Comments on: Unemployable http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/12/unemployable/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:22:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Gideon http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/12/unemployable/#comment-24465 Gideon Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:16:26 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1135#comment-24465 I know of one large firm in CT that does criminal work - mostly pro bono - and two attorneys that do the work for them. I know of one large firm in CT that does criminal work - mostly pro bono - and two attorneys that do the work for them.

]]> By: karl http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/12/unemployable/#comment-24309 karl Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:18:23 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1135#comment-24309 One of the things I loathe about the justice system is how a civil case might take 3 years to get to trial and have endless discovery. I guy looking at decades gets gavelled out to trial in a mere fraction of that time & you'll still be getting discovery as the first witness is hitting the stand. With that said, there large firms I know (albeit a rare exception, not the rule, and large - not mega - firms) that do have legitimate criminal defense practices, who use their crim. def. people as their frontline litigators when trials happen, and do actually hire criminal defense lawyers with real experience. One of the things I loathe about the justice system is how a civil case might take 3 years to get to trial and have endless discovery. I guy looking at decades gets gavelled out to trial in a mere fraction of that time & you’ll still be getting discovery as the first witness is hitting the stand.

With that said, there large firms I know (albeit a rare exception, not the rule, and large - not mega - firms) that do have legitimate criminal defense practices, who use their crim. def. people as their frontline litigators when trials happen, and do actually hire criminal defense lawyers with real experience.

]]> By: Gideon http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/12/unemployable/#comment-24270 Gideon Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:29:48 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1135#comment-24270 Well, I intentionally did not look at the "first year associate" postings. Well, I intentionally did not look at the “first year associate” postings.

]]> By: Gideon http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/12/unemployable/#comment-24269 Gideon Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:28:53 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1135#comment-24269 Good question. I knew someone who wanted to do Mergers & Acquisitions law. I know someone else who loves employment law. Good question. I knew someone who wanted to do Mergers & Acquisitions law. I know someone else who loves employment law.

]]> By: SHG http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/12/unemployable/#comment-24258 SHG Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:03:07 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1135#comment-24258 Ever wonder who graduates law school and says to himself, "I really, really want to be a bankruptcy lawyer!" Or, at 50 years old, says, "thank goodness I chose bankruptcy!" I'm sure there's someone. Just not me. Ever wonder who graduates law school and says to himself, “I really, really want to be a bankruptcy lawyer!” Or, at 50 years old, says, “thank goodness I chose bankruptcy!” I’m sure there’s someone. Just not me.

]]> By: Alec http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/12/unemployable/#comment-24256 Alec Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:38:35 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1135#comment-24256 What's really funny about that is that commercial "litigation" is advertised as one of their practice areas, including white collar criminal defense. Now, any law student who graduates with a focus on criminal law (be it a specialization, their summer job, etc.) is likely to have more courtroom experience than a new associate at that firm. Hell, I had a federal bench trial. This is one of the things that annoys me when legal commentators complain about how loaded our courts are. Civil litigation takes too long, etc. Well, it wouldn't if we hadn't criminalized such a large percentage of human activities. What’s really funny about that is that commercial “litigation” is advertised as one of their practice areas, including white collar criminal defense. Now, any law student who graduates with a focus on criminal law (be it a specialization, their summer job, etc.) is likely to have more courtroom experience than a new associate at that firm. Hell, I had a federal bench trial.

This is one of the things that annoys me when legal commentators complain about how loaded our courts are. Civil litigation takes too long, etc. Well, it wouldn’t if we hadn’t criminalized such a large percentage of human activities.

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