Criminal Defence vs. The Conscience?

[D Yizz]

Originally Posted by odoreater

I just got back from court, where I just beat a case (DWI) for a client who did actually commit the act with which he was charged, and I feel great!

No probable cause to pull over or to perform test? Problems with Intoxylizer or operator not properly certified?

 

[marg]

I'm half-way through law school. I did very well in crim law, and more importantly, I enjoyed it. Any money in the regular realm (non-OJ) of criminal defense work? Anyone here do white-collar crim defense?

 

[veneto]

White-collar defense work is generally going to be at large, national firms or boutique firms that want several years of experience.

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by odoreater

I just got back from court, where I just beat a case (DWI) for a client who did actually commit the act with which he was charged, and I feel great!

Originally Posted by veneto

White-collar defense work is generally going to be at large, national firms or boutique firms that want several years of experience.

x2. But there's money to be made in small-time criminal defense.

 

[Ataturk]

You should take criminal procedure before you decide you want to practice in that area. The criminal "law" class is good for the bar exam but not much else.

 

[marg]

i will have 8 years in finance by the time i'm done school (night student), and i am in trade surveillance and anti-money laundering now precisely to get valuable experience. would this be translateable experience for a boutique firm? I was thinking about going to the SEC, then going to a firm, but I know it's much easier said than done. at the end, i was hoping to use all the experience to go into white collar defense.

sorry to hijack the thread...

 

[veneto]

Again, this is general, but white-collar defense firms want legal work experience of some kind. These firms want associates coming in with enough legal experience to handle things with minimal, if any, training.

The SEC honors program is the only way to get hired out of law school. The program hires about 2-3 people a year these days, so it is largely about who you know. The DOJ and IRS honors programs are a much better shot, but also extremely competitive. The reality is that most federal agencies want to save money on training so they hire experienced candidates.

 

[odoreater]

Originally Posted by D Yizz

No probable cause to pull over or to perform test? Problems with Intoxylizer or operator not properly certified?

The cop performed field sobriety tests and my guy failed. Cop arrests him on suspected DWI and brings him in. My guy blows a 0.0. They issue him a DWI anyway for being under the influence of narcotics. Cop asks for urine or blood sample and my guy refuses. In NJ, when there is a refusal, the cop is supposed to read a mandatory statement about how the person has no right to refuse, and the cop doesn't read it and does not cite my guy for refusal. We go to trial - 0.0 reading, no blood, no urine, no admissions, no proof of intoxication. Directed verdict for the defense.

 

[Grenadier]

Originally Posted by marg

i will have 8 years in finance by the time i'm done school (night student), and i am in trade surveillance and anti-money laundering now precisely to get valuable experience. would this be translateable experience for a boutique firm? I was thinking about going to the SEC, then going to a firm, but I know it's much easier said than done. at the end, i was hoping to use all the experience to go into white collar defense.

sorry to hijack the thread...

Considered the U.S. Attorney's office? And where are you going to school? That will make a big difference on being able to get into a national law firm practicing white collar defense.