According to Professor Hansen, who oversees the school's criminal practice and procedure certificate program, “societal condemnation” distinguishes criminal law. Criminal law is challenging, but if you're up for the task, you won't find a more attractive, varied, or stimulating legal career. Please keep reading for professional insights on what it takes to succeed in this lucrative legal specialty, from what criminal law comprises to what you'll study in law school to the abilities you'll need to establish in the actual world.
Criminal lawyers have various job choices available after entering the market. Some specialize in defense law and act as private or public defenders. Others hold positions as federal, state, or local prosecutors. These lawyers might advance in their careers to become judges or politicians, bringing about change at the highest levels.
Criminal law is challenging, but if you're up for the task, you won't find a more attractive, varied, or stimulating legal career. Teniola Adeyemi, a 2015 graduate of New England Law and an Assistant District Attorney in Boston, explains why she was drawn to criminal law: “made me feel like a detective, and that's why it really resonated with me.” in which she added, “It's thought-provoking.”
How do you become a criminal lawyer?
Ultimately, before you become one, you must finish a college degree. The degree or program you choose can be related to law or not. But in most cases, it is said that choosing something aligned with your soon-to-be pursued profession is a plus. But yes, again, you can still choose or pick a program related to it or not. There are quite a several students that took a different or unrelated program before going to law school.
Your career path will start to take shape once you enroll in law school, whether you want to practice criminal law or an entirely different area. You'll take a mix of electives and mandatory classes, among which will introduce you to the applications and specifics of criminal law. The first step is a first-year course on the fundamentals of criminal procedure (compulsory by virtually all law schools).
Professor Hansen primarily examines two significant crimes in his criminal law course for first-year students: murder/homicide (where students examine pertinent statutes, various degrees of murder, and the elements of proof required to show the guilt), and sexual misconduct (where students learn how that crime and the law itself have evolved). Both viable defenses and mitigating circumstances are discussed throughout the lesson.
Experience is a great teacher.
Students should benefit from summer programs, immersive coursework, and internships to better comprehend the application of criminal law in the real world. They might also consider joining groups run by professionals that help both working professionals and students. The American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section is just one illustration. Students have access to materials, including films and journals, and the chance to network with peers and professionals.
As you progress with your law school journey, you become an upper-level law school student. You might enroll in classes on juvenile law, mental health law, prosecutorial ethics, trial practice, and white-collar crime as an upper-level law student. Additionally, there will be chances for you to gain practical experience in criminal law through law school clinics, internships, mock courts/mock trials, and other activities.
The grand prize at the end of all that coursework is your Juris Doctor (JD). After graduating from law school, some students continue their education by earning additional degrees like the Master of Laws (LLM) or Doctor of Science in Law (JSD or SJD). However, these students often want to work in academia or as legal educators. After passing the bar test, of course, the JD is what most students who want to pursue a career in criminal law need to practice.
From your first ever course in law school to the day you walk on stage to get your diploma, from your law school entrance exam to the bar, becoming a criminal lawyer or any lawyer for that matter, indeed takes a lot of courage and perseverance. It will cost you significant sacrifices. Regardless of wherever you may end up, you have significantly impacted the people around you, society, and yourself as you work hard to make a difference.
