Meet Elizabeth
A third-generation Marine, Elizabeth Harvey began her career as a Motor Transport Officer in the 1st FSSG, Camp Pendleton, California. After three years, she was selected for the Marine Corps' Funded Legal Education Program and attended law school.
After law school, Elizabeth was assigned back to Camp Pendleton, first working as an attorney in the base legal assistance office before moving into military justice roles. During those three years she served first as a prosecutor, prosecuting over 200 cases, and then as a defense counsel, representing over 140 clients, in the busiest trial organization in the Department of Defense.
Elizabeth next served in the Navy-Marine Corps Government Appellate office in Washington, D.C., writing over 150 appellate briefs and arguing cases before military appellate courts. In 2009, she argued more cases before the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces than any other attorney in the Department of Defense. During this tour. Elizabeth also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan for a six-month assignment.
Returning to Camp Pendleton, Elizabeth was assigned as a military judge. In four years on the bench, she presided over more than 130 criminal trials, with charges ranging from misdemeanors to felony offenses.
Since retiring from the Marine Corps in 2016, Elizabeth has continued to practice military law--writing appellate briefs, arguing before military appellate courts, filing petitions to military administrative agencies, and litigating lawsuits against the military in the Court of Federal Claims.
In 2025, Elizabeth and her husband formed their law firm, Harvey Legal Consulting, APC. Elizabeth now works directly with clients and continues to provide valuable legal services to our servicemembers and veterans. Along with her extensive military legal experience, Elizabeth possesses a unique perspective, having served as prosecutor and defense counsel, military judge and appellate counsel. This background enables her to spot errors and understand the issues at hand in any case, either criminal or administrative.
Education:
-University of Notre Dame, B.A.
-George Mason University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
-The Judge Advocate General Legal Center and School, LLM (concentration in Military Justice), honor graduate
Press Coverage
"Former Marine Staff Judge Advocate LtCol Beth Harvey, USMC (ret) joins the program to discuss the substantial burden of proof that rests with Navy prosecutors in proving guilt on a charge of “negligent homicide,” the role that the Article 32 hearing will play in the legal process and the decision to bring such a historically uncommon charge against a commanding officer of a U.S. warship."
"After the Bowe Bergdahl verdict lots of us scratched our heads, not understanding the rationale behind it. Beth Harvey is a former USMC SJA prosecutor, defender, appellate attorney and judge — she’ll help us try to understand what is escapes most of us."
"‘Rock star’ Marine NCO has drug conviction tossed as judges convinced by character evidence"