One of the things that really set the western world apart from the rest of humanity, and history in general, was with creating a rule of law that ensured that all persons suspected or charged with a crime would be viewed as innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt while having a right to proper legal representation.
The rule of law is far from perfect, but the brilliance of a system such as the one used in the western world is that it can strive to be, unencumbered by rulers’ dictates. The law remains blind, and anyone accused of any crime has the right to a lawyer and to fight in their own defence, with the burden of proof lying with the accusing party or government. must check CS Executive Result and CS Professional Result.
To this end, there is always a need for a criminal defence lawyer in nations like Canada, the US, the UK, and other western nations. In fact, many people aspire to be attorneys. They appreciate this type of legal system and want to work to defend people who have been accused. The road to becoming a licensed defence attorney is a long one, though anyone can choose to take it if they want.
Content in this Article
hide
What is a Criminal Defence Attorney?
A criminal defence lawyer is an educated, licensed professional who has received a degree (or multiple degrees) in a legal field and who has passed the bar admission course exam. These attorneys may be part of a firm, have an independent practice, or may work for the Crown to offer defence to those charged with crimes who cannot afford their own private lawyer. There is a code of ethics that must be adhered to closely at all times, lest a lawyer face disbarment or even criminal charges themselves. It can be a lucrative career, but it’s also very strenuous and requires a lot of hard work and dedication to study and to the rule of law.
Steps to Becoming a Criminal Defence Attorney
Receiving an Undergrad Degree
The first step in becoming a criminal defence attorney is understanding that you want to do this. This should really start in high-school, where you work to achieve good grades and learn as much as you can. This is due to the fact that you’re going to have to get into a university that has a law program. You’re going to want to get into something law-related. Because this is an undergrad degree, which is typically a four-year course, this is just laying the framework for what comes after.
This isn’t actually going to be the accredited course that gets you access to the bar. However, it’s still an important preparatory step, and it will help you get into a better post-grad course if your undergrad is from a quality school. That sort of thing matters.
The Juris Law Degree
A JD, also known as a Juris Doctor degree, is the requirement if you wish to pursue the exam that will qualify you to earn a license to practice law. This is typically a three-year course, and it needs to come from an accredited school that the Crown recognizes. The reason here is that the law is precious and must be protected, so they’re not just going to let anyone off the street step into a court of law acting as a lawyer. It makes a mockery of the system. You must obtain this post-grad JD if you wish to continue your pursuit of the law.
Articling and the Bar
After you have finished your schooling, which will take a minimum of seven years, you will then move on to articling. This is a year-long preparatory course undertaken en route to the actual bar exam admissions course. It’s basically set up as a transitional course between law school and the bar. It is a requirement.
From start to finish out of high school, it should take you eight full years to become a criminal defence attorney, so it’s important to know about the long road ahead of you before you get started on this journey.
1 photos of the "How to Become a Criminal Defence Lawyer: Articling & the Bar"
