 the judge advocate general's corps also known as the "jag corps" or "jag" is the legal arm of the united states navy. today, the corps consists of a worldwide organization of more than 730 judge advocates, 30 limited duty officers (law), 500 enlisted members and nearly 275 civilian personnel, serving under the direction of the judge advocate general of the navy. the headquarters of the judge advocate general's corps of the united states department of the navy is located at the washington navy yard in washington, d.c. ==history== in 1775, the continental congress enacted the articles of conduct, governing the ships and men of the continental navy. however, soon thereafter, all of these ships were sold and the united states navy and marine corps were disbanded. in july 1797, congress, after authorizing construction of six ships, enacted the rules for regulation of the navy as a temporary measure. then, in 1800, congress enacted a more sophisticated code adopted directly from the british naval code of 1749. there was little or no need for lawyers to interpret these simple codes, nor was there a need for lawyers in the uncomplicated administration of the navy prior to the american civil war. during the civil war, however, secretary of the navy gideon welles named a young assistant u.s. attorney in the district of columbia named nathaniel wilson to present the government's case in complicated courts-martial. without any statutory authority, secretary welles gave wilson the title of "solicitor of the navy department," making him the first house counsel to the united states navy. by the act of march 2, 1865, congress authorized "the president to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, for service during the rebellion and one year thereafter, an officer of the navy department to be called the 'solicitor and naval judge advocate general.'" the united states congress 
Judge_Advocate_General\'s_Corps,_United_States_Navy Legal_occupations_in_the_military United_States_Navy_organization