With Stefany Garrick at the helm, service members facing legal challenges find a powerful ally who blends military precision with dedicated advocacy.
Your Military Lawyer
Discover Stefany Garrick, Esq.
Stefany Garrick has established herself as an indispensable legal advisor to The Adjutant General and commanders throughout the Rhode Island National Guard, providing critical counsel on matters that directly impact military readiness and personnel careers. Her expertise spans the full spectrum of military legal practice—from administrative investigations and labor disputes to intelligence oversight and cyber operations. Commanders consistently turn to her for crystal-clear guidance on complex disciplinary actions, administrative separations, and the intricate landscape of military justice.
She is renowned for her exceptional ability to navigate the intersections of military and civilian law, earning respect as both a strategic advisor to leadership and a fierce defender of individual service members’ rights. As a certified National Guard Cyber Law Judge Advocate, she brings cutting-edge expertise to emerging areas of defending service members while maintaining an enduring dedication to the fundamental principles of justice that underpin military service.
The Military Lawyer You Can Rely On: Their Story
In Her Own Words
“For Stefany Garrick’s, service members aren’t just cases—they’re people worth protecting.”
In this bio video, Stefany Garrick shares her journey through military and civilian law. Throughout her career, Stefany Garrick has worked in both advisory and defense roles within the military justice system. As Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the Rhode Island National Guard, she handled administrative investigations, equal opportunity complaints, and privacy law matters. She also served as a TDS defense counsel, representing service members in separation boards and disciplinary actions. Her experience includes advising on administrative actions such as Article 15 proceedings and relief for cause decisions, ensuring both leadership responsibilities and service member rights were addressed. She has also taught Judge Advocates at the All-State Legal Conference and mentored candidates at the Rhode Island National Guard Officer Candidate School.
Outside of the military, Stefany has worked in criminal defense, veterans’ advocacy, and civil rights. She has represented clients in serious criminal cases, helped veterans with discharge upgrades and PTSD-related disability claims, and contributed to the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and Innocence Project. Her work demonstrates her abiding dedication to those overlooked by the systems designed to protect them.
Take control of your defense now.
Professional Career Synopsis
Transforming Complexity into Victory: A Multi-Domain Legal Strategist
As a Warrior Advocate®, Stefany Garrick delivers precise legal counsel to service members navigating the turbulent waters of military administrative law and adverse actions. From MEO/EEO investigations to security clearance challenges, she brings exceptional clarity to the military’s most complex legal challenges, combining technical expertise with pragmatic solutions. Her respected career spans multiple domains—from the courtroom defense of the criminally accused to the administrative protection of veterans seeking benefits for military sexual trauma and PTSD. She approaches each case holistically, anticipating challenges across the full spectrum of military and civilian legal battlegrounds.
As a dedicated advocate for individual rights, Stefany Garrick transforms overwhelming legal obstacles into passable pathways. When confronting National Guard legal issues, administrative separations, or the complex web of federal labor regulations, her commanding legal presence brings immediate stability to chaotic situations. Her unique combination of military discipline and compassionate advocacy ensures that each Warrior ClientTM—whether a senior officer facing an investigation or a veteran seeking long-overdue benefits—receives the full measure of justice their service deserves.
Defending America’s Warrior’s.
You Defend the Nation – We Defend YOU.
Early Life and Education
Building the Foundation for
Empathetic Advocacy
Born and raised in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, Stefany Garrick’s small-town upbringing instilled in her the values of community service and the importance of helping those who need support. Her graduation from Rocky Hill High School marked the beginning of an academic journey focused on understanding human behavior and serving others. Her undergraduate studies at the University of Connecticut, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, provided her with crucial insights into human motivation, behavior, and the psychological factors that influence decision-making—knowledge that would prove invaluable in her later legal career.
