The legal professions, whether civil or military, share many similarities, yet there remains a noticeable difference between them. Since military law falls under the umbrella of a specialized legal system unique to the military.
As a general rule of thumb, members of the military are provided with free legal representation by the military in certain instances. The accused does not lose his right to choose a civil attorney, and can still select one for his representation.
Therefore, what does it mean to be a military lawyer or attorney? Which roles and responsibilities do they have? How are they different?
Throughout this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the field and help you determine whether this is a field you wish to pursue.
Are military lawyers different from military attorneys?
No. They aren’t different at all. In fact, military attorneys sometimes call themselves military lawyers.
Let’s talk about a military lawyer’s responsibilities first.
Education Requirements
For the military lawyer program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree before taking the law school entrance exam.
If you pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), you will have to complete the required courses at the Law School in order to obtain a Juris Doctorate degree.
Those qualified will get the opportunity to represent any branch of the military of their choice.
Responsibilities
Military lawyers have a variety of responsibilities, one of which requires them to act as their clients’ representatives for any law-related matter falling within the domain of military law. The latter includes representing defendants in both criminal and civil matters.
Legal professionals working in the military can be found in branches such as Army, Navy, Marines, and Air force. These lawyers may be required to perform the following duties.
- Hearing appeals for court-martials.
- Advocating for a defendant at an administrative discharge hearing.
- Creating military manuals.
- Assisting clients with the trial process and preparing them for it
- Counseling commanders on issues related to international, civil, and military law.
- Investigations related to ROTC and the military.
How does one know whether it is necessary for one to hire a civil lawyer?
Although the military provides free legal assistance for members of the armed forces who need representation, however; there are situations in which one might want to hire a civil attorney. These scenarios include:
- For the sake of avoiding potential conflicts of interest during representation
- In cases where the defendant believes he or she needs a more autonomous attorney.
- In situations in which the defense counsel is overwhelmed with a great number of cases
- In situations in which defense counsel is not familiar with the specifics of the case.
Compensation
Lawyers representing military personnel are compensated based on their military rank and the number of years they spent in the military. An attorney working in a firm can expect a starting salary of $38,000 per year as a good place to start.
As one advance in rank, the amount increases. In the future, the annual compensation may rise to the six-digit mark.
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