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Last Modified on Dec 21, 2025
Service members facing proceedings like a court-martial or Administrative Separation Boards (ADSEP) may think it wise and responsible to save money by working with whatever military lawyer is appointed to them. But with stakes so high, why leave your fate in the hands of the system that put you here? Here’s why civilian military defense lawyers often get better results than appointed counsel.
Judge advocates (JAGs) serve a crucial role in the U.S. military, performing a variety of legal services. One such duty is representing service members facing court martial or separation proceedings, but another is representing the military itself in the role of prosecutor. Some defendants are understandably upset by the idea that their defense lawyer may be drawn from the same pool of legal talent as the lawyer prosecuting them.
In 2022, the U.S. employed a reported 2.7 million service members, with 1,318 active JAGs. This number was made up of 367 majors and 580 captains.
Working with a private military lawyer eliminates this concern while also providing a range of other benefits. Not only is it possible to hire your own lawyer for a military justice case, but it is also a right explicitly enshrined in the nation’s Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Hire a Military Defense Lawyer
Military defense laws are complicated, so it can be natural to assume that your strongest resource in this scenario is a military JAG who works for the government. However, civilian military defense attorneys dedicate themselves to the mastery of military defense laws. These civilian lawyers have one huge advantage over your assigned counsel: they work for you, not the military.
If you’re worried about the direction of your military defense case, contact a private civilian attorney with a dedicated focus on military defense cases. Michael J. Thompson, Attorney at Law, can take on tough military cases at Fort Bend and throughout the U.S. from his home base in Kentucky’s Fort Campbell area off U.S. 41.
Much like any trial in the civilian world, giving your attorney as much time as possible to review and prepare your military defense case improves your chances of the most favorable outcome. Hiring a dedicated private military defense attorney instead of relying on your government-appointed counsel gives you greater control over your own destiny and ensures that a dedicated outside party is reviewing your case from every angle and putting your needs, rights, military career, and future above any other interests.
What a Civilian Military Defense Lawyer Does Differently
Top-tier military defense lawyers like Michael J. Thompson, Attorney at Law, accomplish results by:
- Analyzing every aspect of your case and exploring all possible avenues for defending you from charges is fully explored
- Giving you actionable legal advice, straightforward answers, and steadfast support when you need them most
- Gathering and contextualizing all evidence and testimony in your favor, so that it can be used to create a comprehensive and compelling legal defense that tells your side of the story at a court martial or before an administrative separation board, and does so in an effective and legally-binding way
- Extensive first-hand knowledge when it comes to countering the tactics used by military prosecutors, bad-faith witnesses, and other adversarial parties involved in your proceedings
Perhaps most importantly, working with privately hired, civilian counsel gives you peace of mind. You can rest assured knowing your lawyer works for you, not for the federal government prosecuting you simultaneously. This model is seen by many as an inherent conflict of interest that has long been overlooked and under-mitigated by the military’s parallel criminal justice system. Hiring your own trusted lawyer from the civilian sphere bypasses it entirely.
FAQs
What Are the Key Differences Between Civilian Military Defense Lawyers and Appointed Military Counsel?
There are several key differences between civilian military defense lawyers and appointed military counsel. The most prominent difference is the fact that you get to choose and hire your own trusted representative if you work with a civilian lawyer, whereas you will have little to no say over the counsel assigned to you by a military authority.
Why Might a Civilian Military Defense Lawyer Provide Advantages in Complex Fort Bend Cases?
A civilian military defense lawyer can provide advantages in complex Fort Bend cases because they are dedicated to their clients and their interests, whereas a military-appointed counsel might be spread thin working on multiple cases and issues. An appointed counsel also lacks the inherent incentive created by the transactional nature of private legal representation, and may even have inherent conflicts of interest as employees of the system prosecuting you.
How Do Experience, Resources, and Caseloads Affect Outcomes in Military Defense Cases?
Experience, resources, and caseloads affect outcomes in military defense cases in significant and logical ways. First, a successful attorney frequently draws on their background and history of past successes and challenges. Resources may include additional legal counsel, support systems, and regulatory documents. Caseloads affect outcomes because appointed counsel may be swamped with many cases at once, whereas a private attorney can decide for themselves to take only an appropriate number of cases at a time.
When Should a Service Member Consider Hiring a Civilian Military Defense Lawyer Instead of Relying Solely on Appointed Counsel?
A service member should consider hiring a civilian military defense lawyer instead of relying solely on appointed counsel as soon as they’re concerned about the direction of a military justice proceeding. Whether you are already facing formal charges and lack confidence in your appointed counsel, or you’re merely hearing rumors of an investigation and want to protect yourself, it’s never too early to consult with a trusted attorney.
Contact Michael J. Thompson, Attorney at Law
No matter what sort of Fort Bend military justice case you’ve gotten entangled in, skilled, non-government-appointed legal assistance is available.
Contact the offices of Michael J. Thompson, Attorney at Law, to schedule a consultation and learn more about why civilian military defense lawyers often get better results than appointed counsel.
