Questions for the PD community!
As a 2L, I of course have little practical public defense experience (tho I'm working hard to change that). I've read so many wonderful blogs over the last few months, and am so thankful for all their wisdom.
So here are some general questions I've been mulling for the PD Community. Thank you in advance if you should answer.
If you could do it all over again, how would you do it differently?
What do you know now that you wished you had known when you started out?
How has being a PD changed your minute-to-minute life?
I have tons others but I'll leave them for later. Thank you again!!
So here are some general questions I've been mulling for the PD Community. Thank you in advance if you should answer.
If you could do it all over again, how would you do it differently?
What do you know now that you wished you had known when you started out?
How has being a PD changed your minute-to-minute life?
I have tons others but I'll leave them for later. Thank you again!!
posted by i heart public defense at 8:51 PM
3 Comments:
First, I don't think I'd do anything over. I knew I wanted to be a PD from shortly into my first year when I realized that I wasn't as interested in other forms of public service. So I took all the right classes, did the right extracurrics, and did the right internships. I probably wish that I studied a little harder, worked a little harder. But I guess that it is good to relax sometimes too.
What do I wished that I had known? Hmm, after pondering for quite sometime, I don't think that there's anything I wished that I had known. Some people might wish that they attended a school with a better LRAP program, but not me.
My life has changed minute-to-minute in that I'm no longer a law student representing poor people, but now I do it for a job. I get paid for it. Not paid the most, but I can't complain. I love my job, everyday I enjoy it a lot. I get too busy sometimes. But it is nothing that I can't handle. I know that I handle it better than many, if not most attorneys. That's one thing that I remind myself of. Even when I screw up, I know that if I wasn't there, the alternative would be worse. I wouldn't do my job if I didn't love it and feel that there was a need. But most people don't like working with our clients. Oh well, that just makes me feel better that I enjoy it! Not everything is perfect, some clients can be annoying, but successfully helping them is pretty awesome. I mean, if you can take someone who many people would call a lame-o and help them make the right decision that saves them from doing lots more jail time (and thus costing everyone tax dollars ;-) I always say), you are pretty good at your job!
1. How would I do it differently? I wouldn't, really. I love what I do, but nothing really trains you for it. I just sort of got handed about 150 misdemeanor cases with instructions to flag down another attorney when I had questions.
2. What do I wish I knew when I started? See above! I knew nothing when I started. One thing though. I wish I knew it was ok to tell a client "no." As in, "No the judge will not grant you a furlough for your birthday." or "No, there is no such thing as a motion to suppress your wife from testifying, even if she is lying." (All of these requests I've had.)
3. My minute to minute life. Hmmm. When I am not in court, word spreads throughout the jail and I'm on the phone with one after another of my clients. Some of them have actual questions, others just need someone to talk to. Some are annoying, and others are sweet. Just like people generally, I guess. The difference is, these people I help. Some a little, others a lot. Sometimes it is trying to be in the middle of a motion due at 5 and not be able to get off the phone. But it's definitely worth it.
Hope this helps. Good luck in the future!
1. How would I do it differently? I would not have given my clients my direct line. Bad idea. Clients will call and leave you messages at 3am. They will call every 2 minutes for an hour. Usually, it's just a simple question that can be answered by your admin.
2. What do I wish I knew when I started? I wish I knew the entire Georgia Code and all the caselaw that went with it. That's really the only thing that would have made my life easier at the beginning.
3. My minute to minute life. I'm more conscious when I go out in public. I'm in a middle sized city and you never know when you're going to run into a client. Or their family. I never look like crap when I leave the house, because I always try to maintain that air of professionalism. I'm only 26 and I think most of my clients look at me like I'm a kid.
As much as I sometimes complain about my job, I really do love it. There are clients that are generally care for and that I wish all the luck in the world. There are other clients, well.. we won't speak of them.
Good luck!
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