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Is Hiring the Cheapest Military Defense Lawyer a Mistake?

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Quick answer

Not always, but price alone tells you very little. A low fee can be fine for a simple matter. It becomes a mistake when the low price means nobody investigates your case, the work is handed to someone you never met, or the rebuttal or defense is built from a template. Before you compare prices, find out who will do the work, how much time they will spend, and whether they have handled your kind of case before. Free military defense counsel is also available to you at no cost.

When a lower fee can make sense

  • The matter is minor and the facts are not in dispute, for example a first-time, low-level Article 15 where the command has signaled a light outcome.
  • You only need advice, such as a one-time consultation on whether to talk to investigators or accept an Article 15.
  • Your free military defense counsel has the time and experience to handle the case, and you want a second opinion rather than full representation.

When choosing on price alone can cost you

  • The case can end your career. A GOMOR filed in your permanent record, a separation board, or a court-martial can cost you retirement pay, benefits and your record. The fee is small next to those losses.
  • The fee is quoted before anyone reads your paperwork. A lawyer cannot price a case properly without seeing the reprimand, the charge sheet or the investigation.
  • You cannot find out who will actually do the work. If the lawyer you talk to will hand your case to someone else, you should know that before you pay.
  • The work is a template. A two-page form letter cannot answer an investigation that runs hundreds of pages.
  • Nobody plans to look at the evidence. Witness interviews, digital evidence and the full investigative file take time, and time is most of what a fee pays for.

Five questions that tell you more than the price

  1. Who will write my rebuttal or try my case, by name?
  2. How many hours do you expect to spend, and on what?
  3. Will you review the full investigation file and the evidence before drafting anything?
  4. What does the fee include, in writing, and what costs extra (experts, travel, a later board)?
  5. How many cases like mine have you handled?

For more, see questions to ask a military defense lawyer before you hire and red flags when hiring a court-martial lawyer.

What our fees are

We charge flat fees, quoted in writing after we review your case. As a general guide:

Each of those pages explains what the fee includes. Your case is handled personally by Michael Waddington and, depending on the case, Alexandra González-Waddington. We do not hand cases to an assistant, and we do not pass them to an outside lawyer and split the fee. See what a civilian military defense lawyer costs and flat fee or hourly.

Don’t forget free counsel

Every service member facing court-martial charges has the right to free detailed military defense counsel, and you may also hire a civilian lawyer at your own expense (Article 38(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838). The two can work together. Military defense counsel can also advise you on Article 15s, reprimands and separation actions. Paying for a civilian lawyer makes sense when the stakes justify more time, more independence or more trial experience than you would otherwise have.

Frequently asked questions

Is a more expensive lawyer always better?

No. A higher fee does not prove skill. What matters is who does the work, how much time they give your case, and their experience with your kind of case.

Why do fees for the same kind of case vary so much?

Mostly because of time. A rebuttal or defense that includes a full review of the evidence, witness interviews and a legal memorandum takes many more hours than a short letter.

Can I hire a civilian lawyer for advice only?

Often, yes. Many lawyers offer a consultation or a limited-scope engagement. Get the scope in writing.

Can I keep my free military lawyer if I hire a civilian lawyer?

Yes. For courts-martial, your detailed military defense counsel normally stays on the case and works with your civilian lawyer (10 U.S.C. § 838(b)).

If you are facing a GOMOR, an Article 15, a separation board or a court-martial, call Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019 for a free consultation.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Fees depend on the facts of each case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Is Hiring the Cheapest Military Defense Lawyer a Mistake? with Michael Waddington

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