August 2023

CGJAG MISSION

We work together to deliver expert legal services across the full spectrum of Coast Guard missions that promote 

their effective, efficient, lawful, and safe execution, and we support Coast Guard people. 

PRINCIPLES FOR THE DELIVERY OF 

LEGAL SERVICES BY CGJAG

PRINCIPLES OF LEGAL PRACTICE LINKED TO 

PRINCIPLES OF COAST GUARD OPERATIONS 

These principles guide how CGJAG organizationally 

supports the Coast Guard and one another

We serve to support Coast Guard missions and 

people 

1. Provide every leader with a lawyer, ethical 

advisor, and counselor.

2. Identify issues and provide risk-based options to 

achieve mission success while flexibly applying 

and preserving Coast Guard authorities.

3. Drive to desired and desirable outcomes within 

the letter and spirit of the law; promote the 

principles of Coast Guard operations. 

4. Be active and not passive: deliver services that 

are on time, right, and precise and that are 

anticipatory, innovative, and responsive. 

We all share responsibility for the delivery 

legal services

5. We are one team; there is no wrong legal office to 

call. 

6. Services are aligned and consistent, and 

integrated across subject matter and commands. 

7. We work together to ensure justice and fairness; 

we demand in each other candor, collegiality, 

ethical conduct, and personal accountability.

8. CGJAG leaders communicate directly with one 

another regardless of rank or position to protect 

Coast Guard and public interests. 

9. CGJAG applies resources without geographic or 

organizational limitation to support mission 

execution.

10. Every counsel will have a senior counsel; we seek 

review of work product from a superior, peer or 

subordinate counsel when we can; we will act 

deliberately and decisively when senior counsel is 

unavailable.

These principles guide the daily practice of Coast Guard 

judge advocates and counsel

Clear Objective: Understand the mission, context, and 

the task at hand. Drive to a desired and desirable 

outcome that enables mission execution and is consistent 

with the Constitution, law, and policy.

Effective Presence: Be active and prepared. Provide 

precise, actionable, and correct legal advice or counsel 

when and where it is needed most. Seek physical 

presence at the point of decision and “take the pen”

when it will advance the mission.

Unity of Effort: Integrate and respect the authorities, 

capabilities, and perspectives of partners, assembling and 

relying on diverse legal teams and collaboration.

On-Scene Initiative: Act deliberately and decisively

when remote senior counsel is unavailable.

Flexibility: Adjust past experience, knowledge, and 

abilities to the contingency at hand. Remember that 

swift linear or parallel change in the character and 

demands of a response is the rule and not the exception.

Managed Risk: Provide advice and options based on 

the best facts and law available, accepting legal risk to 

achieve the mission without placing people or the Service 

in jeopardy. Remember that the decision maker, not the 

attorney, decides with a sound understanding of the risks. 

Restraint: Relentlessly seek to enable to mission 

execution, but always provide an accurate and honest 

appraisal of applicable law – even if it may constrain 

operations. Respect the civil liberties and dignity of 

Americans and others; preserve and protect Coast Guard 

foundational legal authorities.