2L Jay Hansen Takes Next Step Toward Marine JAG Career

Becca Hildner rhildner@tulane.edu
A group of students, one in a naval uniform, others in casual clothes, smiling outdoors.
Man in suit and Marine officer stand together outdoors with a cannon.
Four men, two Marines and two in suits, pose by a cannon.
Smiling woman in blue top standing next to a man in a suit outdoors.

Jay Hansen, a second-year law student at Tulane, recently reached an important milestone on his path to becoming a Judge Advocate General. On a sunny day outside John Giffen Weinmann Hall and the Tulane ROTC building, Hansen was sworn in as a Marine Corps Officer Candidate by Maj. Gen. Christopher Tolar alongside Loyola College of Law student Maurice Williams. 

Hansen’s interest in military service runs in his family. His father and grandfather both served in the Army, instilling in him a sense of duty and pride in serving his country. For Hansen, the JAG program combines that calling with his passion for the law. He chose the Marine Corps because its Judge Advocates are unrestricted line officers, gaining broad training and diverse opportunities while serving. 

Mentorship and guidance played a key role in Hansen’s journey. A mentor from his hometown first encouraged him to explore the program, and second-year law student Russ Bauer helped answer many questions about the JAG path. Through various law school events, Hansen was able to meet members of the Marine Officer Selection Office and current Marine Corps Judge Advocates, which gave him a firsthand view of the profession.  

For Hansen, the swearing-in ceremony marked more than a milestone. It represented a personal commitment to the path ahead.  

“Signing the contract was when the real commitment started, but the ceremony felt like the true moment,” he said. 

Looking ahead, he is motivated by the chance to serve his country while applying the legal skills he is developing at Tulane Law.