Our Flat-Fee Philosophy: Why Your Defense Deserves Financial Clarity
We know that when you call us, your life is in chaos. You are dealing with command, OSTC, irreparable damage to your name, and threats to your future. The last thing you need is an attorney who adds to that stress with a running clock on every phone call and an uncertain bill that can bankrupt your family.
That’s why we don’t charge by the hour.
We charge a flat fee for each stage of your case. It’s not a marketing choice; it’s a way of practicing law that removes conflict, eliminates distraction, and keeps our focus where it belongs: on winning your case.
Why Flat Fees Protect the Client
For the service member, a flat fee removes the fear that every call will cost money, the anxiety of an unpredictable bill, and the hesitation that keeps clients from telling their lawyers what’s on their mind.
A potential vulnerability in any military case is the client who stops communicating. Under the billable-hour system, every text, every call, every question has a financial consequence. This causes people to avoid calling their attorney. Our fee structure is designed to end that problem.
In a General Court-Martial, the difference between a four-day and a seven-day trial can mean thousands of dollars under a billable-hour arrangement. With us, the trial fee is set in advance. Whether the trial ends early because a motion succeeds or drags into a second week, your cost doesn’t change.
It also keeps incentives honest. A lawyer billing by the hour profits from delay; a lawyer working on a flat fee profits from efficiency. When we win early, you get your life back faster. We don’t get paid more to waste your time.
Why Flat Fees Make Lawyers Better at Their Job
The flat-fee model frees your attorney to be what they’re supposed to be: a legal advocate, not a timekeeper. Defense work is a high-stress, high-threat craft. It demands full focus on strategy, research, writing, relationships, and persuasion, not six-minute time blocks.
Lawyers trapped in hourly billing waste mental energy tracking time, billing every stray text, and logging every moment of thought. That record-keeping burden chips away at focus and creativity. But when the flat fee is paid, we shut the ledger and get to work. Every ounce of energy goes to your defense, not to billing software.
It also removes the subconscious temptation to pad time. Everyone in the profession knows it exists, even if few admit it. When a retainer is running low, some lawyers round up entries or invent “administrative” hours. Flat fees erase that incentive. The number is fixed, the temptation gone. What’s left is pure advocacy.
We know that some cases resolve quickly because we find a way out early, while others stretch for months and require a lot more attention than we initially expected. That’s fine. Over time, it balances out. We accept the risk of the long grind because the flat fee system works best for our clients and us.
How Flat Fees Are Structured
Two decades of military defense work have taught us the natural rhythm of a case. Each stage has predictable demands, so our fees are tied to those milestones. You pay only for what you actually need.
Initial/Investigation Stage
Covers short-haul strategy, communication with command, investigators, OSTC, and base legal. Research, writing, and legal intervention: included.
Article 32 Stage (General Court-Martial Only)
Covers discovery review, research, expert consultation, negotiation, advocacy, preparation, and appearance at the Article 32 Preliminary Hearing.
Trial Stage (Special or General Court-Martial)
Covers every aspect of trial: motions, panel selection, findings, and sentencing. The fee applies to the full contest. If an in-person hearing arises between the Article 32 and trial, we may add a small appearance cost, though often we brief the issue for appointed counsel to argue.
Travel Costs
Because we defend service members worldwide, travel is the one variable. Flights, lodging, and ground transport are billed separately under clear written terms. Legal work remains flat; travel is simple reimbursement.
Market Cost Transparency
We publish our fees so you know exactly what to expect before you even reach out to us.
| Stage of Defense | Typical Market Fee Range | Our Flat Fee (Typical) |
| Initial / Investigation | $5,000–$8,000 | $6,500 |
| Article 32 Process | $8,000–$20,000 | $10,000–$12,000 |
| Court-Martial (Trial) | $15,000–$100,000+ | $25,000 |
Very rough estimate: If you hire a civilian lawyer early and the case runs through trial, the total cost will usually be around $50,000. Travel is separate, as always.
We price ourselves mid-market by design. We’re not chasing one or two high-dollar “trophy” cases a year; we stay active, relevant, and current with every development in the military-justice world. Clients get experience and reach without paying boutique premiums.
Why Bargain Hunting Can Backfire
There’s always a lawyer willing to undercut the last quote by a dollar. If you pick counsel purely by price, you’re inviting disaster. An underqualified lawyer will take your case for rent money and learn on your dime. At that point, you’re better off staying with your appointed defense counsel, who at least has the resources of the military behind them and will almost certainly be better trained, more presentable, and loyal.
An honest, average JAG defender is safer than a cut-rate civilian lawyer who needs the fee more than the fight.
How to Afford a Civilian UCMJ Defense
Most reputable firms in this field don’t offer payment plans. The work is intense and front-loaded. Lawyers can’t wait months for compensation while burning thousands of hours. Pulling out mid-case for nonpayment damages a firm’s reputation, and we don’t do it.
If savings or family help aren’t options, private counsel can feel unreachable. But if you have a court-martial, and maybe a lower form of discipline, you will get the services of a free, uniformed defense attorney. Most military cases proceed with assigned counsel only, and many JAG defenders do excellent work.
Still, countless cases would have gone far better if an experienced civilian lawyer had been involved early. The belief that hiring outside help “looks guilty” is one of the most damaging myths in the system. You already look guilty to command. Bringing in someone who knows how to fight back doesn’t make it worse; it makes it fair.
If you’re on the fence about affordability, ask. Ask multiple firms. Ask your family for help. Talk to your bank. You don’t have to commit, but you should know what’s possible.
It’s your name, your career, your record. If there was ever a time to ask for help, this is it.
Demand Clarity. Stop Guessing About Your Future.
Now you have what few clients ever get: transparent pricing and a clear breakdown of what a real defense costs. Call us to discuss your situation. You’ll get a confidential strategy evaluation and a specific cost quote
Call 800-319-3134.