Criminal Lawyers
Overview
Introduction
Criminal law focuses on crime, that is, acts committed in violation of a law. This field of law is concerned with an individual’s relation to society. In fact, criminal acts are considered offenses against all members of a society even if the acts were committed against only one person. Anyone who breaks criminal laws may be punished with prison time or fines. Two types of lawyers are employed in the field of criminal law: prosecuting attorneys (also known as district attorneys and by other titles), who represent the cities...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
According to the National Association for Law Placement, in 2023, entry-level civil legal services lawyers earned about $64,200. Entry-level lawyers in public interest organizations earned $69,500 and public defenders earned $69,600 per year.
The U.S. Attorney’s Offices use an Administratively Determined Pay Plan salary structure, which is based on the amount of experience an individual ...
Work Environment
The workplace for prosecutors can be as varied as the type of cases assigned. Their offices are comfortable and well-lit, but prosecutors only spend a fraction of their time in the office. They often conduct research at law libraries, interview police officers and criminal investigators at police stations, meet with social workers and other specialists, and travel to the scene of an alleged cri...
Outlook
Employment for lawyers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2033, according to U.S. Department of Labor. It reports that “demand for legal work is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas.” However, law firms may scale back on staffing projects to reduce costs to clients and an incr...