at the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate on most Army installations (including Joint Bases). Please see the AD point of contact below if you are having difficulty locating a local legal Administrator.
(2). ARNG Legal Administrators are located at the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at the State Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ). Please see the ARNG point of contact below if you are having difficulty locating a legal administrator in your state.
(3). USAR Legal Administrators are located at the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate for Readiness Divisions, Training Commands, Medical Commands, Engineer Commands, other Major Army Reserve Commands, including Legal Command, and its subordinate Legal Operational Detachments (LODs). Please see the USAR point of contact below if you are having difficulty locating a local legal administrator in the Army Reserves.
3. Prerequisites for Appointment in MOS 270A/Legal Administrator (LA)
a. Military Education (NO WAIVERS).
(1). Enlisted applicants must have completed the Basic Leader Course (BLC).
(2). Successful completion of the “270A LA Prerequisite Course” on JAG University (JAGU).
i. The prerequisite course is completed by distance learning (DL) through the JAGU platform.
ii. To self-enroll, applicants must navigate to JAGU at https://jagu.llc.army.mil, login with your CAC, select the “Enrollment” tab, and select “270A LA Prerequisite”
iii. From the day you self-enroll, you will have 120 days to complete the course. After 120 days, you will be involuntarily disenrolled.
(3). Desired Military Education: Advanced Leader Course (ALC); Senior Leader Course; How the Army Runs (HTAR); Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE); Army Knowledge Management Qualification Course (AKMQC); Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt (LSS-GB/BB); Common Faculty Development – Instructor Course (CFD-IC)
b. Civilian Education (NO WAIVERS)
(1). Applicants must submit transcripts from all institutions attended.
(2). Applicants must possess and associate’s degree or at least 60 semester hours of college credit towards a bachelor’s degree. These credits must be documented on a transcript from an accredited, degree-granting institution.
(3). Applicants must have a minimum of six semester hours of college-level coursework in English composition, business writing, technical writing, legal writing, or another writing/composition-focused course (as indicated by course title). Speech and public speaking courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
(4). Applicants must complete a significant portion of their college coursework at an accredited, degree-granting institution to ensure academic preparedness. While JST, ACE, and CLEP credits are recognized and valued, they cannot serve as the primary basis for meeting minimum educational prerequisites. Coursework must reflect standard academic rigor.
(5). Credits from an institution that was not accredited at the time of attendance will not be counted toward meeting minimum educational requirements.
c. Experience.
(1). Time in Service (Waivable): Enlisted applicants must be a noncommissioned officer (E5 or above), with at least 60 months’ time in service.
(2). Feeder MOS (Waivable): Applicants must possess one of the four feeder MOSs:
i. 27D – Paralegal Specialist
ii. 36B – Financial Management Technician
iii. 42A – Human Resources Specialist
iv. 51C – Contracting Noncommissioned Officer
(3). Time in Feeder MOS (Waivable): Applicants with a feeder MOS must have at least 60 months’ experience in that MOS.
(4). Intraservice Transfers: NOTE: Per the notice at the top of this page, the Active Component 270A MOS is not accepting applications from intra-service transfers at this time. When open, applicants from other military branches must meet requirements 3a-c in their equivalent services. Acceptable occupational specialties include USAF – AFSC 3E6XX, 3F0XX, 3F2XX, 3F3XX, 3F5XX, or 5J0XX; USN – Rating LN or PS; and USMC – Job Code 01XX, 44XX, or 34XX. Applicants with one of these occupational specialties do not need to submit a Feeder MOS waiver.
(5). Commissioned Officers: NOTE: Per the notice at the top of this page, the Active Component 270A MOS is not accepting applications from Commissioned Officers at this time. When open, interested officers must be CPT (O3) or below and require a Feeder MOS waiver. Applicants must also demonstrate a pattern of exceptional performance and potential for continued officer service, as reflected in their officer evaluations. Judge Advocate (27A) applicants have an additional, separate requirement:
(i). Release from Judge Advocate Duty: A release from Judge Advocate (27A) duties is mandatory. This request must be routed through the Chief, Talent Management Office (TMO), to the Deputy Judge Advocate General (DJAG).
(ii). Feeder MOS Waiver: Like all other non-feeder MOS applicants, they must also submit their Feeder MOS waiver directly to the 270A Proponent
(6). Warrant Officers: NOTE: Per the notice at the top of this page, the Active Component 270A MOS is not accepting applications for reclassification (including VTIP) at this time. When open, interested Warrant Officers must be in the grade of WO1 or CW2 and require a Feeder MOS waiver. Applicants must also demonstrate a pattern of exceptional performance and potential for continued officer service, as reflected in their evaluations.
(7). Experience Waivers:
i. Experience Waivers: While waivers for the experience prerequisites are available, they are not a substitute for them. Waivers provide a path for candidates whose records demonstrate exceptional performance and clear potential that may not be fully reflected by time alone. The most competitive applicants typically require the fewest waivers. Each waiver request must be individually addressed and justified in the application memo.
ii. Experience waivers must be submitted as part of the completed application packet and addressed to: 270A Proponent, Plans, Programs & Policies (P3), Office of the Judge Advocate General, 2200 Army Pentagon (Room 2B517) Washington, DC 20310-2200. Memos must contain the required content and follow the format outlined here: Waiver/ETP Format
iii. Time in Service (TIS) Waivers: These are for NCOs who have not yet met the 60-month TIS requirement but demonstrate maturity and potential far exceeding their peers. Consideration requires a minimum of 48 months TIS, and the applicant's record must show compelling evidence of accelerated potential, such as:
• Highly successful performance in a demanding duty position (e.g., instructor, recruiter, or serving above grade).
