Why Hire a Civilian Military Lawyer | Kral Military Defense

All members of the military have the right to be represented by a military lawyer who is appointed to represent you at no cost to you. You also have the right to hire a civilian defense lawyer. You may be thinking, “Why would I pay for a civilian lawyer when I get a military attorney for free?” The short answer is that your appointed JAG attorney is often best as part of a team led by an experienced, capable civilian defense counsel.

Your Case, Your Choice

Whether you are even assigned a military defense attorney for your matter varies depending on your branch of service. Some branches will not assign a military attorney to help you with nonjudicial punishment or investigations, while others may only offer you a short meeting with an attorney who can only provide general guidance but who will not have the time to learn the details of your case. Depending on the type of legal matter you are facing and your branch of service, the only option for an attorney who can review your case and give you personal advice is to hire a civilian defense lawyer.

There are some great military defense attorneys who might get assigned to your case. Some military attorneys are incredible litigators, extremely smart, and intensely dedicated to their clients. On the other hand, some do not truly want to be defense attorneys, and it shows. When you get an appointed attorney, you do not choose who is assigned to your case.

When you choose a civilian defense counsel, you get a say in who represents you. You want someone whose personality works well with yours. At Kral Military Defense, we take the time to listen to your concerns. We are blunt and honest in our assessment of your case. We tell you why we are doing what we do, and we give you all the advice you need before you have to make your own potentially difficult decisions. We are patient while explaining the process to you because it is very important for you to understand what is happening in your case. You will be included in every step of the way, and your input will always be valued.

What Sets Kral Military Defense Apart?

Abby and Steph have been working together for over a decade. You will not find our level of experience, collaboration, and teamwork anywhere else. We treat every client how they deserve to be treated, rather than treating them like a number or a dollar sign. When you hire one of us, you get personal attention. We communicate with all our clients through text messages, calls, and emails. We respond quickly and personally to any concerns that arise during our representation. We are approachable, real people who genuinely care about helping you.

Military Justice is the only thing we do. Other attorneys spread themselves across different practice areas. At Kral Military Defense, Military Justice is our whole mission. This allows us to stay educated about the fast-changing military justice system. We know the rules and laws for courts-martial, administrative separations, nonjudicial punishment, and other UCMJ actions. We stay up to date on technology, the news, and what’s happening right now in military justice.

Experience

We have extensive experience. We have litigated hundreds of trials and represented thousands of clients. We have handled every single aspect of a case – from before an investigation has even started all the way through appeal.

We never lose focus on protecting our clients’ rights. If a case can be dismissed or any charges can be dropped before trial, we try to make that happen. If we go to trial, we do not back down from litigation of any kind. We are confident and do not get intimidated by anyone or anything in the military. We don’t have to worry about a FITREP, OPR, or OER, getting a good next assignment, or impressing a chain of command. We only worry about your case.

Many military attorneys are overworked new lawyers with very little trial or military experience. Ask your assigned counsel how much experience they have. Have they ever litigated your type of case? How many years have they been an attorney or a defense counsel? How many courts-martial have they tried and how many of those were before a panel of members? Can you be involved throughout the process, and if so, how much? Finally, how do you feel after hearing their answers, knowing that your future rests in their hands?

Do You Need A Civilian Defense Attorney?

Not everyone will decide they want a civilian defense lawyer. But in your case, it might be a wise choice or even required to ensure your freedom. Servicemembers have so much to lose when they are facing a court-martial. A job might be the least of your worries. You could lose your retirement, rank, bonuses, benefits, and the honor inherent in your service. A guilty verdict can result in jail time. A bad conduct discharge, dishonorable discharge, or dismissal can permanently scar future job opportunities. Sex offender registration can follow someone for the rest of their lives. When you hire a civilian lawyer, you are investing in your future. Consider the investment in light of everything you have to lose.

Ultimately, you want an attorney who you feel will do the best job representing you. You don’t want to spend your future questioning whether a better attorney could have gotten you a better outcome. Our most important goal is that you feel like we have done everything we can to get you the best result possible for your case. At the end of the day, you will see that we have worked hard, been dedicated to your success, and passionately fought tooth-and-nail for you. We don’t settle for less.

