How to Become a Criminal Defense Attorney
The world of criminal law is often portrayed in film, television, and novels. While the life of the average criminal defense attorney may be a lot different from what you see on the screen, becoming one of these professionals is not a fictional dream. To become a criminal defense attorney, you'll have to be ready to go through years of specialized training.
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Instructions
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Get a bachelor's degree. All attorneys must first go to law school, and to get into law school you'll need a bachelor's degree. While many would-be lawyers study political science or pre-law, this might not be the best choice. Getting into law school requires applicants to take the law school admissions test (LSAT). At least one study, published in the Journal of Economic Education in 1998, has shown that students who major in physics, math, philosophy, religion, and economics do best on the LSAT.
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Go to law school. Once in law school, would-be criminal defense attorneys should focus on classes that relate to the field. While all students must take classes on criminal law and procedure, aspiring criminal defense attorneys should also take classes related to trial advocacy, criminal practice, and appellate practice.
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Participate in a criminal-law-related internship. While in law school, criminal attorneys should also focus on spending their summers or internships in practices that focus on criminal law. Working for a legal aid society, public defender's office, prosecutor's office, or appellate practice firm are ideal. Judicial clerkships are also excellent choices, especially if the judge hears criminal cases.
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Get a job as a prosecutor. One of the best ways to become a criminal defense attorney is to first work on the other side as a prosecutor. These jobs may be competitive, but the experience you gain as a prosecutor can be invaluable. Prosecutors start gaining experience immediately and can learn a lot about the criminal justice process very quickly. They can also gain important insight into police procedures and courtroom protocols as they work for the state.
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Get a job in criminal defense. Of course, you can skip working as a prosecutor and start working as a defense attorney as soon as you pass the bar. Most starting attorneys work with a more experienced criminal defense lawyer so they can learn the local procedures and practices.
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References
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