fort benjamin harrison military criminal lawyers

If you’ve been charged with a military crime, it can be a very scary and challenging time. And, you may not know where to turn when it comes to finding legal assistance. It’s vitally important that you speak to an experienced military criminal lawyer as soon as possible. You want to find someone who has a vast understanding of military law, someone with experience and the ability to help.

Steps to Take When Hiring a Criminal Military Lawyer

In order for you to work through this process as easy as possible, there are a few steps you should take when looking to retain a military criminal lawyer.

Stay Quiet: This is very important. Do not make any statements until you have spoken with an attorney. Even the most innocent questions could be used against you later on. It’s best to wait until you’ve had an opportunity to speak with a criminal attorney.

Research: Before you decide to retain a military criminal lawyer, it’s important that you do your research, and confirm if the lawyer has any experience in military criminal law, and determine if their practice is focused on criminal military defense clients, or if they practice a variety of law. It’s best to focus on a criminal lawyer whose main focus is military criminal law.

Consultation: Once you’ve reviewed the attorney’s website, you’ll want to reach out to his office. Before you retain any lawyer, it’s important that you sit down and speak with them directly. Discuss your situation and allow your potential attorney to present different scenarios for potential outcomes.

Important Questions to Ask Your Potential Lawyer

Your potential attorney will have a lot of questions for you, but you’ll also need to prepare some important questions as well.

How Long Have You Been Practicing Military Criminal Law?

Because your military career and freedom depend on the outcome of your criminal case, it’s crucial that you’re hiring someone who is very familiar with the laws that apply to your particular situation. It’s also important that your attorney understands the military environment as a whole.

What Options Would You Consider for my Case?

You’ve been accused of a crime, so you want to make sure that your attorney is considering all options that are available to you. Many times, an attorney may consider a plea instead of looking at a variety of different options, so it’s important that your attorney keep an open mind. Negotiating a settlement may work well for some clients, but it’s not necessarily the case for all situations, so it’s best if your attorney presents all options before he immediately decides to negotiate a plea bargain.

How Much will my Legal Fee Be?

This is a very important question because you will need time to prepare for payment. Some lawyers will charge a flat rate, while others will charge by the hour. Also, some attorneys will require an initial deposit, known as a retainer fee. Your attorney should be transparent and up front about the overall cost of representation. Will he or she require fees and disbursements be paid up front, or will those charges be tacked on at the end? Do they have an estimate of how much those charges will be?

You should obtain a written estimate in order for you to be able to keep track of what the anticipated charges will be and how much you are actually spending. No matter how your potential lawyer charges you, be it one fee or by the hour, you should still obtain the fee structure in writing.