MANGAN LAW

In 2025, Mangan Law gained one of America’s most talented and capable military justice attorneys:  Mr. Paul “PJ” Judge. Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Mr. Judge is now Of Counsel to Mangan Law, handling a wide range of legal matters. 

ABILITY AND ACHIEVEMENT

Mr. Judge brings impressive intellectual acumen and legal prowess to Mangan Law, which comes as no surprise to those who know his background. PJ received a bachelor’s degree from The College of William and Mary, a top-ranked “Public Ivy” university. There, he not only earned his Officer’s Commission through Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), but he also received the prestigious General George C. Marshall Award, a distinction given to the top cadet in each ROTC program throughout the Nation. 

Building on his undergraduate success, Paul was admitted to the highly competitive Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, regularly listed as one of America’s best law schools. At Washington and Lee, competing among some of America’s top law students, PJ shone: he ranked in the top 5% of his class, served as an editor on the Washington and Lee Law Review, earned competitive accolades in oral argument and legal writing, and was ranked the #1 student in both constitutional law and international law.

DISTINGUISHED MILITARY SERVICE

America’s top law school graduates can land judicial clerkships: exceptionally competitive and sought-after positions where young lawyers serve directly under high court judges. Not only is Mr. Judge a member of this select group, but he is also one of the very few who clerked at the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF), America’s highest military court. PJ clerked for the Honorable Judge Margaret Ryan at CAAF, where he developed subject matter expertise in the UCMJ, military evidence, and court-martial procedure. As a CAAF judicial law clerk, Mr. Judge assisted with drafting opinions issued by the Nation’s highest military court. His unique experience at CAAF built on his earlier internship with the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, which PJ completed during law school.

After his time at CAAF, PJ served as a Judge Advocate (Army Officer and Military Attorney) in the Army JAG Corps. First assigned at Fort Stewart, GA, PJ handled a variety of matters, advising commanders and representing Soldiers and their families. Next, PJ volunteered to go to the biggest and busiest Trial Defense Service (TDS) office in the Army: Fort Bragg, NC. While at Bragg TDS, then-CPT Judge defended Soldiers in courts-martial, board hearings, and other adverse actions against claims of sexual assault, distribution of child sex abuse material, drug distribution, aggravated assault, “shaken baby syndrome,” domestic violence, felony-level larceny, and more. Through skill, strategy, and pure hard work, CPT Judge secured an impressive string of acquittals and extremely favorable results for his clients.

ADVANCED LEGAL PRACTICE

After his JAG career, Mr. Judge was hired by the Supreme Court of Virginia, where he reviewed hundreds of cases and petitions, giving him insight into civilian criminal courts.  Armed with that experience, PJ returned to federal service, this time as a civilian (GS) attorney.  He was hired by the United States Department of Commerce as an employment law attorney, where he represented the U.S. Government before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) system, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the U.S. federal District Court. Rising to GS-14, PJ became extremely versed in investigating and litigating workplace misconduct and harassment cases. His reputation as a case-winner continued in federal service: PJ never lost a single case as a GS attorney.

SUCCESS AT MANGAN LAW

LTC(Ret) Sean Mangan has known Paul “PJ” Judge since he was a law student, having supervised PJ during his Army JAG internship. Recognizing PJ’s immense talent and potential, then-LTC Mangan kept in touch with PJ and watched his career closely, first in the JAG Corps and then in civilian government jobs. After establishing Mangan Law as an independent firm, Sean sought out PJ to bring him on. Despite an expected promotion to GS-15, PJ left federal service and joined Mangan Law, returning to the military justice practice that he is so passionate about.

Mr. Paul “PJ” Judge is a highly capable and experienced litigator and trial attorney. He possesses a commanding knowledge of military legal systems. He is this firm’s subject matter expert on federal employment law. His impressive track record spans a wide range of actions: administrative separation boards, general and special courts-martial, administrative appeals, appellate practice, and federal civilian employment law. PJ is also one of the very few attorneys experienced with cases involving America’s least-known uniformed services: the NOAA Corps and PHS Corps.  

Since joining Mangan Law in 2025, PJ has successfully handled a wide range of issues for both uniformed and civilian clients, for personnel of all military services and of other federal agencies. He has secured multiple cash settlements for federal civilian employee clients and has saved the careers of officers and enlisted clients alike. A dedicated husband and father, Paul Judge understands the life-altering consequences of military adverse action and what is at stake, and he gives his all, every day, for every client.

Personal Note from Sean

“I’ve been a part of the military justice system for decades, and I’ve served with some exceptional JAGs.  But if I personally ever found myself in trouble, the person I would call is Paul Judge.”