R 261426Z FEB 26 MARADMIN 068/26 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/DOD/13OCT21// REF/D/DOC/DON/18FEB10// REF/E/DOC/DOD/02AUG21// REF/F/DOC/DON/21MAY19// REF/G/DOC/NJAG/13JAN16// REF/H/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC M&RA/09DEC20// REF/I/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC SJA/07APR22// POC/ C. L. DAVIS/CAPT/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 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1322.33, DOD CREDENTIALIING PROGRAMS. REF D 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 E IS DEPARTMENT OF  DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1400.25, VOLUME 410, DOD CIVILIAN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.  REF F IS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY INSTRUCTION (SECNAVINST) 12410.25B, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. REF G IS JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL INSTRUCTION (JAGINST) 5803.2B, CERTIFICATION OF GOOD STANDING WITH LICENSING AUTHORITY. REF H IS THE DC M&RA DELEGATION OF  AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE ATTORNEYS FOR EXPENSES TO MAINTAIN ATTORNEYS' PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS. REF I 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 reimbursement of professional credential, license, and certification fees 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 Augmentee Detachment, and 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 that  would limit service to less than 179 days in fiscal year 2026. 4.b.  Judge advocates in the Reserve, Selected Marine Corps Reserve,  Individual Mobilization Augmentee Detachment, and Individual Ready Reserve are eligible if they have served, or are projected to serve,  over 179 days on active duty in fiscal year 2026. 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 that would limit their civil  service to less than 179 days in fiscal year 2026 are not eligible.  If a civilian attorney was hired in fiscal year 2026, then the  civilian attorney must have worked at least 179 days in fiscal year 2026 in order to qualify for reimbursement. Non-appropriated fund  employees, local national employees, and political appointees are not eligible.  5.  Qualifying Expenses. 5.a.  Attorneys may be reimbursed 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 employed by the Marine Corps. If the attorney is a member of multiple bar associations, attorneys may be reimbursed for dues paid to one bar  association up to the maximum $500, and must seek reimbursement for  the least expensive of their multiple bar association memberships. 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 2026, reimbursement is limited to no more than  $500 per attorney and is subject to the availability of funds. 6.  Process.   6.a.  Judge Advocate Division will begin accepting reimbursement  requests on 1 March 2026, and will continue accepting requests through 1 July 2026. Requests will not be accepted after 1 July 2026.  6.b.  Attorneys should go to the Judge Advocate Division website  (https://www.sja.marines.mil/44XX-Resources/Career/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. 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 Christopher G. Tolar, Staff  Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.//