Criminal Lawyers Job Description, Duties & Salary

Advancement Prospects

Assistant prosecutors may advance by becoming supervising prosecutors. All prosecutors may seek to advance by earning higher pay, taking on more complex or demanding cases, or by achieving recognition from professional associations or the public. Some prosecutors go on to become judges, FBI agents, politicians, and law professors. Others pursue lucrative and rewarding careers as lawyers in the private sector.

Defense attorneys advance by earning higher pay, taking on managerial duties, moving to more prestigious firms, becoming partners at their firms, or opening their own law practices. Some become judges or law professors.

Attorneys working as public defenders have an edge over those in other specialties because they have the opportunity to gain litigation and courtroom experience almost from the start of their careers. Many use this experience in public defense as a background to pursue other options including teaching, private practice, or government office. Others find the work both challenging and rewarding, and choose to devote their entire careers to public defense—enjoying the work atmosphere and camaraderie with their coworkers. They either continue to work as public defenders or seek promotion or election to the position of chief public defender.

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