R 091358Z APR 25
MARADMIN 187/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SJA//
SUBJ/PAYMENT OF ATTORNEYS’ PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXPENSES//
REF/A/DOC/CONGRESS/03JAN16//
REF/B/DOC/CONGRESS/03JAN12//
REF/C/DOC/USD/16JUL09//
REF/D/DOC/DOD/13OCT21//
REF/E/DOC/DON/18FEB10//
REF/F/DOC/DOD/02AUG21//
REF/G/DOC/DON/21MAY19//
REF/H/DOC/NJAG/13JAN16//
REF/I/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC M&RA/09DEC20//
REF/J/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC SJA/22MAY24//
POC/J. M. ORTIZ/MAJ/HQMC JAD/-/TEL: 703-614-2847/EMAIL: 
JOSE.M.ORTIZ@USMC.MIL//
NARR/REF A IS TITLE 10 U.S. CODE SECTION 2015, PROGRAM TO ASSIST 
MEMBERS IN OBTAINING PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS. REF B IS TITLE 5 U.S. 
CODE SECTION 5757, PAYMENT OF EXPENSES TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL 
CREDENTIALS AND EXTENDED ASSIGNMENT INCENTIVE. REF C IS A MEMORANDUM 
FROM THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PERSONNEL AND READINESS, PAYMENT
OF PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALING EXPENSES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS. REF D IS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1322.33, DOD CREDENTIALIING 
PROGRAMS. REF E IS A MEMORANDUM FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE 
NAVY, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS, DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO 
ADMINISTER PAYMENT OF CREDENTIALING EXPENSES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS. 
REF F IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1400.25, VOLUME 410, DOD 
CIVILIAN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: TRAINING, EDUCATION AND 
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. REF G IS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY INSTRUCTION 
(SECNAVINST) 12410.25B, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND CAREER 
DEVELOPMENT. REF H IS JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL INSTRUCTION (JAGINST) 
5803.2B, CERTIFICATION OF GOOD STANDING WITH LICENSING AUTHORITY. REF
I IS THE DC M&RA DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE ATTORNEYS FOR 
EXPENSES TO MAINTAIN ATTORNEYS' PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS. REF J IS 
THE REIMBURSEMENT POLICY FOR JUDGE ADVOCATE AND CIVILIAN ATTORNEYS’ 
ANNUAL LICENSING FEES//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  Inform Marine Corps judge advocates and
civilian attorneys working under the cognizance of the Staff Judge 
Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (SJA to CMC) of the 
reimbursement program for their annual professional licensing fees.  
References (a) through (i) provide authority for government payment 
of professional credentials, licenses, and certifications for judge 
advocates and civilian attorneys who are practicing law under the 
cognizance of the SJA to CMC.
2.  This MARADMIN does not replace existing command licensing fee 
reimbursement programs.  Civilian attorneys may alternatively seek 
reimbursement from local commands.
3.  The term “attorney” throughout this MARADMIN is used for ease of
reference and pertains to:
3.a.  Judge advocates in the Active, Active Reserve, Selected Marine
Corps Reserve, Individual Mobilization Augmentation Detachment, 
Individual Ready Reserve components, and
3.b.  Civilian attorneys practicing law under the cognizance of the 
SJA to CMC.
4.  Eligibility.  The following attorneys are eligible to apply for 
reimbursement:
4.a.  All Active and Active Reserve judge advocates are eligible for 
reimbursement under this program, except those who, at the time of 
application, have an approved separation or retirement date in fiscal
year 2025.
4.b.  Judge advocates in the Reserve, Selected Marine Corps Reserve, 
Individual Mobilization Augmentation Detachment, and Individual Ready 
Reserve are eligible if they have served, or are projected to serve, 
over 179 days in fiscal year 2025.  Reimbursement is not authorized 
for a qualifying expense that has been or will be paid, directly or 
through reimbursement, by the judge advocate’s civilian employer.
4.c.  Civilians employed as attorneys operating under the cognizance 
of the SJA to CMC and paid with appropriated funds are eligible.  
However, those who, at the time of application, have an established 
separation, transfer, or retirement date in fiscal year 2025 are not 
eligible.  If a civilian attorney was hired in fiscal year 2025, then
the civilian attorney must have worked at least 179 days in fiscal 
year 2025 in order to qualify for reimbursement.  Non-appropriated 
fund employees, local national employees, and political appointees 
are not eligible.  Civilian attorneys may alternatively seek 
reimbursement from local commands.
5.  Qualifying Expenses.
5.a.  Attorneys may be reimbursed up to $500 once each fiscal year 
for the costs of active (or equivalent) membership in a state or U.S.
territory bar association incurred while in military service or 
employment with the Marine Corps.  Attorneys may be reimbursed for 
dues paid to a maximum of two bar associations.  If an attorney is a
member of two bar associations, and one association waives or reduces 
dues for active-duty service, the attorney may still claim 
reimbursement for dues paid to both associations, up to the $500 
limit. Membership in a jurisdiction's bar association may be 
reimbursed only if the jurisdiction requires such membership in order
to practice law in their jurisdiction.
5.b.  Attorneys who pay bar association membership fees, either 
annually or biennially (e.g., every two years), may request 
reimbursement during the fiscal year in which they pay the fees.
5.c.  Mandatory charges associated with bar association membership in 
active (or equivalent) status are reimbursable, including periodic 
dues and universally-assessed fees and surcharges.  However, 
reimbursement of expenses associated with obtaining academic degrees 
(including Juris Doctorate and Master of Laws degrees) or maintaining 
membership in optional professional societies or bar sections is not 
authorized.  The following are also unauthorized expenses: 
examination preparation courses, examination fees, any voluntary fee 
or donation, costs for continuing legal education (CLE) events or 
materials, CLE waiver fees, payments in lieu of CLE, online payment 
or processing fees (unless online payment is mandatory), convenience 
fees, late fees, fees for more than one bar association membership, 
travel costs, or costs incurred to obtain other professional 
licenses.
5.d.  For Reserve and Selected Marine Corps Reserve judge advocates, 
reimbursement is not authorized for a qualifying expense that has 
been or will be paid, directly or through reimbursement, by the judge 
advocate’s civilian employer.
5.e.  Reimbursement is only authorized for qualifying expenses 
incurred after appointment as a judge advocate.
5.f.  For fiscal year 2025, reimbursement will be limited to up to 
$500 per attorney and is subject to the availability of funds.
6.  Process.  
6.a.  Judge Advocate Division will begin accepting reimbursement 
requests on 15 April 2025, and will continue accepting requests 
through 11 July 2025. Requests will not be accepted after 11 July 
2025. 
6.b.  Attorneys should go to the Judge Advocate Division website 
(https://www.sja.marines.mil/Branches/Plans-Innovation-Branch/Bar-Due
-Reimbursements/) for reimbursement policies, procedures, templates, 
and detailed instructions on how to submit a reimbursement request. 
6.c.  Judge Advocate Division will review and approve reimbursement 
requests on a rolling basis as they are received, beginning in April 
2025 and continuing through the review of all requests received prior 
to 11 July 2025.  
7.  Discretionary Payment.  Reimbursement is discretionary and 
subject to the availability of funds.  This MARADMIN does not create 
an entitlement or benefit of employment.  Continued payment of 
licensing fees is not guaranteed in future years and this MARADMIN 
will be reviewed and modified as required annually.
8.  Additional questions should be directed to the POC.
9.  Release authorized by Major General David J. Bligh, Staff Judge 
Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.//