By providing people with legal assistance when they need it, criminal defense lawyers play an important role in the American judicial system. To practice criminal law, one must be courageous enough to stand up for others. It takes dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work to establish a successful criminal law profession. This page explains what criminal law is, how to practice it, what you need to know to get a law degree, how much it costs, and the employment and wage prospects for criminal lawyers.
What is criminal law?
Criminal law is a branch of the law that regulates behavior that is thought to be dangerous and damaging to the public, either in terms of property safety or moral wellbeing. Legislation is made by government officials to define and punish criminal misbehavior. Criminal law, for example, forbids crimes like stealing and murder. A criminal trial is the process by which someone who violates these laws can be brought to justice. Criminal laws are designed to make people comprehend the consequences of their acts and to modify their behavior.
What do criminal lawyers do?
Criminal defense lawyers, sometimes referred to as public defenders or defense attorneys, counsel and defend individuals or groups accused of crimes. They frequently have specialized in many legal fields, including criminal, corporate, family, and constitutional law. This is a vocation that demands dedication and devotion.
Criminal attorneys can invest hours in study and case preparation before a trial. This work includes researching potential vulnerabilities in the case, gathering evidence to support it, and analyzing laws and statutes. The final product is a case that is presented in court. Additional duties consist of:
- Interviewing witnesses
- Looking at the crime scene
- Developing a case strategy
- Building a defense
- Gathering witnesses to testify in court
- Drafting, filing and arguing appeals
Criminal attorneys deal with a variety of criminal issues, including those involving narcotics charges, fraud, embezzlement, sex crimes, and domestic abuse. They occasionally accept pro bono cases or represent those who are unable to pay for legal counsel. Criminal defense attorneys may come into contact with the public when representing high-profile clients.
How to become a criminal defense lawyer
Becoming a criminal lawyer requires completing an undergraduate and graduate degree, passing a bar examination and obtaining a law license. To pursue a career in criminal law, follow these steps:
1. Get a bachelor's degree
A bachelor’s degree from an approved institution is a prerequisite for admission to law school. Use the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to find out if the institution of your choice is accredited. It makes little difference what you major in, but a criminal justice degree is advantageous because its courses provide a solid foundation in the field. These classes could consist of:
Overview of Criminal Justice
The scientific study of offenders, crime, and the criminal justice system is the main topic of this course. Both academics and students make an effort to analyze the many forms of crime, explain criminal behavior, and provide recommendations for deterring crime.
Law Enforcement Administration:
Students will study the function of law enforcement administrators in this course. Making sure police departments and other law enforcement agencies operate efficiently is the responsibility of this post.
Correctional Administration:
This course covers the duties of correctional administrators, including overseeing the maintenance of clean and safe prisons, managing finances, and managing correctional officers.
Criminal Administration:
The activities of the criminal justice system, from the judicial to the law enforcement phases, are the subject of this course.
2. Pass the law school admissions test
You must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) in order to get admitted to law school after receiving your bachelor’s degree. This standardized test assesses verbal, reading, and thinking abilities. A writing example and five sections of multiple-choice questions are included. The scores serve as a benchmark for the suitability of applicants to law schools for legal work. Four times a year, in February, June, September, and December, the LSAT is administered.
3. Prepare for law school
You are prepared to begin applying to law schools after receiving your bachelor’s degree and passing the LSAT. But before you start, there are a few things you need do:
Getting a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registered:
This is an essential step that must not be skipped. Every legal school use CAS. Transcripts and recommendation letters are sent to CAS, which then bundles and sends them to the universities of your choosing. This service has a cost, so it’s critical that you register and turn in your transcripts as soon as possible.
Gathering recommendation letters:
You can ask for a solid recommendation letter that highlights your work ethic and basic beliefs to be written by your instructors, previous or current employers, or religious leaders.
Composing a personal statement:
As part of their application, prospective law students must prepare a 500-word statement. Pupils have the option of writing on a topic they are assigned or on a topic of their own choosing. Respecting the word limit is essential, since going over it may hurt your chances of being admitted.
Since majors are not offered by law schools, when composing your statement, talk about your objectives and justify your belief that the school can assist you in achieving them. Write about anything other than “majoring” in a specific field.
4. Earn a law degree
Ninety credit hours are required for law school, which is three years long. Courses designed to provide you experience in various legal situations make up your first year’s curriculum. Among these courses are:
Constitutional law is the body of legislation that establishes the functions, authority, and hierarchies of various state or national institutions, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It acknowledges each citizen’s inherent rights. The corpus of law that addresses criminal offenses is known as criminal law. Civil procedure is the study of legal procedures that are used in non-criminal proceedings.
Prior to applying, it’s critical to learn about the different study fields and the curriculum of the institution. The legal profession offers a wide range of specializations, so choose a curriculum that includes multiple courses specifically in your area of interest. You might decide to focus on criminal law, family law, real estate, commercial law, or environmental law, for example. Graduates of law schools are awarded a J.D., or Juris Doctorate, which is a degree recognized across the country. This degree is offered by 205 law schools with ABA accreditation. Before sitting for the bar test, candidates for law school must have this degree in the majority of states.
5. Pass the MPRE
With the exception of Wisconsin, Maryland, and Puerto Rico, every state and jurisdiction in the United States requires the MPRE (Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination). This test must be passed in some states in order to be eligible to take the bar exam. The two-hour MPRE addresses legal ethics.
6. Obtain your law license
Each state has different procedures and regulations for admitting attorneys and administering the bar exam. Check the requirements for the state you want to practice in before submitting an application to join a state bar. It is a requirement in every state to pass the written test. The exam is divided into two parts: an essay section and a multiple-choice test.
While many states have embraced the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), some have developed their own distinct exam. You can transfer your score to other states that have implemented the UBE if you pass it. The bar exam occurs twice a year: first during the summer, around June or July, and a second time during winter, around February.
7. Gain work experience
If prospective parliamentarians have prior professional experience, such as judicial work or volunteer work for social service organizations, they can acquire a competitive position. Work experience can be obtained by:
Looking for summer employment
A public defense internship is a great method to start your career in criminal law while developing your reputation. You will probably go to court with a public defender and have the opportunity to work closely with them. Getting an internship under your belt as a judge handling criminal cases might also help you further your legal studies.
Some legal schools permit externships to be taken for credit. You may seek an internship with a federal court or a state criminal judge. Jewish externs observe how judges make decisions and learn which arguments they find and don’t find persuasive. Among the tasks performed by judicial externs are reading oral arguments, writing bench orders, and researching case law.
Working as an associate for a criminal defense attorney
During the summer, you can work as an attorney’s clerk or summer associate. Opportunities are advertised by reputable companies through the job department at your school. Waiting for your career center isn’t necessary, though; you may send a copy of your résumé and transcripts and inquire about openings. It is advisable to begin searching for these openings in the spring semester.
When applying for a job, keep in mind that most employers request a writing sample. Therefore, try to obtain writing experience from your summer jobs.
Targeting clinical opportunities
Engaging in a law school clinic is an excellent means of acquiring practical expertise in criminal defense. You may be given tasks by a clinical faculty member to help people involved in the criminal justice system by offering them actual legal services. Inquire with clients and witnesses, set up jail releases, etc. Law schools are big fans of criminal law clinics. You can find out what clinical opportunities are available by visiting the websites of each law school.
