leavenworth county military criminal lawyers

The military criminal justice system is highly complex. In addition, the Code of Military Justice is a complicated set of laws governing the charging and prosecution of criminal cases within the military criminal justice system. If you face prosecution in the military criminal justice system, you must understand your rights and the importance of retaining a private attorney to represent you in your case.

Overview of Appointed Legal Representation

Quite like the civilian criminal justice system, if you are unable to afford legal representation when charged with a crime pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, you are entitled to the appointment of legal counsel. There are some factors that you need to bear in mind when it comes to representation by appointed legal counsel in the military justice system.

First, although attorneys who are appointed to represent clients in the military justice system, these professionals maintain heavy caseloads. They do the best they possibly can under the circumstances. However, because of their full, and sometimes overflowing, schedules, they cannot always be available to a client as is the case with a private attorney.

Second, although talented attorneys, those lawyers that take appointed cases within the military justice system are generally capable and talented, they also oftentimes have somewhat limited experience in representing clients. The same is not typically the case when private counsel is retained.

As a general rule, a private attorney providing representation to people charged with crimes within the military criminal justice system have solid experience in this area of the law. Many of these attorneys may have started their career as appointed counsel from individuals prosecuted in the military justice system. However, over time, these men and women have garnered even more experience and have ended up in private practice. Oftentimes these attorneys include as an area of specialization or focus representing people charged with crimes in the military justice system.

What to Look for in a Military Criminal Lawyer

The key consideration that you must focus on when seeking a military criminal lawyer is his or her specific background and experience. You definitely want to make certain that you identify a lawyer that has worked specifically in the realm of providing representation to criminal defendants in the military justice system.

You should also take the time to obtain recommendations from friend, family members, or other colleagues. You are likely to know someone that has at least some experience with or knowledge of a military criminal lawyer. This is particularly the case if you reside in or around a military base or off-base military community.

Supplemental Resources and Private Counsel

Another benefit that you can realize by retaining private counsel when prosecuted in the military criminal justice system is access to a broader array of resources that might not otherwise be available if you had an appointed attorney. For example, in order to build the best defense, engaging the services of an investigator may be vital. Engaging an investigator may not always be possible when an appointed attorney represents a client like you in the military criminal justice system.

Retain a Private Military Criminal Lawyer

The first step in retaining qualified, experienced representation from a military criminal lawyer is arranging for an initial consultation with legal counsel. During an initial consultation with legal counsel, you obtain a comprehensive evaluation of your case. You have the opportunity to obtain answers to any questions you may have about your case.

You should be proactive in seeking legal representation when you face prosecution in the military criminal justice system. Once charged with a crime in the military criminal justice system, a case can begin to move apace, You jeopardize your legal rights and interests if you do not retain counsel in a truly timely, proactive manner. As a general practice, a military criminal lawyer does not charge a fee for an initial consultation with a prospective client.