If You Want To Talk About Whether A Civilian Defense Counsel Is Right For You, Call Kral Military Defense, PC (855) 707-8265.

Our firm exclusively handles military law cases. We do not practice in any other area of law because military justice is what we know and what we love to do. And unlike military attorneys who are still on active duty, we have the ability to focus all our time, attention, and energy on working on our clients’ cases. We do not have to worry about annual miltiary training requirements, going away parties, meetings to prepare for the meetings, answering taskers for slide decks, or writing performance reports. Moreover, you know if you retain KMD, we will serve as your military defense lawyer until your case is complete, without the risk of a PCS, TDY, or separation.

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Excellent

4.9

ryan espinosa

She was a mostly Communicative, attorney. She had good strategy.It's the lack of communication and post trial I had issues with.She had promised clean follow up after sentencing with promises to help me file a congressional act after a staff lied on the stand at my trial (was caught) to get me convicted.I've reached out several times to get ANY help. After 7k in fees, brig time, and lack of effort to ensure justice.....I am completely heart broken. I put so much trust and willpower into her and her practice and was left in the trash after she was paid.I can't allow anyone to not know what happened to me or not know what they are getting into.....Now afterall, no follow up or progress, do not recommend, go anywhere else.

Fred

If you are reading this more than likely you are in desperation mode and looking for a military defense lawyer. STOP looking, you found steph and her team. From the go i was taken care of, every question answered and every worry put at ease. The way steph strategized and wrote my defense i could not have done myself nor i think any jag would have done it. I remember sitting across from her very worried and nervous, she asked what was i worried about and i named off a couple corncerns, she went on to explain them all and why i should not worry because she had it handled. There is no price for that feeling. Her and her teams many years of experience is what you need. Thank you steph. I can now move on and reach that finish line.

DeAndre Fletcher

Good morning, Afternoon or Evening to all.I recently had Stephanie, Lindsey and Danielle as my defense counsel team. They were very professional, approachable and available to assist, give information and be readily available. Nothing but a wonderful experience, definitely help me keep my stress levels at bay while dealing with the legal process regarding my case. I am keep their contact information on hand for anyone who will ever need there services. Highly recommended.

Beautiful

I found myself in an unfortunate situation where I was in desperate need for a military defense attorney. Steph, Abbey and Danielle are a POWERHOUSE together. They’re so knowledgeable and professional. I just remember being told that I was getting an automatic ADSEP and all I can say is that I’m still here with an amazing outcome. I highly recommend if you want to save your military career, especially if you find yourself feeling hopeless about your legal situation 100% retain this law firm you won’t regret it. I am beyond grateful to have had KMD on my side.Thank you so much again for a fantastic job!:) Teiona B

Candice Thompson

I found myself in an unfortunate situation where I was desperate for an attorney. I am so glad that I found KMD. Steph is a POWERHOUSE and didn't back down during the entire case. She is so knowledgeable and uses her knowledge to your advantage. I could not recommend her more, especially if you find yourself feeling hopeless about a legal case. I am beyond grateful to have met Steph and have her on my side.

Jasmine Rodriguez

Found myself in an unfortunate situation where I was in need of a lawyer. Luckily when I did a google search Kral Military Defense was the first website to pop up. If you are willing to fight for your name and career, then look no further Kral Military Defense is who you want on your side. Stephaine and her team are very knowledgeable and professional.

matthew larason

Kral Military Defenses has my highest recommendation! If you are a service member and need an attorney who is responsive, intelligent, and treats you like a person, not just a number. She is the attorney for you.I was on deployment when I needed an attorney. Kral Military Defense took care of my legal affairs while I was out to sea. It was a weight off my shoulders knowing she was handling my situation back home while I was gone.When my chain of command was putting unnecessary limitations on my liberty because of my legal situation. She went above and beyond by contacted my ship and was able to get them lifted.Kral Military Defense was able to resolve my situation with no action taken against myself. If I ever need of a defense attorney ever again I'm 100% coming back to Kral Military Defense.

graham de la garza

My local Military Defense Counsel is very short staffed so I had trouble getting a hold of them. Not wanting to wait I contacted Ms. Danielle Espinosa over the weekend and she was able to help review and discuss my response with me before it was due Monday. She was extremely knowledgeable, cut the fluff and told me like it was. I recommend anyone serious about the future of their Military Career to work with this team. Thank you for your help!

