A career in criminal law offers its fair share of perks and challenges. The actions of a criminal lawyer directly impact other peoples’ lives- either by taking away or limiting their freedom through imprisonment or other punitive measures.
As a result, a career as a criminal lawyer shouldn’t be an afterthought. You can talk to a Melbourne Lawyer near you to walk you through the process so that you can determine if such a career is for you.
If criminal law is a career you plan to take, you need to be prepared. What does it take to become a criminal lawyer? Read on to find out.
Understand The Reality of Criminal Law
Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and do the legwork as a criminal lawyer. You’ll need to research to understand the specifics of a criminal case. Full disclosure, criminal law involves a ton of inglorious work. In that regard, you need to have realistic expectations about what you’re signing up for from the onset.
You’ll also need to think on your feet- your ability to analyze vital information and make decisions quickly will be critical. Are you attentive to detail? The outcome of a lawsuit could hinge on your ability to glean essential clues from a case’s minute details. The legal strategy you adopt also plays a part in resolving complex criminal cases.
Additionally, staying out of the kitchen is better if you can’t handle the heat. It isn’t meant to make you grow cold feet. The reality is that criminal lawyers thrive under immense pressure due to the fast-paced environments in which they work.
You also can’t afford to slack off, either in law school or as a criminal lawyer. Without going into much detail, let me say that it takes hard work- a lot of it- to become a criminal lawyer.
Education Is Paramount
Attending law school is the only approach you can take to create a foundation for a career in criminal law. You cannot cut corners as far as education is concerned; a Law Degree is a prerequisite to becoming a criminal lawyer.
You have to commit to full-time study at a university for three to four years. To achieve your aspiration, you can opt to pursue a Law Degree along with a Degree in Criminal Justice- this is commonly referred to as a Dual Degree. Such an approach could fast-track your dream to practice criminal law.
The courses you complete at an accredited law school help you understand the inner workings and particulars of the legal and justice system. In short, law school enables you to find your bearing so that when you start practicing criminal law, you’ll be well-versed in the relevant legal issues.
What if you have a non-legal background but intend to become a criminal lawyer? What happens if you want to change your career path and take up criminal law at an advanced stage in your life? In both scenarios, you can pursue a Postgraduate Degree in Criminal Law. The assumption, in this case, is that you have another degree under your belt.
Practice Makes Perfect
Upon completing the requisite educational requirements, you need practical experience that you can only garner by getting into the ring. You can pursue a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice post-graduation to obtain practical training.
You can enroll and pursue the graduate course online. The particular diploma also gives you first-hand experience by letting you work at a law firm for at least two months. Getting to the shadow of experienced lawyers lets you learn the ropes in a practical setting and provides you with a wealth of knowledge that an academic environment wouldn’t.
Seek Relevant Approval
Approval to serve as a criminal lawyer in Australia is generally in the hands of the Admissions Authority in your state or territory. Inform the authority of your credentials upon graduation- usually within five years, and upon approval, you are set.
In so doing, you become a Supreme Court criminal lawyer in your territory or state. Note that the Admissions Authority in your state reserves the right to accept or deny your request for admission.
You Need a Practising Certificate
A practicing certificate authorizes you to perform legal duties. More specifically, you become a solicitor upon acquisition of a certificate. Thus, you can represent clients or help resolve their legal concerns, such as preparing for court appearances.
Liaise with the law society in your state to help you jump through this loop. Remember that the certificate allows you to operate in a given issuing state. Thus, you need to reapply for a new certificate if you move to another territory or state.
Cut Your Teeth Through Supervision
If you’ve just acquired a practicing certificate, you’re still wet behind the years. On that note, you need to learn from competent and experienced criminal lawyers. Through their supervision, you can gain valuable insights to help you later as an established legal representative.
Supervision can take anywhere between 18 and 24 months, during which you can perform minor tasks. These could include prepping for cases, facilitating court proceedings, and interviewing the parties in a particular lawsuit- witnesses or defendants.
Pass the Bar Entrance Exam
Do you fancy representing clients in court? Then, a chance to practice as a barrister could be what you’re after. As a barrister, you’ll be on the firing line, ensuring your counsel (defendant) gets the right to a fair trial and doing your part to help them through the court case.
Unlike a solicitor who makes a limited court appearance, a barrister gets to spend more time before the judge; if a career as a barrister is what you’re considering, passing the Australian Bar Association Entrance exam sets you up for subsequent barrister training.
The Bar Reader’s Course Gets You Across the Finish Line
Let’s suppose you’ve aced the bar exam. What comes next? A Readers’ Course. The course takes roughly 9 to 10 weeks and is fashioned to help you polish up your legal knowledge. It also helps sharpen your skills while ensuring a firm grasp of the rules and ethical procedures governing legal practice.
Such coursework gets you into the thick of things as a barrister. You get to learn forensic research skills, practice building, the nuances of running your private practice, among others. In so doing, the course smoothens your transition to the Bar.
Once you complete the course, you are home and hosed! As a certified barrister or specialist criminal advocate, you can pursue your chosen path.
Now that you’re in the know, I hope you get off to a good start in your journey to become a criminal lawyer. Good luck!