THINKING ABOUT CONVERTING TO THE LEGALMAN RATE?
Here are the steps you need to take:
Read BUPERSINST 1001.39C. NOTE: You MUST submit the required paperwork (a sample is provided in the BUPERS instruction) and be APPROVED to convert to Legalman by the Naval Personnel Command (NPC, formerly BUPERS) PRIOR to taking any advancement exams in the Legalman rating. There are other requirements, such as being free of speech and hearing impediments and being elibible for a secret security clearance. Talk to your reserve center career counselor for additional requirements. You have three years in which to successfully convert to Legalman. If you are unable to convert to Legalman, you will revert to your previous rate.
Select a mentor.
Locate an open LN billet, which is hopefully near you. Contact your REDCOM SJA's Legal Assistant or your reserve center to see what is available.
Obtain PARS for your comparable rank and below (i.e. LN3 and LN2 if you are a YN2). Try to complete some of the items during each drill period. Annual Training (AT) periods are a great time to go over PARS items. Have a CPO or JAGC officer sign off on your PARS.
Review the Naval Justice School schedule for the three phrases of Reserve Legalman Conversion training. A minimum grade of 70 is required to successfully complete each of the phases. You also need to type accurately at 40 words per minute.
Submit your AT application for at least the first phrase of Reserve Legalman courses as soon as possible.
After you have completed the three phases, you need to pass the legalman test for your current rank. For example, if you are an SK2, you need to take the LN2 exam. Obtain the bibliography for the appropriate rank for the next test cycle. If you are "time-in-rate" eligible for advancement based upon your years of service and can score a 37 or better, you can take the test for the next highest rank during the next test cycle (e.g., you can take the LN2 test in August, then the LN1 test in February.
Good luck!