Criminal lawyers, sometimes called criminal defense attorneys or public defenders, represent people charged with various offenses. Charges range from drug possession and domestic violence to fraud and corruption. To thrive in this area of law, you absolutely must be able to think and work well under pressure. Criminal cases generally require significant investigation and evidence gathering, so it is key to be able to analyze and respond quickly to facts.
If you find the idea of a challenging and interesting career appealing, a career as a criminal lawyer might be a good fit for you. Becoming a criminal lawyer is a lot of work and involves several steps. This will provide information on how to become a criminal lawyer, what a day looks like, and what you might earn or expect to make in salary.
Criminal Lawyer: Introduction
A criminal lawyer is a practitioner who applies for or prosecutes people or corporations in a criminal context. Criminal law, in particular, deals with behaviors that have been deemed dangerous or damaging to the public. This may relate to the safety of your property or moral well-being. Criminal sanctions are both established and enforced by governments to control people’s behavior and alert them to the consequences of their actions. Criminal lawyers are often engaged in the following tasks:
• Finding and interviewing witnesses;
• Analyzing the crime scene and supporting documents;
• Developing case strategies;
• Building effective defenses against criminal charges;
• Preparing, filing, and filing responses to appeals
Criminal defense lawyers may also accept "pro bono" cases, in which they serve the public good without receiving payment. In addition, criminal lawyers appointed to high-profile cases may be subjected to scrutiny by the media and the public. Criminal attorneys may also be required to address the media and conduct interviews on a case's behalf.
Specific Coursework for Criminal Law
To become a criminal lawyer, you are obliged to first obtain a UG degree in law. Subsequently, at a postgraduate level, you can take the subsequent courses:
• LLM in Criminal Law, Criminal Law and Security Law, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, etc.
• Criminal Procedures
• Understanding Legal Research
• Forensic Science
• Criminal Psychology
• Law Ethics
• Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
• Penology and Victimization
• Criminal Justice
• Juvenile Justice
Experts Insights to Become a Criminal Lawyer
The following actions are necessary to establish a profession in criminal law if you're wondering how to get into it:
1. Complete upper secondary education and complete entrance examinations
You have to clear the law entrance exams before or after finishing your schooling at 10+2 without any gap. To be eligible for undergraduate courses, you must secure a minimum aggregate of 45-50% in the board exams. The important exams to consider may include the following:
• CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
• SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test)
• AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)
• Delhi University Law Entrance Exam
2. Complete your undergraduate degree in law
To pursue a career in law, you must have a law bachelor's degree from a recognized university or college. There are two paths to earn your law degree in India. One way is to pursue a BALLB program, which is an integrated degree program that includes arts courses, and if you do not want to take arts, you can simply get your LLB degree, which is only focused on law. You can work for a law firm or start your solo practice with a law bachelor’s degree.
3. Achieve success on the bar test
To get involved with high court or Supreme Court matters after a bachelor's degree, you would have to complete and successfully undertake the bar council exams for your state or area.
4. Pursue a postgraduate qualification in law
By pursuing a master's degree in criminal law, you could continue your legal education and earn an LLM qualification in criminal law. Many master's degrees allow you to specialize in criminal law.
5. Continue to a doctorate in law
Another option, if you want to continue your legal education, is to earn a doctorate in law or a PhD. Typically, this would involve completing a dissertation.
6. Get practical legal experience
You should look to obtain work experience as an intern or employee with a law firm or reputable criminal lawyer whilst studying or after completing your studies. Specializing and gaining experience in the field is important for getting on track to a successful career in criminal law.
Top Criminal Law Careers
Criminal law is one of the oldest and most popular areas of practice in law. After completing an undergraduate degree at an institution with an integrated undergraduate program with a concentration in criminal law, candidates would have the option of enrolling in postgraduate study in the same area or obtaining immediate employment. Following a Law degree with a concentration in Criminal law, a student can pursue one of the following typical legal career profiles:
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Job Profiles
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Job Description
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Magistrate
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Court officers called magistrates handle minor criminal cases and set bail for major offenses.
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Judges
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Judges preside over criminal cases and rule on evidence according to the law. They ensure that justice is accomplished and that fair trials occur.
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Prosecutor
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In criminal matters, the government is represented by criminal defense lawyers called prosecutors. They serve the role of arguing for the defendant's conviction and provide evidence to the court.
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Criminal Lawyer
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Criminal lawyers provide representation for clients facing criminal charges. They not only represent their clients in court and advise them, but they also explain to their clients their rights and choices. Criminal lawyers may be engaged by both the prosecution and the defense.
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Paralegals
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Criminal lawyers enlist the help of paralegals to perform functions associated with trial preparation, legal research, and drafting documents.
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10 Must-Have Qualities for a Criminal Lawyer
Following the completion of a criminal law degree, those entering the field will need various everyday skills and traits. Here are a few which are explored below:
Legal Knowledge: One of the key attributes of the best criminal lawyers is their knowledge of criminal law, so they are considered experts in this area of law because of their knowledge of statutes, care law, and legal precedent.
Hands-On Experience: Competent lawyers also have a certain amount of hands-on experience after many years solely dedicated to criminal law work. They can deal with several problems that might arise as a result of their real-world experience.
Analytical Thinking: Competent criminal lawyers can think analytically. They can strategize and develop reasonable defense strategies directly related to the details of the case.
Communicating verbally and in Writing: The most competent criminal lawyer can take what might be complex legal concepts expressed in legal language and translate those concepts into everyday understandable phrases. They prioritized communicating to their clients at every step of the legal process.
Negotiation Skills: The best criminal lawyers are excellent negotiators. They are good negotiators because their negotiating results in agreements that are beneficial to their clients, and that might include a reduction in the charges or an agreement to a plea.
Client-Centered Philosophy: The best criminal attorneys have a client-centered philosophy, which means they are fully engaged with their clients and responsive to their concerns, and work with their clients to develop defense strategies that align with their objectives.
Trial Experience: One of the differentiating factors among successful criminal lawyers is trial experience. Having been in the environment of the courtroom, they can approach the trial with confidence and be an effective advocate for their clients.
Tenacity and Fortitude: Tenacity and fortitude are important attributes for the criminal defense attorney role because being a criminal defense attorney can be emotionally exhausting. The most successful lawyers represent their clients through to the end and won't stop fighting for their clients in their pursuit of justice.
Compassion and Empathy: Successful criminal lawyers approach their profession with compassion and empathy which indicates they appreciate the human aspect of the legal process and their professionalism is rooted in responding to client's concerns to relieve some of the emotional trauma that comes from the legal process.
Trust and Track Record: The best criminal lawyers demonstrate integrity and trustworthiness judged by their reputation and demonstrated across a track record of success for their clients and their professional reputations. Good references from clients and a reputation built from results in cases of similar form exemplify the best criminal lawyers and their trustworthiness.
Conclusion
Becoming a competent criminal lawyer requires a blend of rigorous academic training, relevant legal expertise, and practical experience. Each stage is essential to establishing a successful legal career, from an undergraduate degree in law to passing the bar exam and acquiring courtroom experience. Along with being valued members of the justice system as either prosecutors or defense attorneys, criminal lawyers exhibit a skill set that includes, resilience, strategic thinking, legal knowledge, and clear communication. Aspiring criminal lawyers can establish themselves as seasoned lawyers with the ability to make a difference in the criminal justice system through continuous skill development and engagement with new legal trends.