Would you rather be a defense lawyer or prosecuting attorney?

tangek

Depends on whether you value making money, or putting "bad guys" behind bars.

Personally I'd pick the prosecutor role, because I could never knowingly defend someone who was guilty.

Saiyuki_Anyone?

In terms of monetary gains, then of course a defense attorney. But as an attorney to fight for the rights of victims or the city/state's best interest, a district attorney.

Marta L

Prosecuting is better,,,,,,,Love to push it to the limits and make some people sweat when they think they rock........Most of the time a criminal is a bully no?.lololol

Jonathan U

No one has mentioned, as the people who have answered already, that criminal defense lawyers are there to play a type of "devil's advocate" role while every person insinuates that everybody is guilty or they are a bad group of people. The criminal defense attorney provides an important role in facilitating justice and fairness, as well, for his clients, and makes sure that they receive a fair trial under the accordances of the law fitting with due process and constitutional rights.

My law school has an Innocence Project program, which works with the national program, to help free convicts that were wrongly imprisoned. To date, there has been about 300 people that had their convictions overturned since the early 90's from allowing the testing of DNA evidence, where most of these crimes were committed before science really developed and DNA testing was allowed. Older cases relied on eyewitness testimony, which could have easily been incorrect or inaccurate along with bad identifcations at the lineup; not to mention people have been framed from time to time.

There have been people who have sat in prison for 10, 20, or 30 years, and even sentenced to death, when they did nothing wrong. Criminal defense lawyers help provide that justice does actually get served. Look at Mike Nifong and the Duke Lacrosse players, and how all he wanted to do was get somebody in jail at any cost, and look what happened to him.

I am probably going to start off as a prosecuter and switch to defense, as I enjoy both sides. Do what makes you happy. Have you interned or seen what it is like to work with either side? Have you sat in on criminal trials under various types of charges? Go and check it out at your local circuit courthouse.

Jon

P.S. Do not listen to people whose main knowledge of a subject and experience relies on television shows, and truly have no clue what they are talking about. Like I said, go the your circuit courthouse and watch and talk to attorneys.

Richard L

Tough question. On one hand, the prosecutor position is essentially a government position, with all the politics, bureaucracy, etc. On the other hand, defense attornies spend their lives with criminals, not exactly the most attractive group.

If I were going into law, I'd be thinking more about corporate or contract law. While some may disagree, I certainly believe the people with whom I'd be consorting will be more attractive.

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