Whether they work with high-profile celebrities or ordinary citizens who have been arrested, criminal attorneys are on the front lines of our justice system. Those who choose this career path do so with the knowledge that they’ll be helping people get their lives back on track by intercepting crimes and redirecting them toward better things. Many criminal lawyers dream of working on big-name, high-stakes cases, while others hope to be on the cutting edge of prosecutorial strategies and legal research. Whatever their chosen specialty, these professionals work hard and often face challenges they may not have anticipated.
One of the biggest challenges is educating their clients about what they can expect from the criminal process. It’s common for people to go into a trial with preconceived notions about what will happen, based on what they’ve seen in the media or what they’ve heard from friends and family members who have been through this themselves.
Criminal defense attorneys (both private and court-appointed) spend a great deal of time investigating their client’s case and researching legal arguments that they can make on his or her behalf. They also have to negotiate with prosecutors, trying to get their client the best possible plea bargain or, in some cases, have the charges dropped altogether.
As with most legal professions, a successful career as a criminal lawyer requires critical thinking skills, good interpersonal communication and the ability to handle stressful situations. It also helps to have an interest in crime and a desire to fight for the rights of individuals. criminal lawyer