ft wainwright military criminal lawyers

When charges have been brought against you in a court martial, whether criminal or military, you will need an attorney. The standard procedure is that you will be assigned a lawyer by the military, just like a public defender is assigned to any civilian who may not be able to afford a private attorney.

However, you still retain the option of hiring your own civilian lawyer. So, the question becomes, why should you hire a private military criminal lawyer?

a) Two is Better than One

When you hire a civilian lawyer, you still get to keep the counsel assigned to you by the military. With the two of them working together, there is a better chance that your case will have a positive outcome.

b) The Civilian Lawyer Will Carry out His Own Investigation

Most cases have loopholes, whether in fact or law. With a thorough investigation done by an independent party, the chances are that your hired counsel may find such weakness. The lawyers assigned to you always rely on the investigations done by the military, which may be an advantage for the government’s case.

c) You Get to Choose Your Lawyer

The military counsel is assigned to you after a case has been brought against you. This choice is dependent on who is available at the time of your case. You don’t get to determine whether they are experienced enough for you to work with them. Also, you have no say regarding whether or not you like their personality or even if you think they are qualified enough. With a private attorney, you have the power to pick someone you feel has your best interest at heart.

d) Where Your Case is Complex

In most cases, the procedure in military court is standard and your assigned counsel is experienced in it. However, your case may prove difficult. Military lawyers, just like public defenders, have heavy caseloads and may not be able to fully devote their time to your complex matter. When picking a private attorney, you are allowed to ask him how many cases he has at that moment. If they are so many that they might compromise your case, you can move on to the next lawyer.

e) The Absence of Bureaucracy

In instances where a military lawyer may be worried about offending senior officers in court, a civilian attorney is not. He is, therefore, able to ask difficult questions, cross-examine thoroughly, and uncover a conspiracy if need be, without worrying about the upcoming potential promotion.

f) Experience

In most cases, military lawyers might not be experienced in the field of law or they may have served for a short period only. An experienced lawyer is more likely to convince a court to deliver a judgment in your favor. When picking an attorney, you get to choose someone who is experienced rather than a party who you are stuck with.

g) No Boundaries Representation

A civilian lawyer is bound by one thing; the law. A military counsel, on the other hand, is bound by two things; the law of the land and military laws. The boundaries barring the representation by a civilian lawyer are less, allowing him to defend you more effectively.

Choosing the Right Civilian Military Criminal Lawyer

After coming to the conclusion that a civilian attorney is a better than a counsel assigned by the military, you have to pick one from the vast choices. You should consider:

• Their experience in practicing law. The longer the better.
• If the attorney claims to practice military law, find out how much of his firm is assigned to the specialization
• The cost of their expertise. Remember, that even without the lawyer, you still get a free lawyer, so ensure that they are affordable.
• The distance of their practice to you. If you feel that they should be close by, pick a lawyer from within your geographical area.

· How big his caseload is. Avoid a lawyer who has a large number of cases to handle at the same time as yours as he may not be fully devoted.

At the end of the day, the choice of a military counsel or a civilian one lies with you. The reasons above inform you why you should choose a civilian attorney over a military one. However, if you go for a private attorney, ensure that they are the best choice.