The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Legal Advisor: A Primer

摘要

This article has provided a brief introduction to NATO, its legal authorities, structures, posts, and legal practice. As a primer for a NATO Legal Advisor, it provided a detailed description of the parallel legal universe that NATO inhabits. U.S. judge advocates have greater opportunities to serve in NATO posts, as NATO executes its fully integrated multinational mission. As illustrated, NATO legal practice has many similarities to an assignment to a U.S. Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, but it is a legal practice that occurs in a multinational environment requiring knowledge beyond Service regulations, Department of Defense issuances, and Joint doctrine. While NATO's training and exercise platforms provide practical opportunities to learn about key NATO processes, fiscal realities may prevent the judge advocate from predeployment or TDY-enroute training. Consequently, this article was aimed at providing readers a better understanding of NATO and the issues that a U.S. judge advocate may encounter while serving as a NATO LEGAD.