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How Civilian Lawyers Specializing in Military Law Can Help Me Win My Case
If you’re looking for a military criminal defense attorney, nobody says you need a JAG team at your side. Most of the time, it is better to try and find a good civilian lawyer, as most JAG attorneys are over encumbered to begin with. However, people still think “I’m just not certain how much civilian lawyers specializing in military law near me can actually help me.” Why don’t we see?
“Can civilian lawyers specializing in military law near me even represent me in a court-martial?”
We will begin by debunking the biggest myth about civilian lawyers and their ability to represent members of the military in a court-martial. The simple answer to this question is yes, a civilian attorney can present and defend your case in front of a court-martial.
Although there are differences between civilian lawyers and military lawyers, those differences do not translate to their jurisdiction, i.e. it is not mandatory that a JAG attorney and only a JAG attorney represents your case.
What’s more, it’s often a better option to hire your own civilian lawyer that specializes in military law, since JAG lawyers are under constant pressure and their caseload is immense. Sometimes, they just cannot look into every aspect of a case, whereas a civilian lawyer can certainly spare the time.
The UCMJ, or Uniform Code of Military Justice does grad all active members of the military free representation by JAG lawyers in court-martial cases. That is why people think “Civilian lawyers specializing in military law near me won’t be allowed to defend my case.” But, it’s a misconception, nothing more.
You can even hire a civilian lawyer to work alongside a JAG attorney, trying to make your case as strong as it can be – together. Now, let’s see about answering some other questions about civilian representation in military law cases.
“Can civilian lawyers specializing in military law near me conduct adequate investigation?”
The Army can be a relatively closed environment, especially if you’re an outsider trying to take a peek inside. And while this is true in most instances, it isn’t when it comes to court-martial cases.
It doesn’t matter if you have selected a JAG attorney, or you have gone for our advice and chosen a civilian lawyer specializing in military law. Your legal counsel has to be allowed access to any pieces of information and evidence of relevance to your case. The scenes from movies where lawyers are put through hell when trying military cases have nothing to do with reality.
Also, it may be more than beneficial having a professional who is not part of the military legal system investigating your case. They can offer a fresh and realistic perspective, examining the case from every angle. It is only with this kind of close scrutiny that a weakness can be found and exploited properly.
“Can civilian military lawyers really present a convincing case in a court-martial?”
This is, perhaps, the most important question that every person seeking representation in a court-martial asks themselves. And we understand. People think that the functioning of a civilian court and a court-martial is vastly different. Although differences do exist, they are in no way substantial. A court is a court.
However, this is only the final step of the journey, and we’ll come to that. Civilian military attorneys do a lot more than just stepping into the courtroom, presenting their opening statements. They do a lot of work before that.
- Case evaluation – A civilian lawyer specializing in military law will evaluate your case thoroughly before going to trial, trying to work out the best defense. Sometimes it is possible to dismiss the charges entirely, or get the potential punishment greatly reduced.
- Pre-trial preparation – This is a crucial step in any trial process, and equally so in court-martial cases. They will take the time to prepare you for the upcoming trial, and see what would be the best course of action in your case.
- Advice and counsel – This is part of the pre-trial preparations. Every court-martial case against you is a grave threat to your future military career. The entire experience is extremely exhausting. That is where experienced civilian military attorneys step in, answering your every question, making you regain lost confidence before the gavel strikes.
- Trial representation – The final step of the journey involves your civilian lawyer standing in front of the court-martial, defending your case. They can do it, and they do it well, representing your best interests, probably better than their military counterparts. Why do we say this? Remember – JAG attorneys are, first and foremost, members of the military.
Seeing how detailed and thorough the process of a civilian attorney specializing in military law is, we think you will be in rather capable hands if you decide to look for legal representation outside the confines of the military.
“I’ve decided, I want the best civilian lawyers specializing in military law near me in a court-martial.”
We applaud your decision, as we think it’s the right one. But, we can also do a lot more than that! Vik Monder of the Monder Criminal Lawyer Group has assembled a superstar team of attorneys, complete with experts specializing in military law. If you want your case to be heard in a court-martial, you can schedule a free consultation with us. We are sure we will come to an agreement. Contact us today!
