Good civilian military lawyers have experience, control of the courtroom, advanced negotiation skills, an extremely well-developed ability to think on their feet, and experience that enables them to see issues that others don’t. Because we deal with so many different judges and juries (by doing courts-martial in all of the services), we know how to build rapport in a variety of environments. What works in an Army court might not work in a Coast Guard court. What works with one judge might not work with another. What persuades one legal office might backfire with another.