A Marine unit is like a miniature city, it has everything a fighting unit could ever need: not only warriors, but administrative help; truck drivers; maintenance and repairmen; cooks; information technology workers, and even lawyers. Lawyers? Why do Marines need lawyers? I spoke last week with Lance Corporal Jeremiah Irwin, 21, who is a legal specialist with Regimental Combat Team-7, currently deployed to Afghanistan. Irwin describes his job as being like a paralegal. “Hand out powers of attorney, Marines may need other personal legal work done, legal advice for stuff that’s happening back home.” He had thought about going to college right out of high school, but he wanted to pursue his other dream first—becoming a Marine. He’s glad he was able to combine his two passions and see what the law is like in the Marine Corps. “I figured this would be a good stepping stone for me. I’ve always wanted to joining the Marine Corps, so why not do something I wanted to do later on in life as well.” His biggest challenge, he says, is understanding “legalese.” “Understanding what the lawyers say sometimes, some of their jargon I don’t know because I haven’t been through all the education they have, what they’re saying and what their intent is on some things.” Irwin plans to get out of the Marine Corps next year, and then go back to school to start on his dream of becoming a lawyer.
