Legal Officer

• Mid Thigh Pull 76kg

• Medicine Ball Throw 3.1m

• MSFT (beep test) level 8.7

More information about the fitness test

There are now two ways to become an Army Legal Officer:

1. Fully Qualified

   At the date of joining, you must be a qualified solicitor or barrister in the jurisdictions of England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

   You may begin your application whilst you are still undergoing your training.  Those undergoing a training contract, qualifying work experience or a pupillage can apply up to 9 months prior to qualification. Some people join the ALS as newly qualified lawyers, and some serve for many years in private practice before joining.

2. STUDENT - ALS Cadetship

   At the start of the ALS Cadetship (September), you must have a completed qualifying law degree (minimum 2:1) – Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), or equivalent.

   You should begin your application while you are still completing your law degree (application window is 1 June - 28 June 2026) to start in the next academic year. Once the application window is open, please submit your application as soon as possible because we may bring the closing date forward if we receive a high volume of applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational law - Advising senior commanders on operational law, including detention, targeting and rules of engagement. This takes place both during the planning stages of exercises and operations and whilst deployed on the ground.

• Prosecutions - Management and progression of cases at the Service Prosecuting Authority from initial referral to trial, including making charging decisions, dealing with evidential issues and disclosure, and prosecuting cases at Court Martial.

• Advisory law - Training and advising officers and soldiers from other parts of the Army on discipline and administrative action, advising on health and safety and employment law (amongst other areas), and preparing publications to support the Chain of Command.

Training to become a Legal Officer will depend on whether you're planning on joining as a student in the Cadetship or as a fully qualified Barrister/Solicitor.

FULLY QUALIFIED

Step 1
You'll spend nine months training before going to your first legal role. During your first two weeks, you'll conduct your initial training and administration at the Directorate of Army Legal Services.  Then you go for Officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) to do a Commissioning Course Short for eight weeks.  You will be taught leadership and military skills. 

Step 2
Following that, you will be attached to a combat arms unit for three months, in order to learn more about how the Army operates on the ground on a day-to-day basis, to practice the skills you learnt at RMAS and to develop your contextual understanding of the advice that you will be giving.

Step 3
You will then move on to your legal training, which takes place over approximately six-eight weeks.  You will be given a basic introduction to the main areas of law that the ALS covers. Following this, you will be sent into your first role.   

STUDENT - ALS CADETSHIP

Step 1
There are two tracks to qualification, either as a barrister or a solicitor via the ALS Cadetship. On both tracks, you will hold the rank of Officer Cadet (OCdt). OCdts will commission as ALS Captains on the date of qualification.

• Barrister’s Track. You will undertake the Bar Training Course (year 1) before being seconded to a set of Chambers for Pupillage (year 2). If you have completed the Bar Training Course before starting the ALS Cadetship, you will be eligible to apply and will undertake Pupillage only (12 months).

• Solicitor’s Track. You will undertake two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) within ALS, moving through a number of seats across ALS’ practice areas whilst completing the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exams (SQE) online part-time. If you have completed SQE 1 and/or 2 before starting the ALS Cadetship, you are eligible to apply and will undertake the QWE element only (24 months).

Step 2
After completing the ALS Cadetship, you will spend approximately six months completing Military Training:

• You will attend the Commissioning Course Short at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). for Officer training. This is a nine week course designed to provide you with military and leadership training.

• Combat Arms Attachment. You will be attached to a combat arms unit for three months. This is to learn more about how the Army operates on the ground on a day-to-day basis, to practice the skills you have learnt at RMAS and to develop your contextual understanding of the advice that they will be giving.

Step 3
Legal Training. You will then move on to your legal training, which takes place over approximately six-eight weeks. You will be given a basic introduction to the main areas of law that the ALS covers: operational law, advisory law and prosecutions.

Following this, you will be sent into your first role.   

• 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays

• Free medical and dental care

• Free use of military gyms

• Subsidised accommodation

• Opportunities for participation in sports and adventure travel

FULLY QUALIFIED

• You will join the Army as a Captain on a minimum salary of £52,815 a year.

STUDENT - ALS CADETSHIP

• You will join the Army as an Officer Cadet on a minimum salary of £26,334 per year and then rise to £52,815 once fully qualified.

• Higher Rights of Audience (Criminal Courts)

• Master of Laws LLM in International Law, or other relevant subject of your choosing