LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC, (Ret) Military Defense Attorney

Dedicated to Defending the Military and Civilian Legal Rights of Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, DoD Employees and their Families Since 1987

Civilian Military Defense Attorney Gary Barthel
Defending the Military and Civilian Legal Rights of Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, DoD Employees and their Families Since 1987
Military Defense Lawyer / Worldwide Representation
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LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC, Ret.
Civilian Military Lawyer, Former JAG Lawyer

Continuing a 40 plus year career and remarkable service to this country, US Military Defense Lawyer LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC, Retired continues to honor our nation by providing legal services for Military Members and Civilians. Gary’s twenty year career with the U.S. Marine Corps is the foundation of his legal career. After enlisting in the Marine Corps in ‘75, Gary was responsible for providing security at various U.S. Embassies. Later as a “Mustang” officer, Gary provided distinguished legal services to clients at all ranks from young enlisted Marines to Commanding Generals. Succeeding the Marines, Gary became a partner at Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP where he focused his practice on military and civilian law for a decade. Gary is frequently called upon by the media and for keynote engagements to provide insight into military legal issues. Today, The Military Law Center provides a unique bridge between the civilian legal system and the military legal system.

Gary Barthel earned high accreditations for his service as both an enlisted Marine and Marine officer. As an enlisted Marine, Gary served with the U.S. Department of State at the U.S. Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Athens, Greece. He was also assigned to Secret Service details for the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and provided personal security for numerous U.S. Ambassadors. In furtherance of his Marine Corps career, Gary obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Area Studies, a Juris Doctor degree and a Masters in Law degree in Military Law. As a Marine Judge Advocate, Gary was responsible for providing legal advice on a variety of legal issues to servicemembers of every rank from the lowest enlisted rank to Commanding Generals. Gary’s billets included serving as a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Senior Defense Counsel at Camp Pendleton, and as a Staff Judge Advocate at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar.

civilian-military-attorney-gary-s.-barthel
Civilian Military Defense Lawyer LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC, Retired

Mr. Barthel has continued to practice civilian and military defense law following his Marine Corps career. He remains to be a leading national military counsel called upon for his legal experience. Gary Barthel’s qualifications in both Military and Civilian Law exceeds most practicing defense attorneys. This allows him to bridge the two different court systems with foresight. His education, experience and grasp of these two legal systems provide him with the legal authority that is qualified and unmatched in our nation.

Mr. Barthel is based in San Diego, California where he provides a unique legal service focusing on the needs of active duty servicemembers, veterans, military civilian employees and their families.  Although Gary’s civilian practice is primarily limited to Southern California; he represents military and veteran clients on a local, national and global level.  Gary founded Military Law Center as a national resource for military members, veterans and their families to locate and access the legal services that all members of the United States Military deserve.

Civilian Military Defense Lawyer LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC, Ret. –
Dedicated to Defending the Military and Civilian Legal Rights of Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, DoD Employees and their Families Since 1987

US Military Defense Lawyer Gary S. Barthel

US Military Defense Lawyer Legal Experience

US Military Defense Lawyer, LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC, Retired, is renowned for his knowledge and experience in military justice, defense and litigation. Throughout Gary’s Marine Corps career, he gained extensive litigation experience as a prosecutor and criminal military defense lawyer. Gary’s military litigation experience also includes extensive experience with Physical Evaluation Board where he represented military clients who disputed their military disability ratings.  He also gained litigation experience through jury trial experience involving a variety of offenses including capital murder, homicide, rape, sexual assaults, sexual harassment, fraud, assaults, hazing, drug offenses and DUI’s.  As a Staff Judge Advocate (general counsel) to Commanding Officers and Commanding Generals, Gary was responsible for providing legal advice on a variety of legal issues including criminal investigations, court-martials, disciplinary proceedings, administrative separation proceedings, civil claims including death investigations, personal injury and property damage claims made against the government, as well as a variety of legal issues related to military civilian employees.  Gary was also responsible for the management of a command law office comprised of 15 military lawyers and 40 support staff.

Civilian Law Legal Experience

Gary’s civilian litigation experience includes a variety of cases including cases involving real and personal property damage, domestic violence, DUI, drug offenses, sexual assaults, debt collection and personal injury.  Moreover, while serving with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alexandria, Virginia, Mr. Barthel not only gained experience prosecuting international drug importation and bank robbery cases, he also gained appellate litigation experience briefing and arguing criminal appellate cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Expert Witness to Civilian and Military

LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC Retired, provides support as a civilian military criminal justice consultant and an expert witness. Gary is a qualified expert witness with unmatched experience to provide a bridge for the civilian and military court systems.

Training Programs & Public Speaking

LtCol Gary S. Barthel, USMC Retired is available for current classes, training programs (on or off base), media interviews and public speaking engagements. Learn More

Admitted to Practice

  • U.S. District Court
  • U.S. Courts for the Armed Services
  • California
  • Minnesota

Experience

  • 20 years active duty service in the Marine Corps
  • Former USMC military attorney
  • Former federal prosecutor – US Attorney’s Office
  • Served with U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Embassies: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Athens, Greece
  • Secret Service detail for the U.S. Secretary of State
  • Secret Service detail United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Education

  • LL.M., Military Law, The Judge Advocate General’s School, U.S. Army at the University of Virginia (1999)
  • J.D., Whittier College School of Law (1986)
  • B.A., Augsburg College (1983)

Professional  Associations and Affiliations

  • Faculty, Western Sierra Law School
  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Minnesota
  • American Bar Association
  • San Diego County Bar Association – Past Vice President and Board Director, Past Co-Chair Military Law Section
  • San Diego North County Bar Association
  • Veterans Bar Association – Past President
  • Invest in a Vet Foundation – Past Chairman of the Board
  • Marine Corps Museum, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego – Past Board Director

Civilian Military Lawyer Gary S. Barthel –
Providing timely knowledge and aggressive representation for every court system, in multiple jurisdictions – at all stages of your case.

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