Conflict is an integral part of the business world, and sometimes it can be difficult to handle. Enter judge advocate: the professionals tasked with divinely offering counsel and helping resolve the conflict. Judge advocates are legal professionals trained in armed forces law and are appointed by the government to represent their interests, positions, and concerns. Another term for them are Judge Advocates General (JAGs).
What Do Judge Advocates Do?
Judge advocates are responsible for providing legal advice and support to the government, military personnel, and civilian agencies. Additionally, they manage administrative hearings, handle arbitration and arbitration cases, advise government personnel on legal and operational considerations, and defend personnel in court when necessary.
Qualifications of Judge Advocates
Judge advocates are members of the bar, so they must be licensed attorneys. They must demonstrate a commitment to the development of their skills in Armed Forces law and be familiar with legal proceedings of the military. They also must maintain ethical behavior, integrity, and professionalism.
Strategies for Overcoming Conflict Utilizing a Judge Advocate
The primary responsibility of judge advocates is to promote dispute resolution. They act not as a party, but as an impartial representative of the government in resolving disputes. Judge advocates are expected to advise the government on appropriate resolution options, including employing strategies such as negotiation, arbitration, as well as structuring settlements. Additionally, they are expected to possess strong deliberative skills to review facts and render sound legal opinions based on precedent.
By engaging an experienced judge advocate, government agencies can rest assured that their interests and positions will be vigorously defended and that the conflict will be timely and thoroughly resolved.
For more information on judge advocates and the conflict resolution services they offer, visit the Office of Judge Advocate of the Navy’s website.