A Practical Checklist: Questions to Ask When Ranking Military Defense Lawyers
When service members search for the “best” or “top” military defense lawyer, what they are really trying to do is rank their options in a way that predicts competence, credibility, and accountability.
That ranking cannot be done by looking at badges, awards, or paid lists. It can only be done by asking the right questions and knowing why those questions matter.
The checklist below is designed to help you evaluate and rank military defense lawyers using criteria that experienced defense attorneys use themselves. These questions are not theoretical. Each one reveals something concrete about how a lawyer actually practices.
Checklist Category 1: Experience and Focus in Military Law
Questions to ask:
- How many years have you practiced military law specifically?
- How much of your current practice is devoted to court-martials and military cases?
- How often are you litigating contested hearings or trials?
Why this matters:
Military law is its own system with unique procedures, evidence rules, and strategic pressure points. Lawyers who focus on military cases full time develop instincts and pattern recognition that general practitioners do not. When ranking military defense lawyers, sustained focus matters more than raw longevity.
Checklist Category 2: Reputation Among Other Defense Lawyers
Questions to ask:
- Are you a member of national criminal defense organizations?
- Are you a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)?
- Are you a member of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL)?
- Do you hold leadership or committee roles in those organizations?
- Are you part of any invitation-only, peer-vetted legal groups, like the ABCL?
Why this matters:
Reputation among peers is difficult to manufacture. Serious defense lawyers know who actually tries cases, who teaches, and who is respected behind the scenes. Peer-vetted organizations, like the ABCL, are one of the few external signals that reflect that internal reputation.
Checklist Category 3: Teaching and Professional Trust
Questions to ask:
- Do you teach military law, trial advocacy, or criminal defense at a university level?
- Have you ever taught at a law school, JAG School, or continuing legal education programs?
- Are you invited to teach other lawyers nationally? If so, please provide details.
Why this matters:
Teaching is not marketing. It is a form of professional trust. Lawyers who teach are scrutinized by other lawyers and institutions. When ranking military defense lawyers, those trusted to teach tend to rank higher because they have demonstrated mastery and clarity.
Checklist Category 4: Who Actually Handles Your Case
Questions to ask:
- Will you personally handle my case from start to finish?
- Are you a firm partner in the firm or an “of counsel” sub-contractor?
- Are you splitting or sharing my legal fees with anyone? Who? How much?
- Who will write the motions and strategy memos?
- Who will be standing next to me in court?
Why this matters:
Some firms advertise senior lawyers while delegating the work to others. That affects preparation, strategy, and accountability. A meaningful ranking should favor lawyers who are directly responsible for the case, not just attached to it by name.
Checklist Category 5: Publications and Written Work
Questions to ask:
- Have you written books or book chapters used by other lawyers?
- Have you published on military law, trial strategy, or evidence?
- Are your publications educational rather than promotional?
Why this matters:
Writing forces precision. Lawyers who publish substantive work contribute to the profession rather than simply consuming it. When ranking military defense lawyers, published authors whose work is relied on by other attorneys deserve higher placement.
Checklist Category 6: Specialization in Serious Military Cases
Questions to ask:
- Do you focus on court-martials and administrative separation boards?
- How much experience do you have with serious allegations, including sexual assault?
- What evidence-heavy cases do you regularly handle?
Why this matters:
Specialization is demonstrated by repetition in difficult cases, not by broad claims. Lawyers who consistently handle high-stakes military cases develop strategic depth that cannot be replicated casually.
Checklist Category 7: National-Level Teaching and Recognition
Questions to ask:
- Have you been invited to teach at national defense conferences?
- Do other lawyers seek you out for training or guidance?
Why this matters:
National teaching invitations are earned, not purchased. Organizations do not place untested lawyers in front of hundreds of experienced peers. This is one of the strongest indicators of elite standing.
Checklist Category 8: Communication and Language Capability
Questions to ask:
- How do you communicate with clients and families during high-stress cases?
- Do you offer language fluency when needed?
Why this matters:
Clear communication affects trust, accuracy, and decision-making. In military cases, where careers and freedom are at stake, misunderstandings can be costly.
How to Use This Checklist
This checklist is not about finding a marketing slogan. It is about ranking military defense lawyers based on factors tied to real performance.
Law firms like Gonzalez & Waddington are structured around these criteria: focused military defense practice, direct attorney involvement, teaching and publications, and professional credibility that does not depend on paid rankings.
If you ask these questions and listen carefully to the answers, you will be able to separate marketing from merit and rank your options accordingly.
