Why Law School Is An Amazing Opportunity For Me

Earning a law degree, coupled with my passion for serving others, I will be able to fulfill my deepest desire of serving those whose voices are not heard. I plan to use my law degree to create policy in favor of those that are underprivileged. My concerns for the poor will find new practical forms of expression as I learn jurisprudence; furthermore, I intend to shape my legal education with the firm commitment that I will not allow my thoughts and objections to go unheard. If accepted, I expect that the greatest intellectual leap of my life awaits me at [Insert Law School here]. Given the education and opportunities provided by [LAW SCHOOL NAME HERE], I intend that my resolutions are not ones that will pass with the day, but determinations which are rooted in a lifetime of

Public defenders have a tough job defending their indigent clients. In an ideal scenario, they are to defend their clients in a zealous manner. Unfortunately for the clients, most cases end via plea bargains . For cases that do make it to court, some clients find their attorney lacking in many respects . This is because the Supreme Court case Gideon v Wainwright only guarantees the right to an attorney. Unfortunately, that right does not extend to a quality lawyer or defense . I intern at the Orange County Public Defender’s office, where the clients are poor and homeless. As such, they cannot hire their own lawyers and must rely on free legal representation from the office’s attorneys. But just like other Public Defenders across the U.S.,

From when I was ten until I was fifteen, I wanted to become a lawyer. I’ve always had impressive public speaking skills, a persuasive personality, and a knack for debate, so it seemed like the perfect fit for me. However, upon a taking a law class my sophomore year, I realized that lawyering might not be exactly what I expected it to be. As I learned about the different laws and the complexities of the court system I was

In the United States, the adversarial system of justice relies on ensuring a criminal defendant receives a fair trial. The sixth amendment gives defendants the right to legal representation in criminal trials even if they cannot afford one themselves. Each city and county in the United States ensures a defendant the right to counsel. There are different ways cities and counties across the United States provide representation for indigent defendants. One such approach to indigent defense is public defender programs and is a popular system used by many states today. Public defender programs have been around since the 1900’s but gained popularity throughout the years due to the many indigent defense cases.

It is a task in itself for one, such as myself, to allow another to fully grasp the principle of why I want to become a paralegal, let alone explain it within three pages without simply stating, “I desire to use the set of skills and passion that I possess in order to help others while working within this specific field of law.” Nevertheless, the reality of the fact is that it is purely the essence and core of why I have the drive and determination to work towards becoming a paralegal.

(2) Yes because people have the right to an attorney and if they can not afford one one is provided for them. Public defenders chose their job. Not only that but good ones put time and effort into what they do. The job requires skill. Also public defenders are often overworked and underpaid.

“You have two hands, one to help yourself, the second to help others.” (Audrey Hepburn) Ever since I was young I have felt the need to help others and do my part. That is why I chose to pursue the criminal defense field. Even though it will be a long process of paper work, court appearances, heartaches and headaches, after it all I will have the pleasure of knowing I was able to make a difference in somebody else’s life. Although the hours can be intimidating, being a criminal defense attorney will provide a steady income to raise a family on and would allow me to pursue my passion of helping the less fortunate.

In the New York Times article, “A Mockery of Justice for the Poor,” the author discusses how the poor are cheated in the criminal justice system. By law, it is mandatory that the government provides an attorney to any defendant facing possible prison time, even if he or she cannot afford one. However, there are underlying fees that must be paid despite these people being poor. John Pfaff mentions how 43 states are now requiring indigent defendants to pay at least a portion of their lawyers’ fees, even though they had to be appointed one in the first place. Those who do qualify as indignant may be able to be acquitted, however, they could be convicted for failing to pay for the legal services the Constitution requires the states to provide for the defendants. Not to mention, spending money on attorneys for the poor amounts to only $2.3 billion – barely even 1% of the $200 billion the government spends annually on the criminal justice system (Pfaff 2016). Not surprisingly, public defenders who are appointed to these cases are often stripped of resources while tackling multiple other assignments at the same time.

I knew that I wanted to pursue law when my eyes opened up to injustice that occurs on the daily. Finding out about police brutality, reduced jail time for rapists, and other outcomes of bias showed me how flawed the justice system is. These realizations became my motivation, initiating my desire to help those who are wronged by the law. My dream is to be a human rights lawyer, a voice for the unheard. For this reason, I worked to strengthen my communication skills by getting involved in my school's speech team and UNICEF club. In my senior year, I passed an audition to join the mock trial team. Doing so provided me with hands-on experience regarding this field, making me even more certain about my goals.

Many death row inmates were convicted while being defended by a court appointed lawyer who are often the worst paid and most inexperienced and least skillful lawyers. The Bar Association published guidelines for a good defense in a death penalty case”. Anti-death Penalty ( 2010)

In the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel became incorporated, and as a result, those who are indigent are entitled to a court-appointed attorney to represent them in any courtroom. This landmark case led states to enhance their public defense systems because “public defenders assist in the fight against crime and contribute to the effective operation of programs that may help reduce recidivism, thereby increasing the effectiveness of our justice system” (Fabelo, 2001, p. 2). Ensuring that states allocate necessary funding and resources to their respective public defender systems will reduce individual public defenders’ caseloads. Policymakers examining the needs of public defender systems should use personal testimony from people who utilized the service, verdict and sentencing data, and public opinion polls as measures of

During my time interning at the Public Defender’s Office, I have observed that time is one of the biggest issues. It has been shown that is quicker for an indigent individual to plead guilty than it is for them to receive adequate legal representation. After obtaining an attorney, it is a lengthy process when going through the different hearings and trials. Often taking several months for cases to be fully resolved.

Although the Southern United States is considered to be the death belt of the country due to the lack of public defender programs, many other regions within the U.S. such as the West have more exceptional public defender programs. Young lawyers are usually the advocates who go to these offices and provide fair representation to poor people accused of crimes. This lack of proper representation is absent in the South, which is in need of quality

Law is of fundamental importance to our country, as well as shaping our modern evolving society. I felt that doing a Law degree can be both satisfying and help society in the future by

Today, more than ever before, the legal profession offers a unique opportunities to dedicated individual to make a significant contribution to the society. This post is aimed at help you evaluate law as a career. It should give you a clear understanding of what to expect in your educational path to a law degree and the very significant financial expenses associated with obtaining a law degree.