Criminal lawyers also called public defenders do their job in defending individuals and even organizations that have been charged of an illegal violation. These
lawyers handle different kinds of criminal cases that mostly range from drugs, sex crimes, murder, domestic violence, to theft, fraud, and driving under influence or DUI.
What are the Duties and Responsibilities of a Criminal Lawyer?
Defense lawyers stand and speak for a defendant who is confronting criminal charges in federal, state, or appellate courts. Their extent of practice mainly involves appeals, plea bargains, revocation hearings, bail bond hearings, trial, and post-conviction.
Part of a defense lawyer’s duties and responsibilities are the following:
- They study and investigate about criminal codes, law procedures, and law cases
- They often make a bargain with the prosecution to either lessen the charges or for a plea bargain agreement
- They thoroughly and meticulously investigate the case at hand as well as cross examine witnesses presented
- They support the defendant at trial court
- They develop and create a defense strategy
- They draft motions such as motion to reconsideration, motion to suppress, and/or motion to dismiss
- They make appeals on behalf of their clients
Education, Certification, and Training
In order to practice criminal law and become a criminal lawyer, you must have undergone the following:
- A bachelor’s degree must be completed first in order to achieve a law degree that takes 7 years in total to complete.
- A lawyer aspirant must pass the bar examination in the state where he intends to practice law.
- As for certifications, there are criminal lawyers who gained their board certification at a non-profit organization called NBLSC or the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification accredited and recognized by the American Bar Association.
Job Outlook and Work Schedule
Criminal law is a rising niche that is mainly due to the increasing number of crime rates on a day to day basis. According to studies, over the past 3 decades, a big number of law violators are sentenced to jail. Not to mention the growing population of prisoners in prison cells across countries. This is why the need for Criminal Defense Lawyers also arise in order to defend the accused and the innocent.
Most criminal lawyers work full-time hours either in their solo and established firm or in large private firms. They often work long, extra hours to review, study, and prepare criminal documents.
These long hours also comprise of meeting with clients and witnesses outside the office. There are also those lawyers who work at government offices or different non-profit organizations as public defenders.
Salary
When it comes to salary, it is dependent on the scope and size of practice, geographic location of the firm where a lawyer is working, and the clientele the firm operates. The
salaries of public defenders are generally modest, mostly range from 30-50 US dollars. However, those who work at large firms earn higher salaries and are mostly given six figures. Those who handle cases of prominent people enjoy the perks and benefits of having paid the highest.
