How to Become a Public Defender

A career as a public defender lacks the glamour of most types of law. It pays much less than other legal fields, and public defenders have little say over potential clients. They're government employees and often represent criminals and other defendants no other lawyer will touch. By providing defense for the poorest criminals, public defenders ensure that everyone is given fair legal representation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Study the way successful public defenders have handled their cases. While you are still in law school, read up on the job requirements to become a public defender. If your goal as a lawyer is to make lots of money, this job isn't for you. If you want to help the underprivileged and engage in social activism through your law practice, consider becoming a pubic defender.
2. Apply for openings at state, federal or appellate courts. Public defenders work for the United States government, so the testing, interviewing and waiting process may take awhile. Since this is a high turnover job, there are always available positions.
3. Brush up on your research skills and become proficient at it. Public defenders don't have a staff to do their research for them, so you will have to spend a lot of time on paperwork, including filing papers, interviewing witnesses and doing background checks.
4. Step up to the plate quickly. You can become a full-fledged public defender shortly after graduating from law school. Some public defenders are assigned a case with no previous litigation experience.
5. Prepare yourself for long hours and unruly clients. The government sends destitute and criminal defendants to public defenders for help, so be prepared to deal with difficult clients. Not all clients sent to public defenders are dangerous or unsavory, but be aware that a good number of your clients will fit this category.

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