(Pictured left to right) Top Row: John Arboleda, Jared Blackburn, Sydney Britt, John Clements, Gabrielle Cox Bottom Row: Darryl Doyle, Broxton Lance Harvey, Andrea Houghtaling, Patrika Marschall, Amelie Whitehurst
Ten graduates in the LSU Law Class of 2023 have been selected for highly competitive positions in the U.S. military JAG Corps and will launch their legal careers in the U.S. Army, Marines, and Louisiana Army National Guard.
“Typically, we have one or two Law Center graduates who will commission on any given year, so to have 10 is a record for us,” said LSU Law Director of Career Services Gwendolyn Ferrell. “It’s an honor to have so many of our graduates commission with JAG, and this year’s number is an indication of what our students are capable of and how well they compete with graduates from other nationally recognized schools.”
The JAG Corps operates as both a court system and full-service law firm in each U.S. military branch. Judge advocates represent their respective branch in a wide variety of military and civil legal matters, including military justice, contract and fiscal law, international and operational law, administrative law, and legal assistance. Only a small percentage of JAG applicants receive commissions, said Ferrell, who has assisted LSU Law students and alumni in the Office of Career Services since 1999.
“The Law Center’s scholarship becomes more nationally recognized with each LSU Law JAG commission,” said Ferrell. “Having an LSU Law graduate as our regional JAG recruiter was also very valuable.”
2016 LSU Law alumna Paula “Polly” Finley Barr was the dedicated Army JAG recruitment officer who met with interested candidates and worked with them to meet the high standards required to secure a JAG commission.
“The Army JAG Corps provides the opportunity to practice with a purpose in the oldest law firm in America,” Barr said. “Many LSU graduates join the Army JAG Corps to discover a wide range of legal practice areas while reaching their potential as a leader, advocate and warrior.”
Current LSU Law students interested in applying for a JAG commission should consult with the Office of Career Services and be on the lookout for informational and recruitment events that are held at the Law Center throughout the year.
“JAG is an excellent introduction to the practice of law,” Ferrell said. “It isn’t only about practicing though—JAG is a commitment of service to America.”
Gabrielle Cox (from left to right), John Arboleda, Andrea Houghtaling, John Clements, Patrika Marschall, Jared Blackburn, and Broxton Lance Harvey pose on the steps of the Old Law Building one week after celebrating their commencement on May 20.
The following LSU Law Class of 2023 graduates have commissioned with JAG branches:
- Broxton Lance Harvey / Army
- John Clements / Army
- Patrika Marschall / Army
- Darryl Doyle / Army
- John Arboleda / Army
- Gabrielle Cox / Army
- Andrea Houghtaling / Army
- Amelie Whitehurst / Marines
- Sydney Britt / Marines
- Jared Blackburn / Louisiana Army National Guard
These graduates were honored with the Class of 2023 during commencement ceremonies held Saturday, May 20, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the LSU campus. See a full listing of LSU Law Class of 2023 graduates.
