Top 3 Reasons to Consider Becoming a Criminal Lawyer


If you’ve ever thought that the job of a lawyer seems fun and interesting but don’t aren’t sure what the day-to-day job looks like, here are the top 3 reasons you should consider becoming a criminal lawyer.

Being Responsible for the Public

Criminal lawyers, also known as defense lawyers or public defenders, work with people and organizations that have been charged with a crime. They usually work for a law firm rather than operating independently, such as this criminal law firm in Columbia MD.

Criminal lawyers are responsible for everything a standard lawyer is responsible for: understanding law, crimes, and codes, investigating cases and preparing defense motions, as well as dealing with appeals. Criminal lawyers will always have an interesting job because with each new case they are required to uphold the court of law while also interpreting the situation at hand.

Private Law Firms for the Win

You’ve probably heard that lawyers tend to make a lot of money, but depending on the exact job you choose, it can vary greatly. Public defenders that are part of a non-profit organization will usually make between $30,000-$50,000 annually. Criminal lawyers that work in private law firms will certainly make the most, taking home an annual median salary of $120,000. The wealthiest lawyers usually represent the wealthiest clients and vise versa.

A Healthy, Hefty Future

Since the number of people sentenced to prison has risen steadily over the last 30 years, there will be no short supply of people for lawyers to represent in the future. This is a tall task since lawyers are the front line of defense in proving innocent people truly innocent.

If you feel the need to help the public while also making a bit of money along the way, then maybe becoming a criminal lawyer is right for you.