Her decision to take a year between college and law school to serve with AmeriCorps at Habitat for Humanity in Fairfield County demonstrated her commitment to service and her desire to make a direct, positive impact on people’s lives. This experience working with families in need and helping them achieve homeownership reinforced her understanding that effective advocacy requires seeing people as complete human beings with complex needs and circumstances. Her legal education at Quinnipiac University School of Law was specifically designed to prepare her for public defender work, leading her to focus intensively on criminal law while exploring how her psychology background could enhance her effectiveness as a defense attorney. This combination of psychological insight and legal training created the foundation for her empathetic yet strategic approach to military defense work.
Military Career
From Trial Defense Services to
Senior Command Advisory Roles
Commissioned into the Army National Guard JAG Corps after completing her Direct Commission Course at Fort Benning and The Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia, Stefany Garrick began her military legal career with an assignment to Trial Defense Services in the Connecticut National Guard. This assignment aligned perfectly with her civilian criminal defense practice, allowing her to serve service members facing military justice proceedings while maintaining her civilian legal practice. Her work in TDS provided her with essential experience in military defense advocacy and introduced her to the unique challenges facing National Guard service members.
Her transfer to the Rhode Island National Guard as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate marked a significant expansion of her responsibilities and expertise. In this role, she served as a senior legal advisor to The Adjutant General (the National Guard equivalent of a commanding general) and his command staff, handling the broad spectrum of legal issues that arise in National Guard operations. Her responsibilities included administrative investigations, equal opportunity complaints, privacy law matters, Article 15 proceedings, relief for cause decisions, and the complex intersection of federal military law with state-specific domestic operations. This three-year assignment provided her with invaluable insights into command decision-making processes and the factors that influence how senior leaders evaluate service members facing adverse actions.
From the Battlefield to the Courtroom
Bridging Command Perspective
with Defense Advocacy
Stefany Garrick’s unique career progression from Trial Defense Services to Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and back to defense advocacy provides her with an unmatched perspective on military justice proceedings from multiple angles. Her experience serving as a senior advisor to The Adjutant General and command staff gave her a front-row seat to observe how commanders think, make decisions, and evaluate responses to adverse actions such as GOMORs and letters of reprimand. This insider knowledge of command decision-making processes enables her to craft defense strategies that address not just the legal requirements, but also the practical considerations that influence command decisions.
Her transition back to defense work after completing her assignment as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate reflects her recognition that defense advocacy represents her true calling and where she can make the greatest impact for service members. Her experience advising commanders on disciplinary actions, administrative separations, and adverse personnel actions provides her with invaluable insights into what factors commanders consider when making decisions about service members’ careers. This knowledge allows her to help clients understand not just the legal process they’re facing, but also the command perspective and how to present their cases in ways that resonate with decision-makers. Her ability to see situations from both the command and service member perspectives makes her uniquely effective at finding solutions that work for all parties involved.
Guiding Philosophy and Principles
Empathy as a Strength: Understanding the
Whole Person Behind the Uniform
Stefany Garrick’s approach to military legal advocacy is fundamentally grounded in her belief that empathy is not just valuable but essential for effective representation. Her philosophy centers on understanding service members as complete human beings—not just as cases or uniformed personnel, but as mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and individuals with lives, families, and futures that extend far beyond their military service. She believes that many service members and commanders lose sight of this human dimension during legal proceedings, and that effective advocacy requires restoring that perspective to ensure fair and just outcomes.
Her psychology background informs her understanding that people facing legal challenges are often experiencing some of the most frightening and isolating periods of their lives, feeling abandoned by the system they have faithfully served. Her commitment to listening deeply to clients’ stories and understanding their personal circumstances enables her to advocate not just for legal victories, but for solutions that address the broader impact of legal proceedings on service members’ lives and families. This empathetic approach, combined with her insider knowledge of command decision-making processes, allows her to craft strategies that achieve the best possible outcomes whether clients want to continue their military service or need assistance finding “a soft landing spot that is workable for both sides”.
