Being any kind of lawyer from criminal lawyer to family lawyer provides a number of job opportunities inside and outside of the court system. From being a company legal advisor, college instructor, to practicing the law itself and defending clients.
For a criminal lawyer, representing a defendant in a criminal case is part of his or her work. In the UK, jobs with higher incomes are generally found in London and other major cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. Getting a job in these areas as a practicing lawyer offers significant compensation.
You can get the same job in the countryside and not get paid as much. The positions and salary vary from law firms or organizations, however, the salary is incredibly higher than other corporate jobs. Read on to find out about the duties and role of a criminal lawyer, salary range, and qualifications.
Nature of the Job and Duties
Criminal lawyers, also known as Criminal Defense Lawyers, defend individuals accused of committing a crime. These professionals represent the individual in court, are responsible for filing motions for reconsideration, and negotiate a plea bargain or reach a settlement.
The nature of the legal job is not limited to processing the paperwork, but also forming a strategy that would benefit the accused individual. In the same way, criminal lawyers are hired to file a complaint to a suspect and get justice.
In order to win the case, evidence proving the complaint is necessary. The court follows protocols and the law of the land to sentence the accused and bring justice. To get evidence, the lawyer conducts a series of investigations, then presents this to the court.
Qualifications
To be a criminal lawyer, you must complete an undergraduate degree, followed by a law degree. After law school graduation, candidates must complete a year-long conversion course or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
Instead of training in a law firm, a barrister takes the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) and if successful, joins the Inn of Court. Barristers then have to take the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for the Vocational Training.
Once successful, you become an unregistered barrister until you undergo a practical work experience under an experienced barrister. Then, after the supervisor recommends you to work as a barrister, you can now apply for a Practicing Certificate.
Compensation
For trainee barristers, the salary ranges from £32,761 to £38,000 or higher, depending on the law firm. Experienced lawyers are paid more, an average of £54,000 to £76,000 or higher. The perks also vary per organization, some lawyers get transportation and food allowance, health benefits and insurance, and others.
How to Apply
Having the Practicing Certificate and years of experience practicing the barrister role is needed to apply for a job in the UK. There are a number of websites you can check to submit your application. Usual prospects include Prospects UK, Hays, and The Lawyer.
Networking is also particularly good for folks looking for just the right agency to work with. If you’ve got friends in the field, you should let them know you’re looking for a new firm and if they hear about an opportunity they should share it with you.
Conclusion
Becoming a criminal lawyer isn’t easy as you need to pass a number of tests and undergo training as a barrister. And beyond that, you’ve really got to have a passion for the job as well as a stomach for the types of things you may see and hear in the crime world.
You do however have the opportunity to do a lot of good by helping the innocent and getting the guilty behind bars. Once you’ve gained the training and job experience, this career can be rewarding in terms of financial freedom and job security.