The pros and cons of being a criminal lawyerThe pros and cons of being a criminal lawyer
Criminal defence law is a tough gig, but also an incredibly rewarding one.
You are the person responsible for ensuring that every one of your clients gets the legal representation that they deserve and is not prosecuted unfairly.
That said, it certainly isn’t a job for just anyone, and you need to have a certain mindset, drive, and specialist skillset to thrive in such a high pressure role.
Law firms such as Aamer Anwar are often the subject of intense media scrutiny during a high-profile criminal case, and you need to be sure that you are someone who will survive and thrive under such pressure before pursuing this career path.
To help you decide if you are well suited to this career, here are some of the biggest pros and cons of being a criminal defence lawyer for you to consider.
Pros
Every day is a challenge
If you ae looking for a career where no two days are the same, criminal defence lawyer certainly falls into this category. Every single case you work will be different, even after decades in the role with different people to meet and evidence to analyse at any one given time.
You will be having a positive impact
When people accused of a criminal offence are in their lowest point, you can be the person to help lift them back up.
No matter what a person is accused of, or what they may, or may not, have done, they still have the right to legal representation and a fair trial. Without Criminal defence lawyers there would be a lot more innocent people in prison than their currently are.
If you are looking for a role where you make a real impact on the lives of others every day, criminal law could be for you.
Make a decent living
Well respected criminal lawyers are in high demand, and can make a comfortable living over the course of their careers. Sure, you won’t earn as much as a top level corporate lawyer but you will likely get a lot more fulfilment from your work.
Cons
High Stress
Criminal lawyers often switch to a different branch of the law long before a traditional career would come to an end. The reason for this is usually that they no longer wish to deal with the stress of the role. It is not unheard of for criminal lawyers to be physically assaulted on the job and verbal assaults are common.
Not the highest paying branch of law
As we mentioned earlier, if money is the sole driving factor behind your decision to become a lawyer you would be better off in corporate law where the pay CAN be significantly higher.
Competition is fierce, however, and this certainly isn’t a way to reduce stress.
Bad press
Despite the crucial role they play in a fair society, criminal lawyers are often portrayed as the bad guys online and in the media for protecting ‘criminals’. You need to have a pretty thick skin to deal with this sort of scrutiny.