This is a great question, and each person’s case is different. Frankly, you may not need a civilian military lawyer. On the other hand, having a civilian attorney may be preferable or even an absolute necessity if you want a decent chance to secure your freedom and protect your good name.
The question is simple: Should you spend thousands of dollars for a civilian attorney?
Note: If you are an active duty member of the armed forces and facing a court-martial, nonjudicial punishment, administrative separation/discharge, or any other adverse action, stop reading this and contact your installation's JAG defense counsel office. The quicker you bring them onboard your case, the better they can prepare. Even if you hire me, they remain on your case and can be an invaluable resource. So, talk to them, then return here and continue reading.
I evaluate each case on its own merits, and it may be that I recommend that you not spend money on a civilian defense attorney. This situation is not unusual, and I will be completely upfront and candid with you if that is my opinion. On the other hand, I may have a plan or course of action that is preferable compared to that of your detailed military counsel (the one provided by the government).
When I was still in the Army and working as a defense counsel, I encouraged my clients to obtain civilian counsel. Why? Because that is exactly what I would do if I faced a court-martial, separation, or other adverse action. It was not that I doubted my abilities. On the contrary, I felt that I could fully represent each client and secure a positive result. The fact remained that I would want to have a team of attorneys working for me, my family, and my future–not just one who was appointed to represent me. Two heads (in this case, two military lawyers) are always better than one.
Here are a few factors that explain why considering civlilian counsel is imperative:
Workload
I take the cases I want to take, and I purposely keep my number of pending cases low enough to enable me to have personal interaction with each client and time to fully prepare their cases. When I worked in the Army Trial Defense Service, I took every case that came through my doors because that was my job. This meant that I divided my time between 10-20 pending cases and actions. Plus, twice a week I spent the entire day briefing groups of Soldiers on various adverse actions. Now, I only take a new case if I know that I can give it 100% of my effort and ability.
2 for the price of 1
You could accept one free attorney, or your could have two for the price of one. If you choose to hire a civilian defense attorney, you keep your detailed military counsel at no charge. This means that you have the power to assemble a team of attorneys to help you through a very difficult time in your life. Servicemembers deserve a team to represent them, not just one person.
You choose a civilian lawyer, but your assigned counsel is chosen for you.
Your detailed defense attorney is appointed to your case based on who is available at that time. No consideration is given to personality, experience, time, or your preferences. You get who you get, and that generally remains unchanged. In selecting a civilian defense attorney, you have the power of choice, and you can pick someone with the right personality, experience, time, and anything else that is important to you.
Experience
At the time I left active duty as a Major and Senior Defense Counsel, I was told that I would never be in the courtroom again due to the amount of time I already spent as a prosecutor and defense counsel (in short, I’d already “checked the box” in the courtroom). Knowing this, most military defense counsel have fewer than 5 years of service as an attorney and sometimes less as a member of the Armed Forces. The more I represented clients in the courtroom, the more confident and competent I became, and those are attributes that can only be obtained through time and practice. You deserve representation by someone who is backed by years of experience.
I am not part of the Armed Forces bureaucracy.
My priority is trying to secure a positive result for my client. Period. I am not deterred by rank, a chain of command, or a supervisory chain of responsibility. I am not worried about my next evaluation report or upcoming promotion.
No Boundaries Advocacy
Within the ethical rules that apply to all attorneys in the United States, I do what is necessary to fully represent the interests of my client. Military assigned counsel are often subject to restraints on representation by their chain of command, such as limitations on approaching members of the press. I have no chain of command. I work for my clients’ interests. That’s it.
Having said this, I will say that some of the best defense attorneys I have met were members of the Trial Defense Service (uniformed defense counsel). They were dogged, zealous, and smart. At the same time, I've met several that didn't care about their job or clients.
I chose to become a member of the Trial Defense Service and was selected as a Senior Defense Counsel. I enjoyed both the job and the challenge. However, some of my peers and subordinates had no interest in defending service members. They looked forward to the next assignment, hoping to return to the job of prosecuting cases.
When I was still wearing the uniform, I knew which uniformed defense counsel I'd choose if I faced trial or adverse action. At the same time, I also knew which civian lawyer I'd hire for the same purpose. Would I want two (or more) lawyers working to protect me? You bet.
If you feel that hiring civilian counsel is the right thing for you, your family, and your case, feel free to Contact Us.
