CHOOSE EXPERIENCE

A message from Sean Mangan

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)

Thanks for visiting my website.  I am confident that my background sets me apart:  you simply won't find another attorney with my combination of experience, knowledge, and skill.  Here's a little bit about me, what I do, and why I do it...

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I recently retired from the Army after 24 years of active-duty service.  During my career, I worked every aspect of the military justice system, starting on the street as a military police officer and ending up in the courtroom as a military trial judge.  In between, I was a legal advisor, prosecutor, military magistrate, defense counsel, appellate counsel, and professor of criminal law.  My early experience as a troop leader and staff officer at the company and battalion levels gave me valuable perspective when I switched to the Army JAG Corps.  

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As a judge advocate, I got the chance to do some amazing things.  I prosecuted a variety of crimes in courts-martial and advised commanders at all levels on a wide range of legal issues.  I then did appellate work, taking cases up before military appellate courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. While deployed I worked with Tier-1 Special Operations Forces, prosecuting terrorists in foreign courts.  Later, I trained thousands of judge advocates, commanders, and military judges while a professor of criminal law.  As supervisor of the Army's busiest trial defense region, I represented general officers, commanders, and SGT Bowe Bergdahl.  I then had the honor of presiding over courts-martial as a military trial judge.  Throughout my career, I helped build and improve the system, contributing to and creating courses, forms, and other resources still in use today, including authoring significant revisions of the Army's military justice regulation while assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General.

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In addition to expertise in military matters, I have several years of experience in the civilian justice system.  My first agency was the Spokane Police Department.  While in law school, I prosecuted DUIs and other crimes with the Lane County (OR) District Attorney's Office.  Later, I prosecuted civilian crimes in federal court as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA).  

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Like many, I used to think that military personnel shouldn’t need to hire an attorney.  Having supervised dozens of them, I have the utmost respect for legal assistance and trial defense military counsel.  But my time in TDS showed to me the crushing caseload and curtailed mandate that severely limits the help available through detailed counsel.

I came to realize that, when it's YOUR life and livelihood at risk—either because of an allegation against you or a mistake you made—private representation is a must.  Having someone who is outside the system and completely dedicated to you as a client brings a level or advocacy and assistance that just is not otherwise available.  Yes, hiring a private attorney is a big deal.  But, after 23 years of seeing the system from the inside, I am certain that the difference it makes, in both your case and your career, is even bigger.

In considering what to do with my post-Army life, I realized that I wanted to serve those who served others. Today, I dedicate my legal skills and knowledge to those who have chosen to serve:  veterans, military personnel, first responders, and their families.

If this is you, and you are visiting this website because you are facing an allegation, investigation, or any kind of legal process or adverse action, know this…

I am ready to fight for you.