fort knox military criminal lawyers

For members of the military, there is nothing more stressful than the court martial process. When you’re accused of committing an offense, it’s time to think about your legal team and the best possible strategy. You’ll have options when that court martial is convened. You might go with the JAG defense attorney assigned to your case. You might also choose to go with a private military criminal lawyer. If you do it right, you can choose a person who has worked in the JAG Corps but also brings years of other experience to the table. There are many good reasons to think about retaining outside counsel when your freedom or reputation are on the line. Here are a few of those reasons.

The benefit of additional minds

 In truth, you aren’t making a choice between your military lawyer or an outside counsel. If you choose to hire an outside military criminal lawyer from the private sector, your military defense lawyer will stay on your case in some capacity. The military justice system is not like the state criminal courts, where your appointed counsel would need to withdraw for you to choose another attorney. In the military justice system, a professional outside counsel can work with your appointed lawyer. Often, that appointed lawyer will become an important resource in helping you prepare for the challenges ahead. If you’re facing the potential for imprisonment or other serious punishment, it pays to have as many good professionals as possible on your side.

The beauty of choice 

You’ll have no say in who your appointed counsel is. The JAG defense lawyer who takes up your cause may be the best lawyer the military has ever seen. He may be a person who believes in your case and understands the particular law in that case. He may also be a person who isn’t the right fit for you personally or for your case. What will you do in that scenario? When you go with a private military criminal lawyer, you get to assess the strengths and weaknesses of potential hires and choose the one that suits you. This choice can be very important. If the case is going to define the next few years of your life or even the rest of your life, it pays to have as much input as possible on who your representation is going to be.

Conflicts of interest 

While it’s not fair to suggest that all JAG defense counsel are conflicted, it is fair to say that all a part of the military’s bureaucracy. They have concerns other than your success. They have careers to worry about, superior officers to report to and other concerns that may make it difficult to seek the best result for you. If you want to rest easy in the knowledge that your lawyer is absolutely going to work on your behalf, then choosing a private military criminal lawyer is the best bet. A good one will have no conflict of interest and will push hard for the best result in your case.

Experience matters 

By the time someone has gotten into a position that they can bill themselves a military criminal lawyer, they will generally have already been a part of the JAG Corps and put in their time trying cases on both sides of the military justice system. That private military criminal lawyer will come with a wealth of experience that you may not get with the appointed counsel on your case. This experience will be a benefit at many points in your case. The private lawyer will know how to navigate the pre-trial process, seeking the best possible plea agreement if that is the direction you want to go. They will also know how to fight for you when you face hearings that will determine the future of your military career.

When you are facing a court martial, it’s time to consider your options. Privately retained military criminal lawyers can be the difference between a problematic outcome and a positive one. It pays to seek out the best possible professional to handle your case. Many people have found that the additional cost of retaining counsel is worth it when the outcome means everything in their lives.