Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA)

Superintendent's Staff

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate provides timely legal advice, service and support to the command and staff of the United States Military Academy and any tenant-partner unit. It also provides legal services and preliminary legal advice to active-duty and retired service members, their family members, and other individuals entitled to receive legal assistance. Power of attorney drafting and notary services are available on a walk-in basis. Attorney consults require an appointment.

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
U.S. Military Academy
Official Mail and Distribution
Mahan Hall, Floor A
West Point, NY 10996-1095

Office: (845) 938-3205
Fax: (845) 938-2390
DSN: 688-3205

SJA Divisions:

Military Justice:
- For questions regarding military justice matters or magistrate court matters
- Email
- Office: (845) 938-6361
Administrative and Civil Law:
- For questions regarding legal reviews or administrative law matters (e.g., conferences, ethics, or contracts)
- Email
- (845) 938-8570
Legal Assistance:
- Eligible Clients:
  - You may receive free legal services from the Legal Assistance Office if you fall within any of the following categories:
    - Active Duty Service Members
    - Dependent of an Active Duty Servicemember
    - Military Retiree
    - Cadet
    - USMAPS Cadet Candidate
    - Gold Star Family Members
    - ** Military Identification Required**
- Services
  - Legal Assistance attorneys can advise most areas of law. For example, you can get help with:
    - Powers of Attorney and Notary Services
    - Estate Planning (Wills and Medical Directives)
    - Family Law (we can provide advise about divorce but you will need to hire a civilian attorney to assist you)
    - Landlord/Tenant
    - Economic (indebtedness, loans)
    - Military Administrative Issues
      - Evaluations
      - FLIPL
      - Letters of Reprimand
      - Resignations
      - Investigations
    - Cadet matters unique to USMA
      - Honor Investigative Hearings
      - Academic Review Boards
    - Special Victims Counsel (SVC)
- Located at Mahan Hall, Floor A, located at Grant Turnaround (COMING SOON- Building 622, located next to Buffalo Soldier Field)
- Please call or email before visiting our office to ensure eligibility and appointment availability
- Email
- (845) 938-4541
Claims:
- For questions regarding claims
- Mahan Hall
- Hours: 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Email
- Office: (845) 938-2767
- Fax: (845) 938-2726
- If you are looking for a Tricare or Keller Army Community Hospital medical lien, please email claims@westpoint.edu.
Trial Defense Services:
- Thayer Hall, Room #206, 601 Cullum Road, West Point, NY, 10996
  - For Active Duty/USAR AGR Soldiers in the Northeast seeking legal counsel regarding courts-martial, Article 15, chapters, separation boards, boards of inquiry, misconduct investigations, conduct investigations, administrative reduction boards, suspect rights (CID/MP, AR-15-6 investigations, Commander's Inquiries, etc. for UCMJ Violations)
  - Email
  - (845) 938-0104
  - For Active Duty not stationed in the Northeast, US; USAR TPU; National Guard or NG-SAD Soldiers: jagcnet.army.mil/TDS
USMA Special Victim Counsel:
- (845) 938-9824
- Website
- Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Evenings and weekends: TBD on a case-by-case basis

General SJA Divisions Information:

If someone does not immediately answer, leave a voicemail with your name, contact information, and a brief message describing your situation. Messages are reviewed every 2 hours during normal business hours. Please allow 24 hours for our team to respond.

Emails are checked periodically throughout the day. Please identify your affiliation with the military in the email (service member, retiree, dependent, cadet, etc.) and include a short description of the type of legal matter you would like assistance with. Please allow 24 hours for our team to respond.

Walk-in services: Walk-in services include notarizations and most ministerial services. Please contact us if you are uncertain if what you need cannot be provided on a walk-in basis.

Services requiring an appointment: All other non-ministerial services require an appointment.

Additional Contact Information:

Chief, Military Justice, (845) 938-6379

Special Victim Prosecutor (SVP), (845) 938-6365
- The SVP acts as the senior trial counsel for all court-martials involving sexual assault. The SVP is also the SME on all sexual assaults and violations of Article 120 of the UCMJ. They will provide guidance to the command and CID as necessary.
United States Corps of Cadets (USCC) Brigade Judge Advocate (BJA), (845) 938-7875
- The USCC BJA provides guidance to commanders on issues related to investigators, administrative proceedings, and UCMJ action involving members of the Corps of Cadets, as well as USCC staff and faculty.
U.S. Military Academy Trial Counsel/Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA), (845) 938-6366
- The U.S. Army Garrison Trial Counsel provides guidance to commanders on issues related to investigations, administrative proceedings, and UCMJ action involving all West Point personnel not assigned to USCC. The SAUSA pursues criminal prosecution of personnel who commit traffic offenses and criminal infractions on West Point.
Trial Counsel, (845) 938-7668

The USMA courtroom is located at 626 Swift Rd., 2nd Floor.

US Magistrate Court cases are held at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Building, 2nd floor, 355 Main St., Poughkeepsie, New York.