• Earning highly competitive military awards or academic honors (e.g., Soldier of the year, Audie Murphy Club, Distinguished Honor Graduate, Distinguished Leadership Awardee).
• Evaluations and letters of recommendation that contain exceptionally strong narratives detailing leadership and potential beyond their current grade.
iv. Feeder MOS Waivers: These are for candidates with extensive, directly applicable experience or education outside of a feeder MOS. Consideration requires one of the following:
• Significant professional experience in a related career field (e.g., civilian paralegal, budget analyst, HR manager, contracting specialist, law office manager).
AND/OR
• A relevant academic degree or professional certification (e.g., Paralegal Studies, Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Project Management, PMP, SHRM-CP, CLM) that provides a comprehensive knowledge base.
v. Time in Feeder MOS (TIFMOS) Waivers: These are for candidates who have not yet met the 60-month TIFMOS requirement but have rapidly mastered their MOS. Consideration requires a minimum of 30 months of experience in the feeder MOS. All available NCOERs and AERs must document superior technical proficiency and the candidate's clear potential for advanced roles.
d. Performance.
(1). Applicants must demonstrate a sustained history of exceptional performance and leadership potential. The most competitive applicants have official evaluations that are consistently top-tier. Performance is primarily assessed by:
i. An consistent record of "Most Qualified" or "Highly Qualified" senior rater ratings.
ii. A steady pattern of "Far Exceeded Standard" or "Exceeded Standard" ratings from the rater.
iii. Strong narrative comments from both the rater and senior rater that clearly quantify performance and articulate superior potential when compared to peers.
(2) Adherence to Army Values is non-negotiable. Any evaluation that does not reflect full and unequivocal support for the SHARP, EO, and EEO programs will render
(3). Component-Specific Disqualifiers
i. Active Duty NCOs are ineligible if they have received a rating of “Did Not Meet Standard” or “Qualified” within the past five years.
ii. Active Duty Officers and Warrant Officers are ineligible if they have ever received an evaluation rating of “Capable” or “Qualified,” or if they have been non-selected for promotion to Major/CW3.
iii. ARNG & USAR Personnel must provide context for "Qualified" ratings, which will be reviewed holistically. However, a consistent trend of such ratings will impact competitiveness.
e. USAREC Form 3.2 (Resume).
(1). Complete all resume blocks in narrative format.
(2). Military and civilian assignments should capture duties and responsibilities that indicate why the applicant qualifies to serve in MOS 270A.
(3). The resume summary must conclude with a distinct section that addresses the following three questions. These answers provide reviewers with critical insight into your motivation and self-awareness prior to an interview. Each question should be addressed under its own heading:
i. Why should you be an Army JAG Corps Warrant Officer?
ii. What skills and experience do you have that directly correlates to the Legal Administrator core competencies in DA PAM 600-3?
iii. What makes you a “must-select” candidate and what is the most significant strength you would bring to the 270A cohort?
f. USAREC Form 3.3 (Letter of Recommendation)
Applicants must submit two categories of Letters of Recommendation (LORs): standard USAREC-required LORs from their chain of command, and MOS-specific LORs from the JAG Corps.
(1). Commander LORs (Required). In accordance with USAREC standards, all applicants must submit LORs from their first-line commander (company or detachment level) and second-line commander (battalion level) who exercise UCMJ authority.
(2). MOS-Specific JAG Corps LORs (Required)
i. Senior Legal Administrator (CW3-CW5): Required. This LOR should come from a Senior Legal Administrator within the applicant’s immediate organization, chain of command, or installation. As the MOS technical expert, this letter certifies the applicant's readiness for the 270A career field and evaluates their specific competencies.
ii. Staff Judge Advocate (O5/O6 equivalent): Required. As the senior legal leader of a command or installation, this letter provides the final leadership endorsement, assessing the applicant's officer potential and overall suitability to join the JAG Corps.
iii. Junior Legal Administrator (WO1-CW2): A LOR from a JR LA is highly encouraged. This letter provides a crucial ground-level assessment of the applicant's professionalism, interpersonal skills, and motivation—qualities best observed through direct interaction and mentorship.
iv. Note on LOR Process: Due to the small size and geographic dispersion of the 270A MOS, it is critical to base evaluations on the best available information. Therefore, a Senior Legal Administrator is authorized to require an initial LOR from a Junior Legal Administrator, particularly when the JR LA is better positioned to have direct observation of the applicant or to conduct an in-person interview.
v. Applicants who are unable to identify a Legal Administrator within their organization or installation should contact the Proponent POC to be connected with an appropriate recommender.
4. Points of Contact: Address all warrant officer application questions and inquiries to a Regional Warrant Officer Recruiter. Please visit the "How Do I Apply" page for required forms and examples. Contact the proponent POCs below for any questions regarding technical qualifications.
POC for Active Component Applicants:
CW4 Kenneth Adams
270A Warrant Officer Proponent
Office of the Judge Advocate General
COMM: (703) 545-2843
POC for US Army Reserve Applicants:
CW4 Hector Colon
Senior Legal Administrator, USARC
270A ARPA & USAR Talent Manager
COMM: (910) 570-8196
POC for National Guard Applicants:
CW5 Miguel R. Flores
Chief Legal Administrator
National Guard Bureau Office of the General Counsel
COMM: (703) 607-2611