ROTC Cadet Finds Path to Advocate for Others Through Law Degree and Army JAG Corps 

Rebecca Lee ’24, L’27, U.S. Army

You’ve wanted to serve in the military since you were young. How did that interest begin?

Growing up in Northern Virginia, much of my community were service members or had familial ties to the military. This included my family, as my dad was in the Army Corps of Engineers. His background inspired me to pursue military service from a young age, having graduated from West Point and working for the Department of the Army since I was little. Many of my childhood memories were of office parties at the Pentagon and Army/Navy football games.

How did you decide that the Army JAG Corps was your best option?

I studied political science and international relations as an undergraduate at Syracuse’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs and participated in the University’s Army ROTC program. During my senior year, we went through the process of interviewing with and ranking the different Army branches, but the options presented didn’t call to me. My mom had always said, “You’d be a good lawyer,” and I realized she was right. Law school and the Army JAG Corps became the path that made the most sense for me.

How did your ROTC experience help guide you to a career as a JAG?

At your baseline, you’re a soldier. ROTC taught me leadership, teamwork, communication, and many other life skills. That experience will help me understand what other soldiers are going through and be a better advocate for them. To attend law school, I applied for an educational delay, which is an opportunity for ROTC cadets to pursue professional degrees, such as in law or medicine. I commissioned into the Reserves in 2024, and the educational delay placed me on an inactive reserves status until I complete law school. This does not impact my commitment to the Army but instead extends it. After I graduate and pass the bar, I’ll complete my active duty service.

How has Syracuse Law reinforced that decision?

I knew when I started law school that becoming a judge advocate was my ultimate goal, but my time at Syracuse Law has only solidified that decision. Law is one of the few intersections between my interests and the Army’s interests that I could see myself doing for a long time. Serving as a student attorney in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic has been especially meaningful. I’ve worked with homeless veterans and veterans dealing with PTSD, physical injuries, and other serious challenges — people who are in a lot of pain. Similarly, knowing that I will have the capacity to help others as a judge advocate is very inspiring. The Army needs lawyers who understand soldiers and the military environment. Syracuse Law became my first introduction to these soldiers and exposed me to the idea that the law is a powerful avenue for change. Syracuse Law reinforced my decision to be a judge advocate because it shaped my vision of my upcoming service by using my education and creating opportunities to serve those who served others. 

What advice would you give law students considering the Army JAG Corps?

Those in ROTC are already locked in, but if a civilian asked me this question, I’d say keep an open mind about the military and do your research. Headlines tend to focus on the challenges, leading people to have misconceptions about the military. In reality, the military offers incredible opportunities, professionally and academically, that can be overlooked without further research. Talk to people who have served about their experiences and what opportunities they had while in service. I chose the Army, but explore the branch that is the best fit for you.