Military lawyers are those who specialize in matters of military law and justice. Military justice refers to a set of laws which govern the members of the armed forces. There are some legal issues which apply only to military such as conduct of military members, discipline and legality of certain orders. The responsibility of military lawyers is to represent members of the armed forces in a wide range of matters relating to the military such as in the use of IG as well as command investigations, adverse actions of the military personnel, whistleblower actions, The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, discharge upgrades, physical evaluation among others.
To be a military lawyer, one has to first and foremost receive education in the field of law and acquire a degree from a recognized law school. One can choose to specialize in military law as a field of study. This will familiarize them with the proceedings of court martials. Even when practicing other fields of law, it is always advisable to lean towards cases revolving around military law in order to gain the necessary expertise for successfully handling a military court case. It is also important for one to be a certified specialist and to take part in activities that demonstrate their interest in matters of military justice.
Court martial proceedings are different from normal court proceedings therefore it is important for one who is aspiring to be a lawyer to also study court martial law. The military lawyer will advise his or her client on the nature of their case and their position in it as well as to offer them legal representation in court. It is generally more advisable to study military law and be a military lawyer than to be a civilian lawyer who practices military law on occasion. Military lawyers are better placed in martial law than civilian lawyers.