Chad S.

When I retained Ms. Kral, I was a nervous wreck. As she worked with me over the course of 18 months, she was compassionate and was able to assure me that I would have a future. Even my command JAG assured me I’d be alright when I hired her. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome with my case. Ms. Kral should be your choice if you need a military defense attorney.

Rufus Byrd

Abbigayle Hunter and her legal team, especially Danielle Espinosa, were exceptional! The communication was prompt, professional, and thorough. From the moment we reached out to them, they showed a genuine interest in understanding our case and providing us with the best legal representation possible.Abbigayle Hunter and Danielle Espinosa, went above and beyond to ensure that we were kept informed throughout the entire legal process. They promptly responded to our emails and phone calls, addressing any concerns or questions we had. Their attention to detail and extensive knowledge of the law instilled confidence in us that we were in capable hands.Not only did Abbigayle Hunter and her team provide us with excellent communication, but they also displayed a remarkable level of expertise. They meticulously examined every aspect of our case, leaving no stone unturned. Their dedication and commitment to our case were evident in the meticulous research they conducted, the thorough documentation they prepared, and the persuasive arguments they presented.Abbigayle Hunter not only possessed an impressive understanding of the law but also had excellent negotiation skills. Her tirelessly advocated on our behalf, ensuring that our interests were protected and our rights were upheld. Their ability to navigate complex legal matters and maneuver through any obstacles that arose was truly remarkable.

Kourtni Bernicky

Stephanie and her team were AMAZING! I found her through a mutual friend and she handled my case with care and compassion. Even her team checked on me, answered all my questions I had, overall she made sure everything was token care of during the ENTIRE process! When she told me “don’t you worry, that’s my job” I truly believe her and in the end she got the results that I am so grateful for! Hopefully I won’t have to go through the process again but if I have to she will most definitely be the woman I WILL call on! Thank you so much Stephanie and Danielle you both made this process a lot less stressful with your knowledge and compassion towards me and my case!!!

Jonathon Lynch

Steph and her team worked diligently to ensure all evidence or lack there of was thoroughly examined. Her knowledge and experience within the military justice system gave me piece of mind throughout the process as she was well versed in the way everything played out. My family and I are grateful for the hard work and professionalism displayed by everyone on her team. Thank you!

Marcos Maldonado

Steph was the first and clear choice to handle my ADSEP board. I was facing serious allegations, which she handled with professionalism while keeping me posted along the way. Her expertise in UCMJ matters is second to none. Without her I would have probably lost my retirement benefits.

Desiree M.

Called on behalf of a veteran who is terminally ill regarding a discharge upgrade and spoke to their assistant Christian. Christian was so unbelievably rude and spoke to me like I'm an idiot when he was unable to answer the questions I had about their services and the process. The level of disrespect from him totally caught me off guard given the nature of work the office is supposed to be doing. What's more upsetting is the lack of empathy that he displayed during our conversation. Unfortunately, I can't not speak on the level of service from the attorneys since we decided to go with someone else but Christian either needs to undergo more training or he needs to be replaced.

Jameel Yusuf

Stephanie is very experienced and a great attorney.

Tim Malikie

There are many things that I could say about this particular law firm, but instead of going into the weeds on my particular case, I feel as though brevity would be the best choice here. I was primarily represented by Ms. Abbigayle Hunter, and in short, I believe the representation by Ms. Hunter was above reproach. I couldn’t have asked for a better legal professional to handle the complexities of my particular case. She was transparent, punctual, and actually made me feel as though she was personally invested, despite the fact that she had already been paid for representation. She didn’t sugarcoat hard truths and was very up front about all different aspects relating to my case. It was comforting in a way that she was also a fellow service member, and it made me feel as though she took this case to heart and it added another level of drive to the case. Ms. Hunter has a certain tenacity in the courtroom that I found very refreshing to witness, and I would strongly recommend her to anyone else seeking legal advice. Would actively seek to be represented by her again, though also hoping it’s never needed.

