General Law/Politics

For what it's worth Jimmy, here in MS there's a county where the PD gets paid $67k a year, gets to be in that new gov't loan repayment program, and has one of the lowest costs of living in the state.

So PD is a pretty rough job, but some places it's really not so bad.

I have an interview with the Legal Defender's Office...for anyone who thought I hated PDs

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Don't get me wrong, public defense is a very commendable job, but it is definitely not what many aspiring law school undergrads first think of. The glitz and glamor of the big firm/big paying jobs after law school is very attractive and will motivate many people.

That certainly must be the perception of an undergrad...I thought so too when I was there.

Then I got married, realized I wanted a family and considering I love the courtroom atmosphere, the "glitz and glam" faded pretty quickly.  Law school can open your eyes.

With 2000 billable hour minimums (no one gets made partner doing the minimum) and the prospect of getting to first chair a real trial 10 years after law school graduation, I don't think the big firms sound so attractive anymore.

I didn't want to be 35, have a 10 year old kid I've never seen, and just be gearing up for my first trial where I get to represent a faceless corporation...

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That certainly must be the perception of an undergrad...I thought so too when I was there.

Then I got married, realized I wanted a family and considering I love the courtroom atmosphere, the "glitz and glam" faded pretty quickly.  Law school can open your eyes.

With 2000 billable hour minimums (no one gets made partner doing the minimum) and the prospect of getting to first chair a real trial 10 years after law school graduation, I don't think the big firms sound so attractive anymore.

I didn't want to be 35, have a 10 year old kid I've never seen, and just be gearing up for my first trial where I get to represent a faceless corporation...

Exactly. I honestly don't feel it's worth the money. 80 hour weeks for the first five years... constantly jetting around the country... No family time, not free time, no time for the wife... I wouldn't care for the $200,000/yr if it meant I had to sacrifice all that.

As always, I vote private practice.

But, I'm an aspiring defender of scum and ambulance chaser

Considering I just sent in an application to the PD summer internship program and I plan to practice criminal defense, I don't think I feel the way Hitch describes.  Mostly, I'm just curious what undergrads think since I know all too well what law students and the establishment thinks.

If you are serious about your intent to enter into the criminal defense field, I would suggest you  do an internship with your local prosecutors office. It is far better to learn first how a case is processed in the prosecutors office, the decisions regarding how charges are filed, the powers of the individual prosecutor to dismiss or reduce charges, ect...

From my personal experience some of the best defense attorneys first started out in the Prosecutors office and use their experience and knowledge to the advantage of their client.
 

Got that interview tomorrow, also.   I really don't have the stomach to prosecute though.

I have an interview with the Legal Defender's Office...for anyone who thought I hated PDs

I follow, I was just pointing out that it's not always the worst job financially.

Hey Jimmy,
good luck on your interview

ALSO, here is Houston (and the rest of Texas) they farm out the public defender office to a lottery type system for the private practitioners who are looking for work.  For me, it really seems like a great way to get young attorneys started as they don't pay great, but it is enough to put your shingle out there and start making money.

MY question, has anyone gone this route or have any feelings one way or the other about this type of system and how well it works?

I beat my head against the table trying to understand Con Law and Property - but in the back of my head I always think, well, we have that lottery system if I get a D!

In California, some of the larger firms "loan out" their young associates to the PD office. Generally speaking it is a good way for the associate to get real-life trial experience but I really feel sorry for the defendant's they are representing ( most are really bad in court ) 

I someday have aspirations of doing 'bigfirm' law (I am finishing a science undergrad degree so I can be a licensed patent attorney because I someday want to do IP lit), but to be honest, I am in debt up to my eyeballs already. Combine that with the fact that I am volunteering with a legal aid org right now (labor disputes concerning migrant workers) and I am quickly learning that I have a heart. Finally, combine that with the excellent trial experience that being a PD provides....it is quickly starting to look like a very attractive option after law school or if I'm lucky, my clerkship. I hope this line of thought makes sense to others; if not, I'll edit it accordingly.

Good Luck, Alan

It does not matter where you start as you can always change, but generally a PD's office is not a good place to begin a legal career.  Try working for a very small litigation firm while in law school and that will maximize your chances of ending up with a firm that will pay a decent salary and will let you go to court early.

I had a friend whose firm let him do major work on l cases and actually do trials while still in law school, and then four months out of law school, he settled 3.5 Million in cases.  Don't set your sights so low.

I always knew I wanted to do criminal work. I started/still at a DA's office railroading people into misdemeanor convictions in order to get my conviction percentage high enough to get promoted to felony division for the record, i firmly believe in trampling civil/constitutional rights for the greater good.

I always knew I wanted to do criminal work. I started/still at a DA's office railroading people into misdemeanor convictions in order to get my conviction percentage high enough to get promoted to felony division for the record, i firmly believe in trampling civil/constitutional rights for the greater good.

Awww, AMTA would be proud.