Graduating law school is an exciting time as students welcome the culmination of all their hard work finally paying off. For Nathan Miramontes (JD ’24), it is even more exciting because he’s joining the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and he credits connections he made through opportunities at The University of Tulsa’s College of Law that helped guide him there.
“I did an internship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and asked a mentor I had there how he got where he was,” Miramontes said. “He told me he spent six years as an Air Force JAG. After doing some research on the benefits and the training and what they stand for, I decided that was what I wanted to do, and I don’t think I could have picked a better career to start out in.”
The Judge Advocate General’s Corps, also known as JAG, is the military justice branch for the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Officers serving in JAG are typically called judge advocates. They are responsible for administrative law, government contracting, civilian and military personnel law, the law of war and international relations, environmental law, and more. They also serve as prosecutors for the military when conducting courts-martial.
“After my internship, I knew I wanted to go the JAG route, and I approached the law school’s Professional Development Office with that mindset. They were really helpful in mock interviews, getting me connected with the right people, and helping me tailor my résumé so that it looks more official for a government application,” Miramontes said.
For his first two years, he will serve as a military prosecutor, receiving invaluable courtroom experience that will serve as a foundation from which his career can grow.
Miramontes also attributes his time at UTulsa as setting him up for success. On campus, he served in the Student Bar Association and as vice president of the Board of Advocates.
In the classroom, he cites two law professors as being particularly influential. “This semester I took Basic Corporations and Secure Transactions with Professor Erik Estrada. Those classes are pretty difficult, but he makes it easy by breaking down the concepts. He’s a really likeable guy and embraces you both as a student and as a person,” Miramontes said. “And I cannot thank Professor Shena Burgess enough. I took her Trial Skills class and also interned with her over the summer. She has been really influential in my career as a law student.”
Like Miramontes, law students interested in a career but unsure of where to start can reach out to the Professional Development Office for guidance on their next steps. The staffers there offer career development services to UTulsa law students and alumni and pride themselves on learning about each student’s unique skill set and interests to provide a high level of individualized service.
To learn more, visit the College of Law’s Professional Development Office.