Major Adam Bentz
Center for Law, Justice & Culture Alumni Spotlight
Major Adam Bentz is currently a student at Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He has served in the United States Air Force for over 9 years. During his tenure with the Air Force he has worked as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Area Defense Counsel, Senior Trial Counsel with the Air Force Special Victims Unit, and Military Justice Instructor at the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School.
Major Bentz graduated from OU in 2003, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He received his J.D. from the University of Toledo Law School in 2006. In 2009, he completed Squadron Officer School.
Bentz was commissioned in 2007 through the Direct Appointment Program. He is admitted to the state bar of Ohio.
What brought you to Ohio University?
Being from Cleveland, I knew I wanted to stay in Ohio but still be far enough from home that I would focus on school and not be tempted to go home too often. My mom was a bobcat and thought it would be great for me. I tried to rebel but I promised I’d visit. I went to OU and Miami to check them out and immediately fell in love with Athens. It was one of the easiest decisions I ever made.
What is your current occupation? Explain what you do in a typical day.
I am a Major and a JAG (Judge Advocate General) in the United States Air Force. Currently I am attending school for a year at Air Command and Staff College in Maxwell AFB, AL. So right now my day is pretty similar to a typical college student: reading, writing, and attending class. This summer I’ll be moving to San Antonio, TX to work in the base legal office. There my duties will vary each day. One day I might be the prosecutor in a court-martial, the next I might be providing legal assistance or drafting a will for an Airman about to deploy. As the deputy of the office I’ll primarily focus on administrative duties needed to run a legal office and fixing problems as they arise.
How did you become interested in that field? Was there a particular topic or field of law that got you interested in it in the first place?
My dad was a JAG so I was exposed to it some, and I was always intrigued by being a lawyer, but at 18 the idea of going to school for seven years, or joining the military was nowhere on my radar. After a year at OU, I switched to political science. Sitting in Dr. Gilliom’s class quickly confirmed I was on the right track and starting to figure out my path. During law school I tried to study a variety of areas and work at a variety of places. I tried working for a firm and I just didn’t feel rewarded by the experience. I interned for the Air Force the next summer and absolutely loved being able to help people who were serving while not having to worry about billing hours or bringing in enough money.
What’s your favorite part of your position? What are you passionate about?
I truly love being in the Air Force. There are so many opportunities to do so many different jobs. I’ve been lucky enough to be a defense counsel, a traveling prosecutor, teach at the JAG school, and now I’ll go back and help run a legal office. Other colleagues have become experts in operations law, international law, and so much more. From living in New Mexico, to trying cases in England, to running legal education courses in Germany and Korea, I’ve been able to see the world. To be able to help others and feel like you were contributing to something bigger than yourself has been incredibly rewarding. I also have had the opportunity to work extensively on the issue of sexual assault in the military. While I’ve been inspired by all of my jobs in the Air Force, being able to work with victims and teach future prosecutors became my true passion.
How did your Ohio University experience prepare you for law school and shape your career path?
Two things really stand out. First, I joined Phi Alpha Delta. Building friendships with people who were navigating the same life decisions as me was incredibly helpful. Practicing the LSAT together, figuring out how to apply for schools, or just being able to bounce ideas off of friends was invaluable. Second, I started volunteering with Students Defending Students. I thought I wanted to be in a courtroom, and being able to help students through disciplinary hearings helped solidify in my mind what I wanted to do.
What do you think most important things you did as an undergrad to get you prepared for law school?
People always told me to read and write as much as possible. To some extent they were right. You will do a ton of both. But you will also learn very specific ways to do both while in law school. I am glad I took classes that focused on interpersonal skills like speech and psychology and wish I would have taken more. So much of being a lawyer is about communication and working with people. Plus, if you end up not practicing law or not going to law school, the ability to speak to others or learning how others think would undoubtedly help you in any profession.
Do you have any advice for students interested in law?
Trust yourself. You will hear a lot of varying opinions from many people about whether you should go to law school, what type of lawyer you should be, etc. Some people were nothing but encouraging. Others thought I was crazy to take on law school debt or join the military. It’s good to hear those opinions. But at a certain point you will need to tune all the opinions out and make sure you are making a decision you will be happy with.
What is your favorite Ohio University memory?
My favorite memory would have to be meeting my wife for the first time in Crawford Hall. With a close second being my last Court Street Shuffle shortly before graduation with my closest friends.
Anything else you would like to share?
Try to see as many different types of legal jobs in action as you can. Even if you just go observe for a day. It’s tough to decide what you might like to do without actually seeing it. Also, don’t forget to have fun. It’s easy to burn yourself out and it’s sad to see some very talented lawyers have to quit because they could not find the right balance. Lastly, I’m obligated to make clear that all of these thoughts are strictly my own and official endorsement by the Air Force is not intended.
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