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Interviewing Civilian Lawyers Specializing in Military Law: Questions to Ask
Preparing to face a court martial? Your first meeting with a lawyer is an essential step in the entire process. Thus, you need to know what to ask your San Diego military criminal defense lawyers you deemed would be the best for your case. Reaching a civilian lawyer vs military lawyer decision is never an easy task. However, if the pro-and-con list tilts the favor in the direction of a civilian military defense attorney, you should be prepared for the interview. This is how to get the information you need from the top civilian lawyers specializing in military law.
Ask about experience and background
In order to find the best lawyer for your case, it’s not enough to just ponder “Which civilian lawyer specializing in military law near me can help me turn the tide in my court martial case?” You need to schedule an interview, and know what questions to ask. Asking about the background and experience of civilian lawyers specializing in military law you think would fit the bill is a great place to start.
You should get the obvious questions out of the way first. Ask about how long he or she has been a lawyer, about the law school they graduated from, and about their general experience of trying court martial cases. This should give you a pretty good starting idea of whether or not you would like this person to represent your case.
Then, if you’re satisfied with the answers, continue to the more important aspects of the attorney’s experience in military criminal cases. You can ask about the familiarity and previous experience with the charges you are facing. Also, it is important to know how often the said lawyer would appear at court martial, because you want your legal representation to be completely dedicated to your case. No civilian lawyers specializing in military law can be considered adequate unless they’re willing to commit their utmost attention to you and your case.
Ask for the assessment of the case
You need to ask for the assessment of your case in order to avoid any unwanted surprises, ponder every aspect of your case, and, most importantly, explore every one of your options. You have to take every precaution, and prepare yourself for any eventuality.
So, the first question you should ask is whether or not you should go to trial, or take other routes. In a court martial case, however, it is most likely you will end up on trial, but it never hurts to ask about the alternatives. Then, ask about the facts of the case that work in your favor, as well about those that work against you, so as to more carefully weigh and assess your chances of a favorable verdict.
If the odds seem to be stacked against you, don’t despair. It only looks that way, but know that experienced civilian lawyers specializing in military law can work their magic and tip the scales. But, just to be prepared for anything, ask about the potential repercussions of pleading guilty, and if pleading guilty could lessen the charges brought against you. We’re not saying that this is the way to go, but this remains the final question to ask when trying to take an in-depth look into every aspect of your case.
Investigate case management
Case management is basically a posh word us lawyers use for all the behind-the-scenes operations that take place during the process of the trial. It is extremely important for you to get to know how each of the civilian lawyers specializing in military law you’re thinking about hiring operates, so as to minimize possible misunderstanding, and see what suits you best.
The first questions might seem a bit odd, but it is essential, and you should ask the person you’re interviewing if he or she will actually have the time to represent your case. Many larger law firms have more experienced attorneys talk to the clients, only for the case to be relegated to somebody else, usually a younger, less experienced lawyer.
Also, you should ask about other attorneys who might end up working on your case, and request to meet with them as well. You really do want to know who you may end up cooperating with, and ask them a couple of previous questions as well.
Finally, inquire about the best way to keep in touch with your team of civilian lawyers specializing in military law. Don’t hesitate to ask questions such as: Who is the contact person, what is the best way to contact that person, and how prompt that person is with the replies. The basis of a strong case is good communication.
Discuss legal fees
In the end, what good is the best attorney in the game if you cannot afford it? However, that doesn’t mean that you should opt for affordability over expertise. Middle ground sounds good, as you don’t want to break the bank. But, our advice is to always stretch your funds as much as you can when hiring legal representation for a court martial, as it will certainly be worth it once the gavel strikes.
These questions are pretty straightforward. Does the attorney charge an hourly rate or a flat rate, what are the rates, what to the rates include, and what isn’t included, do I pay upfront, is there a retainer fee… As we’ve said, standard.
One thing you do need to ask about is additional expenses. You need to know about the possibility of unplanned legal expenses arising is, if you will be the one paying for unforeseen expenses, and you should also about the estimate of those expenses. This way, you prepare for the unexpected.
Ask previous clients
Up to this point, the decision about your legal representation should be clear enough. But, if you’re still torn between a couple of candidates, you need one last ace up your sleeve that will help you choose.
Simply the attorneys to provide you with contact information from their former clients. Call these people up, ask about their satisfaction with services rendered by the legal team in questions, and let this be the deciding factor in your dilemma. There really is no better way to find out about the modus operandi of civilian lawyers specializing in military law you’re thinking about hiring.
Ask us, and see why we are the best civilian lawyers specializing in military law in San Diego
Whatever it is you want to ask, we will answer, earnestly and willingly. After all, we know it is the only way for you to ensure premium representation in a court martial. Vik Monder of Monder Criminal Lawyer Group has hand-picked his team of criminal military attorneys, and you can be certain of their experience and expertise. We’re sure our answers won’t disappoint you, so schedule a free consultation per your convenience, and hear for yourself why people praise our services. Contact us today!
