You may have heard of the saying “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.” There is a lot of truth to this statement.
My practice gives me an awesome opportunity to help military members and veterans. They have all experienced a bump in the road, many times unforeseen and unplanned. Unfortunately, some of my clients have tried to handle their case on their own before reaching out to me. And 99% of the time, they made their circumstances worse, at times making it difficult to even salvage their case. When you are in the middle of a contentious issue or fighting to prove your innocence, it is very difficult to think straight and be objective.
It is a bad idea to try to represent yourself in a case, even if you are a lawyer. You should seek the help of a lawyer—not just any lawyer—but a lawyer who has expertise in the type of matter you are dealing with. For example, if you are in the midst of a divorce, you should find a competent divorce attorney. I don’t recommend that you seek the services of an attorney who specializes in criminal matters and takes a divorce case once in a while. You want a lawyer who does this type of work day in and day out and knows every nuance of the practice inside and out. You want a lawyer who will listen to your situation and know exactly the strategy that will give you the best outcome.
If you are in the midst of a military law issue, it is best to seek the assistance of a lawyer who specializes in military law issues. You are making a mistake if you try to represent yourself. When you try to represent yourself, you are emotionally attached to the case and are unable to look at things objectively. When your attorney looks at the case, he or she will objectively analyze your case and come up with strategies to attack the matter leading to the best possible outcome. When you have an expert on your side—you have someone who can zero in on your case and give you meaningful and strategic advice on the best course action. Your attorney will make you aware of matters that you are not even aware of—but that will have a collateral impact on your case.
You will hurt yourself in the long run if you don’t speak to a competent attorney who can give you advice on how to best go about handling your legal issue. Not hiring a lawyer may cost you more in the long run.
Ferah Ozbek is a retired from the U.S. Air Force where she served as an active duty judge advocate for over 20 years. She continues to practice military law and represents military members and veterans who are facing injustice. To learn more about how Ferah can help if you are facing an Officer Grade Determination, Nonjudicial Punishment or if you want to Upgrade your Discharge or Correct your Military Records, send her an e-mail at ferah@ferahozbek.com. Visit Ferah’s website at ferahozbek.com
