How does the role of a defense lawyer during an investigation vary among military legal systems?

In military law, the role of a defense lawyer during the investigative phase varies significantly across different legal systems.

In many jurisdictions, a defender may begin assisting the accused immediately after the first interrogation, once the individual has been informed of their rights. In these systems, the defender has the right to intervene during the process of instruction and must be present for key investigative features, such as the interrogation of the accused.1

Conversely, in other military legal systems, such as that of Greece, the defender plays no part in the investigative or instructional phase. In these instances, the defense lawyer appears only at the trial stage.1

Regardless of the system, it is a fundamental principle of justice that the accused must be allowed full facilities to prepare their defense, and all countries maintain a presumption of innocence pending trial. While disciplinary or summary procedures often do not involve defense counsel, trials before military courts generally permit the accused to be assisted by an advocate, with many systems allowing or even requiring the employment of qualified civilian lawyers.21