Awards, Recognitions, and Volunteerism
Distinguished Service Across
Military and Civilian Legal Practice
Throughout her distinguished legal career, Stefany Garrick has earned recognition for her exceptional service in both military and civilian contexts, demonstrating her commitment to justice and advocacy across multiple legal disciplines. Her certification as a National Guard Cyber Law Judge Advocate reflects her expertise in one of the most rapidly evolving areas of military law, positioning her at the forefront of legal challenges facing modern service members in an increasingly digital operational environment. Her service as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the Rhode Island National Guard demonstrated the military’s confidence in her legal expertise and leadership abilities.
Beyond her formal military service, Stefany has consistently demonstrated her commitment to serving underrepresented populations through her civilian legal practice and volunteer work. Her early service with AmeriCorps at Habitat for Humanity reflects her lifelong dedication to helping those in need achieve stability and security. Her civilian criminal defense work, particularly her focus on post-conviction cases and child protection matters, demonstrates her commitment to advocating for vulnerable populations who often lack adequate legal representation. Her teaching and mentoring work with Judge Advocates at All-State Legal Conferences and with candidates at the Rhode Island National Guard Officer Candidate School reflects her dedication to developing the next generation of military legal professionals and ensuring they have the skills and perspective necessary to serve service members effectively.
Testimonials, Outcomes, and Impact
A Legacy of Passionate
Advocacy and Command Respect
Stefany Garrick’s exceptional reputation throughout both military and civilian legal communities reflects her unwavering commitment to zealous advocacy and her genuine understanding of the challenges facing service members. Her colleagues in Trial Defense Services consistently recognized her natural talent for defense work, with one career prosecutor memorably commenting “Wow, you really are a defense lawyer, aren’t you?”—a comment she embraced as recognition of her authentic passion for advocacy rather than any criticism. This incident reflects the respect she earned from prosecutors and defense attorneys alike for her genuine commitment to vigorous representation of her clients.
The Adjutant General and command staff of the Rhode Island National Guard consistently praised her legal expertise and her ability to provide clear, actionable advice on complex legal matters affecting military readiness and personnel decisions. Her insights into command decision-making processes and her ability to help service members understand how their responses to adverse actions will be received by leadership have proven invaluable to countless clients facing career-defining challenges. Service members who have benefited from her advocacy consistently describe her as an attorney who truly listens to their concerns, understands their personal circumstances, and fights tirelessly to achieve outcomes that protect not just their legal rights but their futures and families. Her reputation for empathetic yet strategic advocacy has made her one of the most trusted voices available to service members facing the most challenging periods of their military careers.
As Seen On: Trusted by Leading Media Outlets
Schedule Your Appointment Today
DEFENDING Servicemembers is our PASSION
At the Law Office of Will M. Helixon, we understand the unique challenges military personnel face when navigating legal issues. Our experienced team is ready to provide the expert defense and guidance you deserve. Schedule a confidential consultation today to discuss your case and get the support you need. Use our convenient online appointment system to book your time, and let us help you protect your rights and your future.
When your freedom is threatened by the Government, when legal stress has your family hanging on by a thread, or when your career and financial future is on the line, let the military lawyers and court-martial defense lawyers at the Law Office of Will M. Helixon apply the trial skills they have honed for decades in the United States and Germany to aggressively advocate on your behalf.
15-Minute Introductory Consultation with a Warrior Advocate™
During this 15-minute introductory consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with one of our experienced Warrior Advocates™. We’ll briefly discuss your legal concerns, answer any initial questions, and outline how The Law Office of Will M. Helixon can assist in protecting your rights and securing your future. This quick consultation is designed to help us understand your needs and determine the best next steps for your case. Schedule your free consultation today and take the first step toward safeguarding your career.
15-Minute Introductory Consultation with a Warrior Advocate™
During this 15-minute introductory consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with one of our experienced Warrior Advocates™. We’ll briefly discuss your legal concerns, answer any initial questions, and outline how The Law Office of Will M. Helixon can assist in protecting your rights and securing your future. This quick consultation is designed to help us understand your needs and determine the best next steps for your case. Schedule your free consultation today and take the first step toward safeguarding your career.