The Judge Advocate Division has released the FY27 schedule for the Legal Officer Course (LOC). This is a two-week course for non-lawyers who are designated as legal officers at their command. It covers administrative separations, standards of conduct, administrative investigations, and military justice basics. If that's your role, this course is how you get qualified.
Heads up: Registration closes six weeks before each course date, and requests are filled in the order received, so don't wait.
Who it affects
Officers O-1 through O-4, warrant officers CWO2 through CWO5, and civilian employees who are designated in writing as legal officers, or who will be assuming that role within six months. Enlisted Marines can attend only if they are the primary legal officer at a command where no commissioned officer is available, and only if they submit a copy of their Legal Officer Appointment Letter with their registration request.
What you need to do
- Confirm with your command that you are (or will be) designated as a legal officer in writing.
- Pick a course date from the schedule below.
- Register at least six weeks before that date through the LOC registration site:
https://usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/SJA_JET/SitePages/LOC.aspx - For registration site issues, email:
JPI_Courses@usmc.mil - If you need to cancel, do it via email to
JPI_Courses@usmc.milbefore the five-business-day cutoff to avoid a no-show report against your command.
Travel, lodging, and per diem for in-person sessions are on your command's budget. Virtual courses are free to attend. Full attendance is required for either format to receive completion credit.
Key dates
| Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| 19–30 Oct 26 | San Diego, CA |
| 19–30 Oct 26 | Norfolk, VA |
| 30 Nov–11 Dec 26 | Virtual (PST) |
| 30 Nov–11 Dec 26 | Virtual (EST) |
| 25 Jan–5 Feb 27 | San Diego, CA |
| 25 Jan–5 Feb 27 | Norfolk, VA |
| 22 Feb–5 Mar 27 | San Diego, CA |
| 22 Feb–5 Mar 27 | Norfolk, VA |
| 5–16 Apr 27 | San Diego, CA |
| 5–16 Apr 27 | Norfolk, VA |
| 3–14 May 27 | Norfolk, VA |
| 10–21 May 27 | San Diego, CA |
| 12–23 Jul 27 | San Diego, CA |
| 12–23 Jul 27 | Norfolk, VA |
| 16–27 Aug 27 | Virtual (EST) |
| 23 Aug–3 Sep 27 | Virtual (PST) |
Registration deadline: Six weeks before your chosen course date. No exceptions.
Cancellation deadline: More than five business days before the course convenes.
If your command wants to host a Mobile Training Team (MTT) version of the course through Naval Justice School (NJS), your unit is responsible for funding and venue. See the NJS MTT site for details: https://www.jag.navy.mil/about/organization/ojag/njs/mtt/
The official version
This guidance comes from MARADMIN 397/26. POC is B. Young, Judge Advocate Division: Brittaney.C.Young.civ@usmc.mil, 771-216-4066.
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.