When a service member calls our firm, they are in a state of crisis. They are confused, afraid, and hurriedly When a service member calls our firm, they are in a state of crisis. They are confused, afraid, and hurriedly searching for two things: clear guidance and the immediate relief of knowing someone capable can take control of the chaos.
That relief cannot be delivered by a chatbot, an answering service, or a junior associate who does not know the stealth value of an Article 32 and can’t explain the rewards and risks of an Article 15 turndown. It must be delivered by the attorney who will actually try your case.
Communication Policy
This is our firm’s non-negotiable philosophy on communication. We believe it is the only ethical and efficient way to run a criminal defense team hired to grapple with UCMJ charges.No Chatbots: You Communicate With Lawyers
Our approach is simple and designed to eliminate the communication failure of large law firms: We eliminate the barriers between you and your defense attorney.
The Toll-Free Number Rings to Our Cell Phone
We do not employ an outside screening service to filter your calls. When you dial our toll-free number, you are connecting directly with one of the senior partners in this firm. You get connection, communication, and advice, not a promise that someone might call you back later.
Help When You Need It
In a military criminal case, the ability to immediately speak with the lawyer who will represent you is the fastest way to convert panic into a plan. We understand the burden you carry, and we refuse to add to it by forcing you through multiple layers of bureaucracy that slow down the defense. Your command has already restricted your communication and destabilized your tranquility; your own lawyer will not join the effort.
Advantages of Flat Fees
Our commitment to a flat-fee structure is driven entirely by this communication philosophy. (See our Deep Dive: Flat Fees and What it Costs to Hire a Civilian UCMJ Lawyer.) We believe that billing texts and calls separately in a criminal case is ethically questionable, highly inefficient, and ridiculously tone-deaf.
No Charge for Communication
We do not bill for texts, emails, or phone calls. That friction is removed from the relationship. We never want a client facing a life-ruining UCMJ allegation to hesitate before contacting us with a crucial question or concern because they are worried about the cost. If you think what’s on your mind might be important, you should contact us.
Q: Are you truly available outside of standard business hours?
Yes. That’s why you’ll find us doing free consultations on Sunday instead of playing golf. We are not running a 9-to-5 law practice. But we do not subscribe to the fraudulent marketing of the law industry promising 24/7 availability, as if the partners are on standby day and night just waiting for your call. Other firms use answering services and chatbots to create the illusion of constant access; we provide genuine operational availability. The nature of military justice, involving urgent command decisions, unexpected visits from law enforcement, and surprise witnesses, requires us to be available consistent with the operational needs of the case. If that requires a long Saturday or stepping away from a family event for a serious phone call, that is what we do. This is simply the cost of doing business not only in the realm of military law, but criminal law overall.
Boundary and Efficiency
While we are not sitting around waiting for the phone to ring 24/7, we are committed to being responsive to the needs of the case. If a client overdoes communication, we respectfully address the situation, remind them to focus on work and family, and reset things as necessary. This approach has never created a problem; it’s because the relationship is built on mutual respect and candor, not a spreadsheet of tasks and billable hours.
Security and Case Control
The decision to handle communication personally is also about security, case control, and protecting your confidential information from non-essential personnel.
Your Information is not shared with strangers
- Security: Your sensitive UCMJ case file (private communications, medical data, and strategic defense ideas) is not funneled through layers of administrative staff, junior associates, or unsecured servers. It is handled directly by the partners in charge of your defense.
- Control: We avoid the inevitable delays, errors, and misinterpretations that occur when junior personnel, let alone civilian non-lawyers, are tasked with filtering complex legal facts and handling uniquely military legal issues. When you call, you speak directly to the person who knows the case.
Truly Inclusive Pricing
The resources of our firm, our time, our experience, and our candid guidance, are fully included in the cost of your flat-fee defense. You get the help you need, when you need it, from the people who are best equipped to deliver.
Simply put, working with an experienced, transparent law firm like ours will help you steer your case, manage your anxieties, and improve your odds of survival.
Your Defense Requires a Direct Line to Experience
The military system is designed to keep you isolated and confused. Many civilian law firms pay companies to keep you at a distance. We eliminate the layers of chatbots, call screeners, and junior associates to give you direct access. If you are ready for the relief that comes from speaking directly to the attorneys trying your case, the ones who know the system and can give you a plan, call us. Call 800-319-3134.