Best Parts of Being a Criminal Lawyer 1. Helping people - it is a great feeling to go into court and help an innocent person clear their name and help them get their life back. This is, by far, the best part of being a criminal defense attorney. 2. Clearing someone’s criminal record - next to getting someone's criminal case dismissed, the best part of helping people on criminal cases is to see the look on their face when their criminal arrest and case has been completed wiped clean and they no longer have a criminal record. 3. Breaking down a complex set of facts, simplifying it and preparing a persuasive and winning argument - this is an attribute you want your criminal defense lawyer to possess and they should enjoy this process. Breaking down a complex set of facts and presenting a winning argument gets a criminal attorney's adrenaline flowing and is an exciting part of the job. 4. Winning in trial - of course, winning in a criminal jury trial is a great feeling to see the look on your client's face when the jury renders a not guilty verdict.
Worst Parts 1. Dealing with the State and their arbitrary policies - one of the most frustrating parts of being a criminal defense attorney is dealing with a prosecutor's office that has arbitrary policies that ruin people's lives. For example, many Texas District Attorney's Offices have policies regarding solicitation of prostitution that mandate an offer of prison time, even for first-time offenders. This is an arbitrary policy that ruins peoples lives. How does this make sense to allow a drug dealer to receive probation but a first time solicitation charge go to prison? 2. Dealing with the resources of the State when they are driven to convict - the State has an unlimited budge and resources to bring against a citizen that they are determined to convict. This can seem overwhelming. Additionally, this is a big reason why you need the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney to ensure you can match these resources to defend you. 3. Handling detectives and investigators that do not care about the presumption of innocence
Attributes Needed To Be A Great Criminal Lawyer 1. People Person - if you do not like working with people on a daily basis, you will not enjoy being a criminal attorney. 2. Active Listener - one of the most important attributes of a criminal attorney is the ability to empathize and actively listen to their clients to ensure their concerns are addressed. 3. Question Everything - never assume what the prosecutor provided as evidence is accurate. A good criminal lawyer questions everything and digs deeper for the truth. 4. Don’t Bend Under Pressure - there will be time when a criminal judge will be rude or demanding. The best criminal attorneys will not bend under pressure from either the prosecutor or the judge.
What You Should Do If You Want To Become a Criminal Lawyer? 1. Go watch a criminal jury trial - courts are open to the public and if you are interested in becoming a criminal lawyer, you should go watch a real trial and see what a trial is and how it works. 2. Sign up for mock trial in law school - while attending law school, take the time to to work in mock trial and do practice court and other opportunities to refine your public speaking and persuasion skills. 3. Sign up as an intern at a law firm or the prosecutor’s office - work at a criminal defense law firm as an intern or the district attorney's office. You will get an opportunity to see how things work in real life and see if it is worth the journey.
Is It Worth It? 1. Depends on what you want a. Get Rich? There are many other ways to get rich b. You have a desire to help the oppressed and innocent? c. You like hands on work and relationship building work d. You think you are good at arguing?
00:00 What's It Like To Be A Criminal Lawyer In Texas 01:14 Best Parts Of Being A Criminal Attorney 02:17 You Can Help People Clear Their Criminal Record 02:44 It's A Great Feeling To Be Able To Help Actual Clients 03:43 The Worst Parts Of Being A Criminal Attorney 05:11 Dealing With The Resources Of The State When They Are Driven To Convict 06:36 Attributes To Be A Criminal Lawyer 08:32 What To Do If You Want To Become An Attorney 09:45 Is It Worth It To Become A Criminal Attorney?
