Paralegal Specialist (27D)
Legal and Law Enforcement Army MOS Information

Posted Friday, November 25, 2005

• Enlisted
• Active Duty
• Army Reserve

A Legal Specialist is an integral part of the Army's judicial system. They assist judges, Army lawyers and unit commanders with legal matters and judicial work. The Legal Specialist provides legal and administrative support in such diverse areas as international law, contract law, defense legal services and judicial legal services. A Legal Specialist is involved in:

• Researching court decisions and Army regulations
• Processing legal claims and appeals
• Preparing records of hearings, investigations, court-martials and courts of inquiry

Requirements:

A high school degree and a typing speed of over thirty words per minute are required. Good hearing and clear speech are assets if you're required to read aloud at court proceedings.

Training:

Job training for a Legal Specialist consists of 10 weeks, three days of instruction, where you'll learn:

• Legal terminology and research techniques
• How to prepare legal documents
• High-speed transcription
• Army judicial process

Helpful Skills:

Helpful attributes include:

• Interest in the law and legal proceedings
• Ability to keep organized and accurate records
• Interest in business, mathematics, typing and speech
• Ability to listen carefully and retain information

Advanced Responsibilities:

Advanced level Legal Specialists supervise the operation of a command section or legal office. Advanced level Legal Specialists act as technical guides to other soldiers and are in charge of maintaining the law library and all section files and records.