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hayden
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
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What is a better career: lawyer or forensic police?
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James Hall
Retired
8
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Prosper, Texas
Updated
James’s Answer
Hayden,
In 25 years of law enforcement experience I have had the opportunity to meet many individuals on both side of this fence. As a Homicide Investigator for 10+ years I spent a lot of time around the forensic investigators and technicians . Obviously they were a big part of my investigation with their findings and research after the initial on scene investigation . I found them to be very detailed oriented people with a real desire for finding details and the why's and how of items and circumstances surrounding criminal scenes. Bright and articulate people who were concerned in bringing criminals to justice and also discovering the truth.
I met plenty of lawyers on both sides of the criminal law , ones pursuing the criminal and desiring to bring them to justice and account for their deeds, both for the sake of society and for family of victims. They worked for the District Attorney whose job it was to prosecute law breakers. There are so many other types of lawyers , civil , marriage , real estate , personal estate and defense lawyers. Most were out to represent their clients and protect their criminal or civil rights , whatever the case may be. Others seemed more intent on making money , sometimes at the expense of others , which in some cases was their job on behalf of someone who felt they deserved money to right a wrong or place responsibility of another for something they had done and make them pay monetarily. I guess it depends on what your priorities in life will be. Both are very interesting fields , both require a good education and in both cases always staying up to date with the latest new facts and findings. Forensics mean a lot of private personal work and lots of times very detailed study of the not so obvious. Lawyers are for the most part very public oriented people with jobs involving contesting parties and ideas. If you like to argue , here's your job.
Go to the police station and see if there are tours available in the crime lab. I remember our school took a tour and I found myself intrigued by what I saw including the crime lab and all the techie things they do. Also take a day and go sit in a courtroom and watch lawyers do what they do . If you have a family lawyer see if he will visit with you and ask him why they became a lawyer. It might be very revealing.
In 25 years of law enforcement experience I have had the opportunity to meet many individuals on both side of this fence. As a Homicide Investigator for 10+ years I spent a lot of time around the forensic investigators and technicians . Obviously they were a big part of my investigation with their findings and research after the initial on scene investigation . I found them to be very detailed oriented people with a real desire for finding details and the why's and how of items and circumstances surrounding criminal scenes. Bright and articulate people who were concerned in bringing criminals to justice and also discovering the truth.
I met plenty of lawyers on both sides of the criminal law , ones pursuing the criminal and desiring to bring them to justice and account for their deeds, both for the sake of society and for family of victims. They worked for the District Attorney whose job it was to prosecute law breakers. There are so many other types of lawyers , civil , marriage , real estate , personal estate and defense lawyers. Most were out to represent their clients and protect their criminal or civil rights , whatever the case may be. Others seemed more intent on making money , sometimes at the expense of others , which in some cases was their job on behalf of someone who felt they deserved money to right a wrong or place responsibility of another for something they had done and make them pay monetarily. I guess it depends on what your priorities in life will be. Both are very interesting fields , both require a good education and in both cases always staying up to date with the latest new facts and findings. Forensics mean a lot of private personal work and lots of times very detailed study of the not so obvious. Lawyers are for the most part very public oriented people with jobs involving contesting parties and ideas. If you like to argue , here's your job.
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