South Carolina Military Defense Lawyers

Court-Martial Defense

To prepare for a court-martial, you need high-quality representation from an attorney with a deep understanding of military law. Our firm has decades of experience vigorously defending the rights of military personnel facing criminal allegations. We offer effective court-martial defense to protect your rights against various charges, such as:

• AWOL & Desertion
• Officer Misconduct
• Assault & Battery
• Adultery
• Domestic Violence
• Drill Sergeant/Instructor Misconduct
• Recruiter Misconduct
• Sexual Assault
• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Larceny
• Internet Sex Crimes
• Drug Offenses

Administrative Appeals

Our lawyers understand the severe damage that adverse administrative actions can inflict on the reputations of military servicemen and women. Such actions can jeopardize your potential for reenlistment, promotion, and overall career advancement. From 6105 entries to Letters of Reprimand/Counseling to General Officer Memorandums of Reprimand, it’s crucial to seek counsel from a knowledgeable military defense attorney to protect your rights. Our firm is experienced in various types of administrative appeals, including:

• Titling Actions
• GOMOR Rebuttals
• DNA Expungement
• Demotion Appeals
• Adverse Counseling
• Article 138 Complaints
• Article 15 & Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP)
• Adverse Fitness Report/Referred Evaluations

Court-Marital Appeals

While the legal framework of military law is designed to deliver justice, this isn’t always the case. Receiving an unjust outcome in a court-martial can be frightening and frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to repeal these verdicts. Our fierce lawyers have extensive experience helping clients navigate the legal complexities of various court-martial appeals, including requests for clemency and special clemency/parole boards.

Administrative Separation

Military separation boards oversee various administrative proceedings, from discharges from service to grade and career determinations. Regardless of which board is involved, our firm is well-equipped to provide reliable administrative separation defense to military servicemembers preparing to undergo a review or appeal to a military board. Our team frequently handles cases involving officer separations, enlisted separations/chapter boards, and notification procedures.

Discharge Upgrade

If you received an other-than-honorable (OTH) discharge for unlawful reasons, our lawyers can help you pursue justice. It’s crucial to seek sound counsel as soon as possible to seek a discharge upgrade, as your attorney can assist you with gathering relevant evidence and presenting a compelling argument. While the military provides various avenues for officers and veterans to apply for discharge upgrades, the legal complexities of such cases can be challenging to navigate without a comprehensive understanding of military law. Our firm can ensure you fully understand your options to choose an appropriate legal recourse. Some common routes to upgrade less-than-honorable discharges include:

• “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy: Although this federal act was repealed in 2011, it resulted in the discriminatory discharge of thousands of non-heterosexual military servicemembers. If you were dishonorably discharged under the DADT policy, our firm can help you exercise your rights by pursuing a discharge upgrade.
• PTSD/TBI: If you were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or have another qualifying mental health condition, you may be eligible to request a discharge upgrade.
• Sexual assault or harassment: If you are a survivor of military sexual assault or harassment that contributed to an other-than-honorable discharge, our attorneys can guide your legal steps wisely to upgrade your discharge status.

Correction of Military Records

No matter how innocent, errors and inaccuracies in official military records can significantly harm your reputation and future opportunities as a military servicemember.

If you suspect an error, our military defense attorneys assist clients with pursuing corrections of military records to defend their honor and selfless service.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) took effect in December 2003 to provide active-duty military personnel with relief from civil proceedings that may affect their rights during their service. Under this federal law, service members can request a delay or suspension of certain judicial and administrative proceedings if they can prove that such actions interfere with their duties. Our military defense lawyers know your rights under the SCRA and other federal laws, including the period before deployment to the delays for servicemembers stationed overseas. If you suspect your rights were violated under the SCRA, we can collaborate closely with you to review your legal options and pursue a favorable outcome. Our lawyers can help you navigate various issues related to SCRA, such as interest rate caps, lease terminations, mortgage foreclosures, and vehicle repossessions.