Which is the best route to become a JAG Officer, going enlisted to ROTC, ROTC to Direct Commission, or enlisted to Officer?

To become a Judge Advocate (27A) one must obtain a law degree. JA's direct commission to 1LT upon entry. It would do him well to reach out to a local JAG Office and inquire about the steps he needs to take. The Guard and Reserves have OSJA's that you can reach out to and regularly hold recruiting events at law schools in an attempt to attract new attorney's. As for AD, I'm unsure of how they conduct their recruiting efforts for new JA's but I'm sure a Recruiter can point him in the right direction.

If he is inclined to enlist before becoming a JA, he might want to consider enlisting as a Paralegal Specialist (27D) which will allow him to learn how a JAG office functions at the lowest level prior to commissioning. That said, many JA's I have met also have different backgrounds, for example two Staff Judge Advocate's I knew used to be 11B before earning their law degree's. Another JA I knew was a Ranger, and another used to be an artillery officer. Another used to be in the Navy before becoming a JA in the Army. So if he wants to try something else out in the meantime that's fine too.

Ultimately though he will need that law degree.

I would recommend law school. Just a thought.

I had an ROTC classmate who earned an education deferment to go to law school and a non-ROTC alumnae who got direct commission after her JD. Personal opinion is not to enlist, but do ROTC or direct commission.

Although he is studying criminal justice now, he also needs a high undergrad GPA and a high LSAT score for a ranked law school. JAG is selective