Jamal Stephens

Outstanding!!!! She's very smart, knows her job, and communicates with you all the time with the best of her knowledge. I highly recommend Kral Military Defense!!!

Vincent Hurtado

After my command refused to give me due process, I was lost for words and truly had no where to turn. A shipmate referred me to Steph and it was the best possible recommendation I have ever received. Reliable, expert, professional and overall just a great person. She never lost sight of my case and would check in on me to ensure I was doing good personally. I highly recommend her services to anyone who may have a legal issue. At minimum, request a consultation. I can assure that you will not be dissatisfied!

Tyson Smith

Great team! After hiring this legal team i was pleased with their work and their ability to go above and beyond resulting in a finding of not guilty.

Shawn Hutchinson

Very easy to talk to. Will get you the best outcome there is

Shelly B.

I wish you could give more than 5 stars. She deserves 10!! This was a huge decision for our child, but she was worth every penny and more. As a mom I was really concerned about him spending the money on an attorney since you never know what you’re going to get. Our child mentioned this to Stephanie and she called me to answer all my questions. She went above and beyond what was required of her, not just with the phone call but with everything she did. The case went on for longer than we had ever imagined. She never wavered in her dedication. I was honestly shocked at just how hard she worked. If only I could express in words the heart felt gratitude, we feel towards her. She fought so hard and we knew we could trust decisions she made. When ever our child would update us, we would ask what Stephanie thought. We never could have imagined finding an attorney who we trust as much as we trust her. I don’t believe you will find an attorney who will fight as hard for you as she will. I consider her a part of our family and am so very blessed to have gotten to know her. She’s an amazing attorney and an even more amazing human being.

Patrick And Fischer

Stephanie was a great attorney as well as her team they helped me through my entire CID investigation and got me a no basis separation. Every question I had was answered in the upmost professional manner. I highly recommend that you retain her defense team for any case that you have. She’s attacks every case in a manner that leaves everyone with a reasonable doubt.

Evan Giancola

This was a life changing decision.I spent hours searching for and calling several attorneys. Some didn't give me the time of day, others just seemed cold. Mrs. Kral was the only attorney I called who actually seemed to care. And not only that but she listened me and gave an honest opinion. Usually you feel that attorneys only care about money but I never once felt that from Mrs. Kral. She took a personal interest in my case and brought not only her extensive knowledge of the law, but also her fierce attitude and relentless perseverance. She never missed a beat and always had a way forward. She also has excellent communication skills and took the time to explain everything to me at every step. I felt hopeless until we met. Now I can move on with my life and move forward with everything behind me because of how valiantly she fought. I truly think that if you decide to choose Kral Military Defense to fight for you then you'll never feel disappointed. If I could give more than 5 stars then I would. Because she's not like other attorneys. She will always have your back and keep your best interests at heart. If you take away anything from this review, let it be this: You want someone behind you that is willing to fight for you as if you were their own and also has the strength and knowledge to be successful. Don't pass up the opportunity to increase your chances and decrease your stress.

Carlos Berreteaga

The team at Kral Military Defense is very approachable, knowledgeable, and dedicated. I was facing an LOR due to the results of an investigation conducted by the military. The team at Kral Military Defense reviewed the report of investigation and was able to craft an excellent rebuttal to the charges. Ultimately, the leadership decided to rescind the LOR . The whole team, Steph, Danielle, ,Abby, and Chris were very responsive to my questions and requests through the whole process. If you ever find yourself in any sort of legal situation in the military I highly recommend that you contact them and put them in your corner!

Andrew Compton

Stephanie was very knowledgeable and despite me being so anxious about my case helped me through it and got an innocent verdict within 6 minutes of the board being adjourned. So very grateful for her and my JAG for helping me out and highly recommend hiring Stephanie especially if you are military.

Why Hire a Civilian Lawyer?