2 answers
Emma
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
5
Questions
Asked
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What kind of lawyer represents clients in court? Specifically criminal cases (abuse, assault, kidnappings, etc.)?
One interest I have is being a lawyer. I don't know much about this field since it is so broad, and I don't know where to start either. I know I want to work on criminal cases and represent clients in court. What would that title be?
2 answers
Kevin Speir
Legal and psychological research, Business Development
3
Answers
Riverside, California
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
I think you would enjoy talking to lawyers who do what you ae thinking about doing and hear first hand what it is like. Everyone can benefit from investigating what they are interested in and lawyers are generally happy to share what their profession is all about. You might try asking some local defense attorneys if you can meet them in their office and see what they do and once they get to know you, they likely will tell you what courtrooms you can go to on what dates and times to watch what the lawyers do in court. Or, you can just go to any court building you can easily get to and once you get through the metal detectors go and sit in any courtroom and observe. It might be a criminal courtroom or family law or civil, but its fun to watch and maybe in the hallway ask the attorneys if they need an intern in their office. This is a fast way to see if you like this kind of work.
I have met several people who have spent the years and money to graduate from law school and pass the bar exam and then find they do not like being a lawyer. They say they did not realize what it would be like fighting with people all day long, the opposing lawyer and at times their own client who may not easily agree with their advice on how to solve their legal problem with the least expense and risk and time.
I have met several people who have spent the years and money to graduate from law school and pass the bar exam and then find they do not like being a lawyer. They say they did not realize what it would be like fighting with people all day long, the opposing lawyer and at times their own client who may not easily agree with their advice on how to solve their legal problem with the least expense and risk and time.
Mary Marrs
Social Work
8
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Mary’s Answer
Hi Emma.
You have such great questions.
It sounds like you are wanting to be a defense attorney in criminal court. There are two types of defense attorneys, those who work in the public defenders office and those who work in private offices.
Public Defenders are those attorneys who work for a law firm who has a contract with the County to take the clients who cannot afford to hire an attorney to represent them when charged with a crime. The County will pay the bill, not the client, and you would represent the client in court on that charge. This can be difficult, as you don't get to "pick" your clients, you are assigned to whomever the Court sends to your office and whomever is "next up" to take a client and sometimes you don't see them until the day of the first hearing and they not be the most cooperative clients or they may have the most difficult barriers to overcome in their hearings.
Private Defenders are those attorneys who are hired privately by clients who come into the office, present their situation to you and you decide if you want to defend them or not. They pay you a retainer (a large amount of money that you bill against to pay for your time) and you work on their case from start to finish. These clients tend to be more cooperative, but also more "time consuming" than those who are handled by the Public Defenders as they "want what they are paying for", etc.
Both types of Defenders have a strong belief that all clients have the right to have an attorney defend them, right or wrong, guilty or innocent, as a part of the criminal justice system and play a very important role in the checks and balances of how the Court system works.
You have such great questions.
It sounds like you are wanting to be a defense attorney in criminal court. There are two types of defense attorneys, those who work in the public defenders office and those who work in private offices.
Public Defenders are those attorneys who work for a law firm who has a contract with the County to take the clients who cannot afford to hire an attorney to represent them when charged with a crime. The County will pay the bill, not the client, and you would represent the client in court on that charge. This can be difficult, as you don't get to "pick" your clients, you are assigned to whomever the Court sends to your office and whomever is "next up" to take a client and sometimes you don't see them until the day of the first hearing and they not be the most cooperative clients or they may have the most difficult barriers to overcome in their hearings.
Private Defenders are those attorneys who are hired privately by clients who come into the office, present their situation to you and you decide if you want to defend them or not. They pay you a retainer (a large amount of money that you bill against to pay for your time) and you work on their case from start to finish. These clients tend to be more cooperative, but also more "time consuming" than those who are handled by the Public Defenders as they "want what they are paying for", etc.
Both types of Defenders have a strong belief that all clients have the right to have an attorney defend them, right or wrong, guilty or innocent, as a part of the criminal justice system and play a very important role in the checks and balances of how the Court system works.
Thank you for answering my question. I have been trying to figure this out for a long time and this made it easier.
Emma
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