Australian Army Legal Corps

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The Australian Army Legal Corps consists of Regular and Reserve commissioned officers that provide specific legal advice to commanders, and general legal advice to all ranks. They must be admitted to practice as Australian Legal Practitioners. Legal officers can specialise in operational law, such as Laws of Armed Conflict, administrative law, and disciplinary law which is derived from the Defence Force Discipline Act. Legals officers can also appear on behalf of members of the Australian Defence Force charged with service offences, such as stealing firearms, although usually not those heard at Regimental or Battalion level. They can also appear as prosecuting officers as well as assist boards of inquiry. Promotion and level of pay is determined by experience as well as recognised levels of legal competency, which are closely associated with obtaining post-graduate qualifications, such as the Master of Laws specialising in military law through the University of Melbourne. Many members of the Legal Corps have been appointed as Queens Counsel or Senior Counsel, and a number have been elevated to the bench (County or District Courts as well as State Supreme Courts).