U.S. Navy Lt. Alex Butler, a judge advocate assigned to Navy Region Legal Service Office Southeast and stationed at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, speaks during a panel at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in New Orleans, Sept. 29, 2026. Butler participated in the multiservice panel to discuss career opportunities and his experiences serving as a judge advocate in the U.S. Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by Jovi Prevot)

by Jovi Prevot, NCBC Public Affairs

NEW ORLEANS (GG) — For law students considering where their careers might take them after graduation, the answer may extend beyond a traditional courtroom, private practice or government office.

U.S. Navy Lt. Alex Butler, a judge advocate assigned to Navy Region Legal Service Office Southeast and stationed at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, joined a panel at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Sept. 29 to discuss opportunities to practice law as a military judge advocate.

The panel brought together judge advocates from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force, giving students a look at legal careers that combine military service with a broad range of professional experiences.

Unlike many young attorneys who begin their careers specializing in a particular area of law, Navy judge advocates may work across several practice areas throughout their careers, including military justice, legal assistance, administrative law, operational law and national security law.

For Butler, introducing students to those opportunities was an important part of the visit.

“The Navy JAG Corps offers an incredible opportunity to challenge yourself, seek adventure, serve on a team that spans the globe with shared missions and values, and practice interesting areas of public interest law,” said Butler.

During the discussion, Butler spoke about his own path into the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, the responsibilities of serving as both a naval officer and attorney, and some of the opportunities available to young lawyers entering military service.

He also discussed his current assignment at NCBC Gulfport, where he serves as installation staff judge advocate. In that role, Butler provides legal support to the installation commanding officer on matters involving military justice, ethics, administrative law, investigations and policy development, and serves as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the installation.

For students, the discussion offered a look at a side of military service that may not immediately come to mind when considering careers in the armed forces.

“It was great information,” said Jack Bonck, a first-year law student at Loyola. “My grandfather was in the Navy, so it was a really cool experience to be here, and I’m really considering this as an option now.”

Navy judge advocates serve throughout the fleet and shore establishment, advising commanders, assisting service members and their families, prosecuting and defending cases, and providing legal advice in support of Navy missions around the world.

For Loyola, the panel served two purposes: providing information to students considering military legal careers and introducing other students to opportunities they may not have previously considered.

“We have the students who are already genuinely interested,” said Kathleen Chapman, career advisor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. “Although they might not be a huge percentage of the class, the students who are already interested are truly invested in the idea of becoming judge advocates. However, they might not yet have decided what branch they’ll join, so hearing from JAGs representing each branch at events like this is important to them.”

But the panel was not limited to students already considering military service.

“We think it’s important to educate those students who know nothing about military attorney opportunities,” said Chapman. “I myself wish I had known when I was in law school about the benefits the JAG Corps offers.”

For Butler, however, success does not necessarily mean every student who attended the discussion ultimately becomes a Navy judge advocate.

“Success for me is showing law students that being a Navy judge advocate is just one way to practice public interest law and to serve something bigger than yourself,” said Butler. “If an event like this can inspire someone to serve the public—local, state, federal, military—that is a success.”