Why Hire a Civilian Military Attorney

You have the Absolute Right to Retain an
Experienced Civilian Military Attorney to Defend You

Defending the Military and Civilian Legal Rights of Service Members and Veterans Since 1987
California Based / Worldwide Military Representation
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Why You Should Hire a Civilian Military Attorney

You have the Absolute Right to Retain an Experienced Civilian Military Attorney to Defend You.

Under military regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice you have the absolute right to be represented by a lawyer of your choosing.

When facing allegations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the most important concern you should have is the experience level of the JAG defense counsel who will be randomly detailed to handle your case. Moreover, JAG defense counsel are usually prohibited from being detailed to represent you until the investigation against you is completed and you have actually been charged with an offense. By then, one of the most critical stages of your case has passed and you missed the opportunity to be guided by experienced legal counsel during the investigation. The results of an investigation and the resulting adverse administrative action or court-martial can be a life-changing event that will impact your life, career, and family. Therefore, to obtain the best possible outcome for your case, it is mission critical that you choose an experienced, seasoned civilian military defense attorney who can protect your legal rights at every stage of the case. You can and must do everything possible to be fully acquitted of the charges, or to make sure that the charges are reduced to a minor and inconsequential footnote in your military record so as to salvage your military career. It’s not over till it’s over. We’ve seen it. We’ve had a hand in seeing to better outcomes – time and time again.

A Civilian Military Attorney Will Do Their Own Investigation

When defending a case, our approach is to fully investigate all allegations against you to discover and uncover any weaknesses in the government’s case. All cases have weaknesses (in law or in facts) that can be exploited, challenged and defended. Many military cases are rarely thoroughly investigated. Too often, the lead law enforcement agency focuses its investigative efforts on a single defendant and fails to consider exculpatory evidence right in front of them.  It takes an experienced civilian military attorney to uncover the weaknesses of the government’s case, gather exculpatory evidence before it is destroyed, and develop evidence in mitigation or extenuation.

Case Evaluation and Pre-Trial Preparation

Following the investigation, we work with you to get the charges dismissed, reduced, or prepare the most effective defense possible. In every case there are usually factual and legal challenges that can be exploited. If the government’s case has any weaknesses, we can file motions with the court, use the weaknesses to seek dismissal of the charges, negotiate a reduction of the charges, or have the charges adjudicated at the lowest legal forum possible. If the government’s case is strong and the evidence solid, we will examine and discuss with you what your best possible options are in defending the case for the best possible outcome. In the end, we work for you. As your civilian military attorney, we will provide you with the options and advice required so that you can make the informed choices necessary regarding your case and future.

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Call us Today at (760) 536-9038 or complete the below form for a free, no obligation initial consultation.

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“Hiring the Military Law Center to represent our son was the best decision we could have made. Their knowledge of and experience with the UCMJ made all the difference in getting the best outcome possible. In a process that we were not familiar with, it was comforting to have such skilled counsel.” – PL

Advice, Top-Notch Legal Counsel, and One-on-One Support

All Courts-Martial are a potential threat to your career. While most services preclude you from having an attorney at a Summary Court Martial, that doesn’t mean that you should go into the hearing without getting independent counsel and advice from a civilian military attorney beforehand. The Courts Martial system is very confusing, and it is comforting to get your questions asked and answered by an experienced civilian military attorney who has defended BOTH enlisted and officers AND has experience prosecuting cases on behalf of the government. You can get insight into the minds of the military prosecutor(s) and legal advice as to your best course of action to defend yourself.

The Military Law Center Attorneys Gary S. Barthel and Kevin Courtney

Feeling Overwhelmed and Under-Represented?

If you are suspected of wrongdoing, it is not uncommon to feel alienated by your own command. Such situations are both common and are often overwhelming to those facing charges. To complicate things, you probably are not going to be able to have an active duty detailed military defense counsel available to provide you with the advice and support you need. Too often, the detailed military counsel is overworked, understaffed, and is still required to serve as an officer – this includes standing duty, shooting at the rifle range, preparing for an upcoming PCS move, and attending annual professional military education courses – rather than focusing on your case.

But you have choices. You can choose to have an experienced civilian military defense counsel who is not burdened with the administrative requirements imposed on military officers to provide you with the support and advice you need during the investigative stage of your case.  You can retain a lawyer who is dedicated to practicing military and criminal law and begin building your defense today.

Facing a Court-Martial?
You absolutely owe it to yourself to find and secure the best-possible civilian military attorney you can.
Military Law Center Is Ready to Help You – Right Now.

Call us Today – (760) 536-9038