Jacksonville NC / Camp Lejeune · Jacksonville, NC
Military Attorney in Jacksonville NC. Jacksonville, NC.
Former Marine Judge Advocate based in Jacksonville, NC. The only JAG-trained military defense attorney in the area handling the full range of military law and security clearance matters.
About This Service
Military Attorney in Jacksonville NC in Jacksonville, NC
Matthew Thomas is the only JAG-trained military defense attorney based in Jacksonville, NC who handles both military law and security clearance cases. He served as a Marine Judge Advocate and defense counsel at Camp Lejeune before entering private practice.
Jacksonville is a military town. The legal needs of Marines and sailors stationed at Lejeune, Cherry Point, and New River require an attorney who understands military law from the inside, not a civilian criminal defense attorney who occasionally handles UCMJ matters. Matthew is not a generalist who does military law on the side. It is the center of his practice.
Two-time USMC Defense Counsel of the Year (National and Eastern Region, 2021). Both awards were earned while he was working USMC cases in and around the Jacksonville area. The recognition is local in origin, not national by coincidence.
Why Matthew Thomas
Credentials Specific to This Market
Only JAG-Trained Defense Attorney in Jacksonville
Matthew is the only attorney in the Jacksonville area who served as a Marine JAG defense counsel, handles the full range of military law matters, and also handles security clearance defense.
2x USMC Defense Counsel of the Year
National and Eastern Region, 2021. Both awards came from USMC-adjudicated recognition of his work in the same system where your case is proceeding.
Office Minutes from Camp Lejeune
705 New Bridge Street, Jacksonville, NC. Minutes from the main gate. Available for in-person consultations, pre-trial meetings, and on-base appearances without travel logistics.
Full Practice with No Referrals
AdSep, court-martial, NJP, BOI, security clearance, discharge upgrades. Matthew handles the full range of military legal matters. If your situation crosses practice areas, you do not need separate counsel.
Related Practice Areas
All Services Matthew Offers in Jacksonville, NC
Security Clearance Defense
Military Law
Areas of Focus
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Military justice has a distinct procedural culture. The Rules for Courts-Martial, UCMJ evidentiary standards, ADSEP procedures, command relationships, and the informal power dynamics within a military legal community are all different from civilian criminal defense. An attorney who was a JAG has worked inside that system, not just read about it. Matthew served as a defense counsel at Camp Lejeune. He has worked with and against the same USMC legal personnel his clients now face.
Yes. Military legal matters and security clearance issues frequently intersect. A drug charge under Article 112a can trigger a DCSA clearance investigation. An ADSEP board proceeding can affect clearance access during the process. Matthew handles the overall strategy across both tracks when they overlap.
Yes. The free 15-minute call is available for service members and contractors who hold a SIR or SOR. For court-martial, AdSep, NJP, and BOI matters, the paid 60-minute consultation applies. Either way, you'll know exactly where you stand by the end of the call.
Two Ways to Start
Discuss Your Case with Matthew Thomas
Military Attorney in Jacksonville NC in Jacksonville, NC. Need ongoing support? Free 15-minute call, no charge, confidential. All other matters by paid consultation.
All other matters · Paid
