Criminal defense lawyers represent clients or organizations who have been accused of criminal misconduct. Criminal defense lawyers employed by the government are known as public defenders. A criminal defense lawyer researches, prepares and argues a case on the behalf of a client in order to defend them from the criminal charges. Like all attorneys, they must earn a bachelor's degree, then complete three years of law school, specializing in criminal defense, before taking their state's bar exam. The job of criminal defense lawyer can pay well and may be prestigious, but the work is often stressful and the hours can long and irregular
Required Education Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree
Licensing Must pass state bar exam
Projected Job Growth (2012-2022) 10% (for all types of lawyers)
Median Salary (2013) *$114,300 (for all types of lawyers)
Sources: * U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).