R 091358Z APR 25 MARADMIN 187/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SJA// SUBJ/PAYMENT OF ATTORNEYS’ PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXPENSES// REF/A/DOC/CONGRESS/03JAN16// REF/B/DOC/CONGRESS/03JAN12// REF/C/DOC/USD/16JUL09// REF/D/DOC/DOD/13OCT21// REF/E/DOC/DON/18FEB10// REF/F/DOC/DOD/02AUG21// REF/G/DOC/DON/21MAY19// REF/H/DOC/NJAG/13JAN16// REF/I/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC M&RA/09DEC20// REF/J/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC SJA/22MAY24// POC/J. M. ORTIZ/MAJ/HQMC JAD/-/TEL: 703-614-2847/EMAIL:  [email protected]// NARR/REF A IS TITLE 10 U.S. CODE SECTION 2015, PROGRAM TO ASSIST  MEMBERS IN OBTAINING PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS. REF B IS TITLE 5 U.S.  CODE SECTION 5757, PAYMENT OF EXPENSES TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL  CREDENTIALS AND EXTENDED ASSIGNMENT INCENTIVE. REF C IS A MEMORANDUM  FROM THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PERSONNEL AND READINESS, PAYMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALING EXPENSES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS. REF D IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1322.33, DOD CREDENTIALIING  PROGRAMS. REF E IS A MEMORANDUM FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE  NAVY, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS, DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO  ADMINISTER PAYMENT OF CREDENTIALING EXPENSES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS.  REF F IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1400.25, VOLUME 410, DOD  CIVILIAN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: TRAINING, EDUCATION AND  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. REF G IS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY INSTRUCTION  (SECNAVINST) 12410.25B, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND CAREER  DEVELOPMENT. REF H IS JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL INSTRUCTION (JAGINST)  5803.2B, CERTIFICATION OF GOOD STANDING WITH LICENSING AUTHORITY. REF I IS THE DC M&RA DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE ATTORNEYS FOR  EXPENSES TO MAINTAIN ATTORNEYS' PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS. REF J IS  THE REIMBURSEMENT POLICY FOR JUDGE ADVOCATE AND CIVILIAN ATTORNEYS’  ANNUAL LICENSING FEES// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  Inform Marine Corps judge advocates and civilian attorneys working under the cognizance of the Staff Judge  Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (SJA to CMC) of the  reimbursement program for their annual professional licensing fees.   References (a) through (i) provide authority for government payment  of professional credentials, licenses, and certifications for judge  advocates and civilian attorneys who are practicing law under the  cognizance of the SJA to CMC. 2.  This MARADMIN does not replace existing command licensing fee  reimbursement programs.  Civilian attorneys may alternatively seek  reimbursement from local commands. 3.  The term “attorney” throughout this MARADMIN is used for ease of reference and pertains to: 3.a.  Judge advocates in the Active, Active Reserve, Selected Marine Corps Reserve, Individual Mobilization Augmentation Detachment,  Individual Ready Reserve components, and 3.b.  Civilian attorneys practicing law under the cognizance of the  SJA to CMC. 4.  Eligibility.  The following attorneys are eligible to apply for  reimbursement: 4.a.  All Active and Active Reserve judge advocates are eligible for  reimbursement under this program, except those who, at the time of  application, have an approved separation or retirement date in fiscal year 2025. 4.b.  Judge advocates in the Reserve, Selected Marine Corps Reserve,  Individual Mobilization Augmentation Detachment, and Individual Ready  Reserve are eligible if they have served, or are projected to serve,  over 179 days in fiscal year 2025.  Reimbursement is not authorized  for a qualifying expense that has been or will be paid, directly or  through reimbursement, by the judge advocate’s civilian employer. 4.c.  Civilians employed as attorneys operating under the cognizance  of the SJA to CMC and paid with appropriated funds are eligible.   However, those who, at the time of application, have an established  separation, transfer, or retirement date in fiscal year 2025 are not  eligible.  If a civilian attorney was hired in fiscal year 2025, then the civilian attorney must have worked at least 179 days in fiscal  year 2025 in order to qualify for reimbursement.  Non-appropriated  fund employees, local national employees, and political appointees  are not eligible.  Civilian attorneys may alternatively seek  reimbursement from local commands. 5.  Qualifying Expenses. 5.a.  Attorneys may be reimbursed up to $500 once each fiscal year  for the costs of active (or equivalent) membership in a state or U.S. territory bar association incurred while in military service or  employment with the Marine Corps.  Attorneys may be reimbursed for  dues paid to a maximum of two bar associations.  If an attorney is a member of two bar associations, and one association waives or reduces  dues for active-duty service, the attorney may still claim  reimbursement for dues paid to both associations, up to the $500  limit. Membership in a jurisdiction's bar association may be  reimbursed only if the jurisdiction requires such membership in order to practice law in their jurisdiction. 5.b.  Attorneys who pay bar association membership fees, either  annually or biennially (e.g., every two years), may request  reimbursement during the fiscal year in which they pay the fees. 5.c.  Mandatory charges associated with bar association membership in  active (or equivalent) status are reimbursable, including periodic  dues and universally-assessed fees and surcharges.  However,  reimbursement of expenses associated with obtaining academic degrees  (including Juris Doctorate and Master of Laws degrees) or maintaining  membership in optional professional societies or bar sections is not  authorized.  The following are also unauthorized expenses:  examination preparation courses, examination fees, any voluntary fee  or donation, costs for continuing legal education (CLE) events or  materials, CLE waiver fees, payments in lieu of CLE, online payment  or processing fees (unless online payment is mandatory), convenience  fees, late fees, fees for more than one bar association membership,  travel costs, or costs incurred to obtain other professional  licenses. 5.d.  For Reserve and Selected Marine Corps Reserve judge advocates,  reimbursement is not authorized for a qualifying expense that has  been or will be paid, directly or through reimbursement, by the judge  advocate’s civilian employer. 5.e.  Reimbursement is only authorized for qualifying expenses  incurred after appointment as a judge advocate. 5.f.  For fiscal year 2025, reimbursement will be limited to up to  $500 per attorney and is subject to the availability of funds. 6.  Process.   6.a.  Judge Advocate Division will begin accepting reimbursement  requests on 15 April 2025, and will continue accepting requests  through 11 July 2025. Requests will not be accepted after 11 July  2025.  6.b.  Attorneys should go to the Judge Advocate Division website  (https://www.sja.marines.mil/Branches/Plans-Innovation-Branch/Bar-Due -Reimbursements/) for reimbursement policies, procedures, templates,  and detailed instructions on how to submit a reimbursement request.  6.c.  Judge Advocate Division will review and approve reimbursement  requests on a rolling basis as they are received, beginning in April  2025 and continuing through the review of all requests received prior  to 11 July 2025.   7.  Discretionary Payment.  Reimbursement is discretionary and  subject to the availability of funds.  This MARADMIN does not create  an entitlement or benefit of employment.  Continued payment of  licensing fees is not guaranteed in future years and this MARADMIN  will be reviewed and modified as required annually. 8.  Additional questions should be directed to the POC. 9.  Release authorized by Major General David J. Bligh, Staff Judge  Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.//