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Should I go into corporate law or criminal defense?
I like the idea of helping people in need and helping prisoners get back with their families but it seems that criminal defense would be significantly harder and not as rewarding as going into corporate law which I can use money from to donate/support such campaigns and others. I'm not exactly sure which path to choose.
#law #lawyer #criminal-justice #college #attorney
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Leonard A.’s Answer
Aymen -
You've asked an excellent question and there is no easy answer. Before I share my thoughts, know that I believe that I could have had a happy and successful career in a number of areas of the law. You may come to learn the same. The areas you cite, criminal versus corporate and quite different. Both are admirable and highly respected. Keep in mind that when defending the accused, you may not always have the ability to pick and choose which cases you favor. The accused and, in fact, actual criminals are entitled to representation. The reward that you seek - defending the unjustly accused - may not always present itself. Criminal defense work is hard, emotionally challenging at times and often exposes you to the darker things in society. That being said, there are many rewards in helping others. The Innocence Project at the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law is worth looking at. Corporate Law is certainly likely to be more predictable, stable, perhaps economic and even dry. There is considerable document work and consideration of regulatory and legal frameworks, tax issues and the like. I practiced Corporate and Securities Law for some time and while interesting, I found myself unable to consider it as a path for my entire career -- I enjoyed advising but perhaps not documenting transactions. I enjoyed the intellectual challenges but not the transactional repetition. This is one person's view, of course. My suggestion - perhaps you can spend a summer in a firm that permits rotation between various departments. There is no substitute for kicking the tires and seeing how it feels.
Best of luck.
You've asked an excellent question and there is no easy answer. Before I share my thoughts, know that I believe that I could have had a happy and successful career in a number of areas of the law. You may come to learn the same. The areas you cite, criminal versus corporate and quite different. Both are admirable and highly respected. Keep in mind that when defending the accused, you may not always have the ability to pick and choose which cases you favor. The accused and, in fact, actual criminals are entitled to representation. The reward that you seek - defending the unjustly accused - may not always present itself. Criminal defense work is hard, emotionally challenging at times and often exposes you to the darker things in society. That being said, there are many rewards in helping others. The Innocence Project at the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law is worth looking at. Corporate Law is certainly likely to be more predictable, stable, perhaps economic and even dry. There is considerable document work and consideration of regulatory and legal frameworks, tax issues and the like. I practiced Corporate and Securities Law for some time and while interesting, I found myself unable to consider it as a path for my entire career -- I enjoyed advising but perhaps not documenting transactions. I enjoyed the intellectual challenges but not the transactional repetition. This is one person's view, of course. My suggestion - perhaps you can spend a summer in a firm that permits rotation between various departments. There is no substitute for kicking the tires and seeing how it feels.
Best of luck.
Thank you for the help. I’ve seen one relate to criminal defense as similar to being a doctor, as in you don’t have much choice on who you save or an extensive ability to pick and choose between them based on the things they’ve done, only that they need a service. I think I am prepared for that reality and would rather have that than managing business transactions.
Aymen
Good for you Aymen..... a thoughtful and measured approach. Sounds like you are well on your way and I wish you well in your pursuit. Your future clients will be fortunate to have you advocating on their behalf.
Leonard A. Golub
Updated
Desiree’s Answer
Well, they are not necessarily different: White Collar crime is an area of practice, too! And, no matter what area of law you practice, you should always contribute to pro bono efforts, which might allow you find a balance between corporate law and criminal law.
That said, I don't know that you need fully formed plan just yet. You should strive for the best grades at the best law school you can attend, and use the classes to help you find your passion. In year 2 and 3, you can apply for clinics that will give you real experience with clients, which might be a good way to try criminal law. Any summer you can try to work for a law firm to test the waters of corporate law. Or, along the way you might fall in love with Real Estate or Family Law or any of the various other practices to which you will be exposed to in law school. They all require the very same Bar Exam!
And whatever legal job you start with after law school isn't necessarily where you'll be forever. I started at a big law firm, then move in-house to practice corporate law. My fields have varied over the years from environmental law, to anti-corruption law, to trade law (import/export), with a little charitable law thrown in there, too. Your legal career can grow and evolve with your interests and opportunities.
That said, I don't know that you need fully formed plan just yet. You should strive for the best grades at the best law school you can attend, and use the classes to help you find your passion. In year 2 and 3, you can apply for clinics that will give you real experience with clients, which might be a good way to try criminal law. Any summer you can try to work for a law firm to test the waters of corporate law. Or, along the way you might fall in love with Real Estate or Family Law or any of the various other practices to which you will be exposed to in law school. They all require the very same Bar Exam!
And whatever legal job you start with after law school isn't necessarily where you'll be forever. I started at a big law firm, then move in-house to practice corporate law. My fields have varied over the years from environmental law, to anti-corruption law, to trade law (import/export), with a little charitable law thrown in there, too. Your legal career can grow and evolve with your interests and opportunities.