The Naval Justice School (NJS) in Newport, RI provides intensive instruction to officers in the fundamental principles of military justice, civil and administrative law, and procedure, with practical application of those principles. The Basic Lawyer Course (BLC) is offered three times a year with classes beginning in August, October, and January.

The ten-week BLC trains Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard lawyers in the fundamentals of military justice and relevant civil law, with a particular focus on developing trial advocacy skills, administrative law and investigations, legal assistance, and basic national security law. Upon completion of the BLC, you will report back to your first permanent duty station to commence your initial tour as a judge advocate.

The Basic Lawyer Course is invitation only. It is for active duty commissioned officers who are graduates of an accredited law school and who are admitted to practice before the bar of a federal court or the highest court of a state. Exceptions are: (1) Personnel ordered in by CNMPC, with JAG concurrence, who have completed the bar exam but do not have the exam results; and (2) LDO's (655X Designator) in their required training and education career progression path.