Choosing a lawyer is a difficult decision for any kind of legal matter. The decision becomes even more complicated if you’re in the military. When you’re facing a court martial for a criminal offense, you might wonder if you should use the lawyer the military gives you or use a private military attorney.

A court martial can be a time of uncertainty. You might face a small amount of discipline, but any kind of setback can hurt your career. On the other hand, the military might be looking to kick you out with a dishonorable discharge. This can result in loss of military benefits including your pension, disability pay or health care services for veterans.

Most of all, a court martial is a loss of your good name. Your fellow service members might never look at you the same way again. There are several reasons why choosing to work with a private military lawyer on your case is a good option.

A private military lawyer is usually more experienced

When you enlist in the military, you agree to serve for a certain number of years. When you show up for your first day at your assignment, you’re thrown right in. Most lawyers in the military learn their craft by working on actual cases. That means, the lead attorney on your case might be working on their very first case. If that’s a bit unsettling to you, that’s a good reason to consider using a criminal military lawyer.

When a person becomes a private criminal lawyer specializing in military cases, they usually have years of valuable experience that can work to your favor. That experience means that whatever the issues are in your case, they’ve been there before. When a person becomes a military criminal lawyer, it’s because they have a true interest in helping service members. They know that you do important work for our country, and they want to protect your interests and your career.

That experience can help them prepare your case

When you work with a private military lawyer, there are a lot of things that they can do in order to work with you to build your case. A good lawyer knows that you need to be an active participant in your case in order to reach the best resolution. The right lawyer won’t just wait for your court date. Instead, they’ll give you a list of things that you can do in order to build yourself a strong case while you wait.

If your offense involves alcohol, your attorney might suggest that you begin alcohol treatment like counseling. If your offense involves violence, they might steer you towards an anger management course. You may need to take a parenting class. They might also have you do things to build your case like track down witnesses or secure character references.

The right lawyer sees themselves as your teammate. They don’t just want to scratch your case off their list and move on to the next case. Instead, your criminal military lawyer wants to attack the charges from every angle. They’re going to give your case the time and attention that it needs so that you have the best possible chance to be successful.

A private attorney cares about your interests

An appointed attorney works for the military first and foremost. This can be a conflict when it’s also the military that’s bringing the court martial against you. Too often, military lawyers just want to keep the peace and put each case behind them. They might not be willing to do what it takes in order to defend you.

Your private criminal military attorney doesn’t have to impress anyone but you. They’re not there to make friends in the military. Instead, they’re prepared to mount the most aggressive defense possible in order to help you succeed. That means examining the case from every angle in order to defend you. They’re not afraid to offend the powers that be, and they’re not afraid to do things that are uncomfortable.

Choosing a military criminal lawyer means that you’re getting someone in your corner. They’re ready to fight for you. This experience and passion can be exactly what you need in order to put the court martial behind you and continue with your career.