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Bar dues reimbursement is open for judge advocates and military attorneys

MARADMIN 068/26·February 27, 2026·2 min read·Official source
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The Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant has opened the FY26 bar dues reimbursement program. Judge advocates across all components, plus civilian attorneys working under the SJA to CMC, can get up to $500 back on their annual bar association fees. The window is tight: requests open 1 March 2026 and close hard on 1 July 2026.

Bottom line: If you're a judge advocate or SJA-cognizant civilian attorney, submit your bar dues reimbursement request between 1 March and 1 July 2026 or you lose it.

Who it affects

This covers a specific population, not all reservists:

  • Active and Active Reserve judge advocates, unless you have an approved separation or retirement date that leaves you with fewer than 179 days of service in FY26.
  • SMCR, IMA, and IRR judge advocates, but only if you have served or are projected to serve more than 179 days on active duty in FY26. Also, if your civilian employer is already paying or reimbursing your bar dues, you cannot double-dip here.
  • Civilian attorneys employed under the SJA to CMC and paid with appropriated funds, with at least 179 days of civil service in FY26. Non-appropriated fund employees, local nationals, and political appointees are not eligible.

What you need to do

  1. Confirm you meet the eligibility threshold (179-day rule for reserve and civilian attorneys).
  2. Gather your bar association payment receipt. You can only claim one bar association, and it must be one where membership is required to practice law in that jurisdiction.
  3. Go to the Judge Advocate Division (JAD) website and follow the instructions there: https://www.sja.marines.mil/44XX-Resources/Career/Bar-Due-Reimbursements
  4. Submit your request between 1 March and 1 July 2026. JAD reviews on a rolling basis, so earlier is better.

What is and is not covered: Mandatory bar dues and universally assessed fees are in. CLE costs, exam fees, online convenience fees, voluntary donations, late fees, and fees for more than one bar association are all out. Maximum reimbursement is $500 per attorney, subject to fund availability.

Key dates

  • 1 March 2026: Submissions open.
  • 1 July 2026: Hard cutoff. No exceptions stated.

The official version

MARADMIN 068/26

Referenced instructions include Title 10 USC 2015, DoDI 1322.33, and the JAD reimbursement policy (Ref I, internal CMC SJA document). For questions, contact CAPT C. L. Davis at candace.davis@usmc.mil or 703-614-2847.

This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.

Resources & references

The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.

  • Bar Dues Reimbursement portal (Judge Advocate Division website)

    This page on the Judge Advocate Division website is intended to provide information about bar dues reimbursement for Marine judge advocates but currently returns a "Content Not Found" error. Reserve JAG officers looking to submit or learn about bar dues reimbursement should be aware the page is temporarily unavailable and may need to search the JAD site directly for updated information.

  • Program to Assist Members in Obtaining Professional Credentials (10 U.S.C. § 2015)Reference

    This is the statutory authority that allows the government to reimburse military members for professional credentialing expenses, including bar dues. It is one of the foundational legal bases for this program.

  • Payment of Expenses to Obtain Professional Credentials (5 U.S.C. § 5757)Reference

    This statute provides the parallel authority for civilian federal employees to receive reimbursement for professional credentialing costs. It underpins eligibility for civilian attorneys under this MARADMIN.

  • DoD Credentialing Programs instruction (DODI 1322.33)Reference

    This DoD-level instruction governs how credentialing reimbursement programs are administered across the department. It sets the overarching framework within which this Marine Corps program operates.

  • ASN (M&RA) Delegation of Authority memo for military credentialing expensesReference

    This memorandum from the Assistant Secretary of the Navy delegated authority to administer credentialing expense payments for military members. It is part of the chain of authority that makes this reimbursement program possible.

  • DoD Civilian Personnel Management: Training, Education and Professional Development (DODI 1400.25, Vol. 410)Reference

    This DoD instruction covers training and professional development for civilian employees. It is one of the authorities supporting reimbursement for civilian attorneys under this program.

  • Civilian Employee Training and Career Development (SECNAVINST 12410.25B)Reference

    This Secretary of the Navy instruction governs training and career development for Navy and Marine Corps civilian employees. It provides additional authority for reimbursing civilian attorney licensing fees.

  • Certification of Good Standing with Licensing Authority (JAGINST 5803.2B)Reference

    This Judge Advocate General instruction addresses the certification process for confirming good standing with a licensing authority. It is relevant to the documentation requirements judge advocates may need to satisfy.

  • DC M&RA Delegation of Authority to Reimburse Attorneys for Licensing Credential ExpensesReference

    This is the Manpower and Reserve Affairs delegation that specifically authorizes reimbursement of attorneys' professional credential maintenance costs. It is a direct authority cited for this program.

  • Reimbursement Policy for Judge Advocate and Civilian Attorneys' Annual Licensing Fees (SJA policy memo, Apr 2022)Reference

    This is the existing SJA to CMC policy document governing attorney licensing fee reimbursement. The current MARADMIN builds on and references this policy.

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Bar dues reimbursement is open for judge advocates and military attorneys — Reservable