Criminal Lawyer Career Information
Criminal lawyers work in the areas of criminal law as defined by federal, state and local regulations. Some lawyers specialize in criminal law while others have a general practice that includes criminal law.
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Education
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Like other lawyers, criminal lawyers attend law school, which is typically a three-year post-undergraduate program. For example, the University of California Davis Law School offers a criminal law and procedure concentration. The American Bar Association and state bar associations provide continuing legal education programs; lawyers are required to keep their law license current.
License
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Criminal lawyers, like all other practicing lawyers, are required to pass the state bar exam of the state where they practice law.
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
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In a court of law, criminal defense lawyers represent people who are accused of crimes. Some criminal defense lawyers work for private firms while others are public defenders who are employed by the government.
Criminal Prosecutor
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Criminal prosecutors work on behalf of the government to try people accused of crimes. According to Legal Authority, prosecutors are on the district, state and federal level.
The Work
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Both criminal defense attorneys' and criminal prosecutors' roles potentially include questioning witnesses in court proceedings, negotiating plea deals and analyzing and interviewing witnesses.
Salary
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a person practicing law nine months after graduation and working for a private practice is $108,500. The same role for a government job is $50,000.
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