If you are passionate about criminal defense, there are a
variety of careers within this sector. Perhaps the most popular is
that of a criminal defense attorney, which requires graduation from
an accredited law school, in addition to passing the bar exam in
the state in which you plan to practice.
Criminal defense attorneys may work in private practice or for
the public defender's office. The public defender's office is the
entity that provides attorneys to defendants who cannot afford to
hire their own attorney. Each state has their own standards of the
qualifications defendants have to meet in order to qualify for an
attorney at no charge.
Not all attorneys who are appointed legal counsel pro bono,
which means at no charge, work for the public defender's office. In
some jurisdictions, attorneys in private practice are appointed to
represent defendants in criminal cases. Some attorneys simply want
to give back to their communities, and so they take on a certain
amount of pro bono work, some of which is spent defending
individuals in criminal matters.
If you have a passion for criminal defense work, but do not plan
to pursue a law degree, there are other ways in which you can
serve. For example, paralegals work in a variety of jobs in the
criminal defense sector. They work under the supervision of an
attorney and assist with legal matters. Some paralegals have a
college degree; others have earned a paralegal certificate from a
trade school. However, there is no set standard in the United
States governing certification or training of a paralegal.
Paralegals often interview defendants, witnesses, and conduct
research. They may prepare legal and other documents necessary in
the preparation of a case. While paralegals perform much of the
work that goes into a criminal case, they do not appear in
court.
Investigators also fulfill an important role in the criminal
defense process. Investigators work in the background, interviewing
witnesses and piecing together the facts of a case. They may
investigate the facts surrounding what defendants or witnesses
state about a particular crime. They may look for witnesses when
none appear to come forward. The investigator may discover
information that may help or hurt their client in the course of a
trial; however, by providing the criminal defense attorney with as
many facts as possible, the investigator helps the attorney to be
prepared.
Careers in the criminal defense sector can be fulfilling and
exciting. Criminal justice and defense offers individuals in many
areas of expertise to use their skills in rewarding careers.
