Criminal Lawyer

Career Cluster: Law and Government

Core Tasks

Education

Before attending law school, 2 years at university are required

Earnings

Median Income: $ 97, 000 per year

Qualifications

High School Courses

Grade 9

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

English

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Creative Arts

Business / Computers

French

Health and Phys. Ed

English

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Personal & Career Development

Business / Computers

French

English

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies / History

Business & Management

French

English

Communications & Media Studies

Mathematics

Economics / Politics

History / Philosophy / World Issues

Law

Business & Management

French

College & University Programs

Professional Law - Canadian Common Law

Advanced Legal Research Studies, General

History, General

Humanities

Philosophy

English Language and Literature

Political Science

Strong Analytical Skills / Logical

Work Well Under Pressure

Hard-Working

Good With People

Good Marks

Workplace

  1. Examine Evidence
  1. Interview Witnesses and Experts
  1. Prepare and Argue Cases in Court
  1. Defense Lawyers Defend Clients
  1. Prosecutors Present Evidence to Prove Defendant's Guilt

Prosecutors Work for Government

Defence Work for Law Firms or are Self-Employed

Work in Offices and / or Courtrooms

Work is Often Stressful

Traveling to Meet with Clients and / or Attend Court

Long Hours

Description

Lawyers deal with legal issues, and different lawyers execute the law by applying their knowledge to the current situation. A number of lawyers work with divorce cases while others work in the crime department (such as murder, fraud, and assault). Criminal lawyers inform their clients of their responsibilities, while themselves prepare for the possible trial in court by researching statistics, regulations, and previous cases. Occasionally, they write legal documents and interview witnesses. Experts involved in a such crime can be consulted, and attorneys utilize their aid to further corroborate their investigation. A defence attorney supports the innocence of their client, while a prosecutor (also called a Crown attorney, or Crown counsel) prove the client is guilty. The defence attorney usually works in law firms while a prosecutor is in favour of the government. A defendant is innocent until proven guilty, therefore the prosecutor must find evidence to substantiate their cases. In the future, lawyers may become judges or law professors given their partiality.

High Profile Lawyers: $ 200, 000 or more per year

Articling Students: $ 30, 000 - $ 75, 000 per year

Notes

Level 1: Articling Student

Level 2: Junior Lawyer

Level 3: Senior Lawyer

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctor (JD)

⭐ Assisting senior lawyers

⭐ Doing legal research

⭐ Some contact with clients

⭐ Limited representation of clients

1 year of experience as an articling student

Complete all bar admissions

Licensed by province or territorial law society

⭐ Doing legal research

⭐ Preparing legal documents

⭐ Representing clients in small matters

5 - 6 years of experience as a junior lawyer

⭐ Doing legal writing

⭐ Representing clients in large matters

⭐ Preparing written and oral arguments

Personal Notes

  • Defense lawyers typically earn less than prosecutors
  • Critical skills include reading, speaking, and thinking analytically
  • LSAT test

Tools Used

Computers (laptop and desktop)

Programs such as Microsoft Word

High capacity media drive (USB)

CD and DVD recorders

  • Very competitive
  • Read law books

Most applicants have a bachelor's degree (which takes 4 years to achieve)

To enter law school, an aptitude test is vital (LSAT)

Law school is generally taken for 3-4 years

After graduating from law school, supervision as an articling student is required for 9 months to 1 year

The possibility of becoming a licensed lawyer is now set