R 261426Z FEB 26
MARADMIN 068/26
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/DOD/13OCT21//
REF/D/DOC/DON/18FEB10//
REF/E/DOC/DOD/02AUG21//
REF/F/DOC/DON/21MAY19//
REF/G/DOC/NJAG/13JAN16//
REF/H/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC M&RA/09DEC20//
REF/I/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC SJA/07APR22//
POC/ C. L. DAVIS/CAPT/HQMC JAD/-/TEL: 703-614-2847/EMAIL:
CANDACE.DAVIS@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 DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1322.33, DOD CREDENTIALIING PROGRAMS. REF D 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 E IS DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1400.25, VOLUME 410, DOD CIVILIAN PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
REF F IS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY INSTRUCTION (SECNAVINST) 12410.25B,
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. REF G IS JUDGE
ADVOCATE GENERAL INSTRUCTION (JAGINST) 5803.2B, CERTIFICATION OF GOOD
STANDING WITH LICENSING AUTHORITY. REF H IS THE DC M&RA DELEGATION OF
AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE ATTORNEYS FOR EXPENSES TO MAINTAIN ATTORNEYS'
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS. REF I 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
reimbursement of professional credential, license, and certification
fees 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 Augmentee Detachment, and
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 that
would limit service to less than 179 days in fiscal year 2026.
4.b. Judge advocates in the Reserve, Selected Marine Corps Reserve,
Individual Mobilization Augmentee Detachment, and Individual Ready
Reserve are eligible if they have served, or are projected to serve,
over 179 days on active duty in fiscal year 2026. 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 that would limit their civil
service to less than 179 days in fiscal year 2026 are not eligible.
If a civilian attorney was hired in fiscal year 2026, then the
civilian attorney must have worked at least 179 days in fiscal year
2026 in order to qualify for reimbursement. Non-appropriated fund
employees, local national employees, and political appointees are not
eligible.
5. Qualifying Expenses.
5.a. Attorneys may be reimbursed 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 employed by the
Marine Corps. If the attorney is a member of multiple bar
associations, attorneys may be reimbursed for dues paid to one bar
association up to the maximum $500, and must seek reimbursement for
the least expensive of their multiple bar association memberships.
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 2026, reimbursement is limited to no more than
$500 per attorney and is subject to the availability of funds.
6. Process.
6.a. Judge Advocate Division will begin accepting reimbursement
requests on 1 March 2026, and will continue accepting requests through
1 July 2026. Requests will not be accepted after 1 July 2026.
6.b. Attorneys should go to the Judge Advocate Division website
(https://www.sja.marines.mil/44XX-Resources/Career/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.
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 Christopher G. Tolar, Staff
Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.//