From Apache Pilot to Future JAG: 1L Wyatt R. Paschal Finds Community, Challenge, and Purpose at New England Law Boston

A Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) recipient, newly promoted captain, and a future JAG officer, Wyatt Paschal arrived at New England Law ready for his next challenge.

When Wyatt R. Paschal walked through the doors of New England Law this fall, he carried nearly a decade of Army service with him, including hundreds of hours in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter. But the week he began law school, something else happened: He was promoted from First Lieutenant to Captain. And the person who administered his Oath of Office wasn’t a commanding officer from his unit; it was Dean James H. Kennedy III.

That moment of a law school dean, former JAG Officer and Commandant of the Air Force JAG School himself — swearing in a new Army captain on the eve of his first semester, captured something essential about who CPT Paschal is, and why New England Law is exactly where he belongs.

An Elite Honor: The Funded Legal Education Program

Paschal is one of only 35 active-duty Army officers selected nationwide this year to receive a Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) opportunity, a highly competitive honor that covers the full cost of legal education at the Army’s expense. Wyatt is one of three Army FLEPs at New England Law. FLEP recipients attend law school while remaining on active duty, and upon graduating and passing the bar exam, they automatically commit to serving in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps).

Dean Kennedy, who shared the news of CPT Paschal’s arrival on LinkedIn, called the distinction “an impressive honor and achievement,” noting his familiarity with the program’s rigors from his own tenure as Commandant of the Air Force JAG School.

For Paschal, who joined the Army in October 2017, FLEP represents the convergence of two callings: a life of military service and a future in military law.

A Promotion to Remember

CPT Paschal had dreamed of making captain since his first day in uniform. When the moment finally arrived, he wanted it to mean something. Having Dean Kennedy administer the oath made it unforgettable.

“To have a prior JAG, especially one who was the commandant of the Air Force JAG School, administering my Oath of Office was an incredible honor. He was also an incredibly nice person. I enjoyed just talking with him, and that made the experience even better,” CPT Paschal said.

For Dean Kennedy, the significance of the moment was equally clear. “It was my deepest honor to administer Captain Paschal’s oath upon his promotion,” he wrote. The ceremony brought together two parts of Paschal’s journey: his continued service in the Army and his new path toward a career in military law.

Why New England Law Boston

Wyatt’s path to New England Law began with the city itself. Boston’s density of law schools, legal professionals, and networking opportunities made it an attractive hub for a future JAG officer looking to build connections before he even graduates. He envisioned working alongside defense attorneys as a 2L or 3L and engaging with students from across the city’s many law schools.

But geography was only part of the equation. When Wyatt learned that the school’s dean was a former JAG officer, it resonated on a personal level.

“Coming from a military background, there’s a little bit of pride in that connection,” he said.

A crucial aspect of his attendance at New England Law this year was the school’s culture. “I felt that New England Law was the right school for me because it focuses on creating a place that welcomes a diverse group of people,” he explained. “That’s important to my learning and development as a leader, and it has proved to be extremely crucial to my experience here.”

Trading the Cockpit for the Classroom

The transition from Apache pilot to law student has not been without its challenges, though perhaps not the ones one might expect. Paschal is candid about what he misses most: not the flying, but the soldiers.

“I love flying, but it’s always been about serving soldiers. There’s definitely some difficulty in transitioning, not out of the Army, but into a different role where I’m not serving soldiers.” That sense of purpose—of being in service to others—is something Paschal is already finding new ways to channel at New England Law. His classmates and closest friends have been a source of support. “They’ve been great to rely on to make sure I don’t forget an assignment, or if I have questions or want a different opinion, they’re right there. I couldn’t be more grateful to my friends and seatmates,” he said. The collaborative spirit of the classroom, he notes, mirrors the teamwork he valued most in uniform.

Finding His Footing: Professor Cohen and the Power of Perspective

One month into his 1L year, CPT Paschal’s standout experience was Torts, and the professor who teaches it, Professor Rachel Beth Cohen. Her approach to the classroom has already made a lasting impression.

“Professor Cohen is extremely interested in everybody’s participation. She encourages everyone’s opinions, and we really dig into the material. I’ve met with her one-on-one for study habits or to ask questions about things in class to help with my learning, and she’s extremely open. I think she’s a very effective professor, and I look forward to her class every single time,” he explains.

That emphasis on perspective and building and testing ideas through dialogue with peers is precisely what Paschal was looking for in a law school. “In law, it’s important to know the law and the rules, statutes, restatements, and everything else we learn,” he explained. “But being able to establish perspective and interpret the law with your peers is extremely important to me.” For a future JAG officer, he adds, teamwork isn’t optional: “No JAG works alone. We support one another.”

The Road Ahead

Paschal has two goals for his time at New England Law. Professionally, he wants to be challenged in litigation, in criminal law, in the kind of adversarial learning that will prepare him for the realities of JAG practice. “I want to take criminal law classes, have people disagree with me, and be challenged so that I can learn how to overcome those challenges,” he said. “Then, when I become a JAG and encounter those challenges again, I’ll know the proper steps to take.”

But his vision extends beyond the courtroom. He wants to manage his time well, take care of himself, travel, and invest in the relationships that matter, including with his fiancée. Law school, to Wyatt, is not just a credential; it is a chapter of growth, in every sense of the word.

New England Law Boston is proud to welcome Captain Wyatt Paschal to the Class of 2029. His service, his discipline, and his commitment to perspective-building are already enriching our community, and the JAG Corps will be fortunate to have him.