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
- Examine Evidence
- Interview Witnesses and Experts
- Prepare and Argue Cases in Court
- Defense Lawyers Defend Clients
- 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