Chapter 7: Courts 1 Careers in Criminal Justice Sage Publications Inc

Chapter 7: CourtsChapter 7: Courts

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Careers in Criminal Justice

Sage Publications Inc.


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• If you are considering a law career, there is good news and bad news.

• Good news - there is a surfeit of branches that one can specialize in.

• Bad news – you will be attending three more years of college after you receive your Bachelor’s degree.

• If you don’t already possess the skills for analytical thinking, problem solving, being persuasive, and writing creatively, law school will groom you for employment.


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• Law graduates can find careers in politics, business, publishing, real estate, education, the arts, social services, criminal justice, and more.

• Typical arenas for lawyers include law firms, corporations, private practice, and government agencies.

• Pursuing a law career is a two-step process • Getting into a top law school • Acquiring decent employment following graduation

• The starting point for this process starts yesterday.


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• More important than any other criminal justice career, you need to start as early as possible engineering your credentials.

• So naturally, the earlier you decide where you want to end up, the straighter your course will be getting there. • There is an old saying that people who get lost tend to walk in circles?

• A German psychologist by the name of Jan L. Souman once did an experiment and found that it was true.


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Law School • What is the difference between law school and other degree programs?

• In most Master’s Degree programs you specialize in a particular field.

• In law school your curriculum is diverse.

• You then specialize in a particular area of law after graduation.


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Law School

• Another difference is seen in the very first year of law school, the most challenging of the three year stretch, which exposes you to numerous courses and plenteous reading, but no periodic quizzes to assess your progression.

• Instead your testing is done at the end of each semester, generally in the form of essay questions.

• The format in the classroom is also different than most other programs.


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Law School

• Professors utilize the Socratic Method, stressing student-professor interaction via open-ended questions, making it imperative that students attend all lectures and participate enthusiastically.

•To encourage student participation, and assure fairness, law schools typically use a number system on tests instead of students’ names.


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Law School

• Law schools are ranked by U.S. News using a number of

criteria, such as peer reviews (Deans and Faculty), lawyer

and judge reviews, student’s median LSAT scores, student’s

median GPAs, acceptance rates, placement success rates,

employment rate for graduates, bar pass rate for graduates,

available faculty resources, percentage rate of teachers to

students, and the campus law libraries.


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Top 20 law schools for 2014

1. Yale University $53,600 per year (full-time)

2. Harvard University $50,880 per year (full-time)

2. Stanford University $50,802 per year (full-time)

4. Columbia University $55,488 per year (full-time)

4. University of Chicago $50,727 per year (full-time)

6. New York University $51,150 per year (full-time)

7. University of Pennsylvania $53,138 per year (full-time)

7. University of Virginia $46,400 per year (in-state, full-time)

9. University of California-Berkeley $48,068 per year (in-state, full-time)

9. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor $48,250 per year (in-state, full-time)


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Top 20 law schools for 2014

11. Duke University $50,750 per year (full-time)

12. Northwestern University $53,468 per year (full-time)

13. Cornell University $55,220 per year (full-time)

14. Georgetown University $48,835 per year (full-time)

15. University of Texas-Austin $32,376 per year (in-state, full-time)

15. Vanderbilt University $46,804 per year (full-time)

17. University of California-LA $45,221 per year (in-state, full-time)

18. USC-Gould $52,598 per year (full-time)

19. Univ. of Minnesota-Twin Cities $36,820 per year (in-state, full-time)

19. Washington Univ. in St. Louis $47,490 per year (full-time)


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Law School

• The search and application process is time consuming, costly, and unavoidable.

• You will find yourself in a competition with other students across the country in which there are no winners or losers, but there are good, better, and best.

• There are two criteria all law schools look at when reviewing applications.

• Grades • LSAT scores.


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Law School

• Because there are more applicants than available seats, law school admission committees inevitably draw on a variety of additional data and tools to select their law students. Other criteria that are considered include:

· Letters of Recommendations and other evaluations

· Personal statement or essays (Maturity, communication skills)

· Undergraduate course of study


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Law School

• Other criteria that are considered include:

•Graduate work (if any)

•College attended

•Improvement in grades

•College curricular and extra-curricular activities

•Ethnic/Racial background

•Writing skills


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Law School• Other criteria that are considered include:

· Work experience or other experiences (Service in the armed forces)

· Community activities (Demonstrated commitment to service)

· Motivation to study and reasons for deciding to study law · State of residency · Obstacles that have been overcome (Economic, discrimination, disability)

· Past accomplishments, leadership, honors, awards, and personal talents


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Law School Admission Council• What to do first?

• The best step you can take right now is register with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

• The registration is free and can be done on-line in minutes at LSAC.org.

• The LSAC is a nonprofit corporation that offers services and products that improves and eases the admission process for law schools and applicants.


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Law School Admission Council

• LSAC processes academic credentials for as many as

60,000 law school applicants annually, provides necessary

software and information for applicants and admission

offices, conducts conferences for prelaw advisors and law

school professionals, sponsors and publishes research,

funds outreach grant programs, and publishes law school

guides and LSAT preparation books.


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Law School Admission Council• Creating your own account with LSAC enables you to participate in the Candidate Referral Service (CRS).

•Law schools may hunt for specific applicants on the basis of distinct characteristics such as ethnicity, undergraduate major, law school preferences, and other attributes.

• Candidates who generate an LSAC account may authorize release of their CRS profile to all law schools participating in the CRS.


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• Signing up with LSAC allows you to use the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) so you can request letters of recommendation and academic records just one time in order to apply to multiple LLM (Master’s) programs, which you can do electronically.

•Being an LSAC member also enables you to search for law schools by location and interest.


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• One of the benefits of setting your sites early on law school is the opportunity to manipulate your GPA.

• Students tend to be somewhat blasé in their efforts when they are just going to school for a degree. Few jobs put as much weight on GPA as law careers.

• If you slack off for even one semester or try to take too many classes in a semester, it could drop you below those who are able to generate a stellar GPA.


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• You can go to lsac.org and take a look at the correlation of GPA, LSAT score, and admission likelihood.

• This knowledge will give you a landmark that can help keep you focused each semester when you get tempted to blow off an assignment. • The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is of upmost importance.


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Law School Admission Test

• The LSAT is a half-day, standardized tool administered four times per year at testing centers all around the world.

• It is designed to measure essential skills needed for law school. The test consists of five 35-minute multiple-choice exams of which only four contribute toward the final score.

• There are four sections that contribute to the score and there is a 35 minute written test at the end of the exam.


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Four 35–minutes categories

ReadingComprehensi

on

ReadingComprehensi

on

Analytical ReasoningAnalytical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning 1

Logical Reasoning 1

LogicalReasoning 2

LogicalReasoning 2


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• The 35-minute writing exercise is done at the end of the test. It is not graded by LSAC, but it is sent to law schools to which you apply for their use in making admission decisions.

• You can find some free practice tests and sample questions at lsac.org, and you can purchase additional practice tests on their site.

• There are some great books that can help improve your scores as you take practice tests.


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• Consider purchasing •The Logic Games Bible •The Logic Reasoning Bible •The Reading Comprehension Bible •The Official LSAT Superprep•10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests

• You can also work logic problems from puzzle books while you are on the treadmill or stationary bike.


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Law School

• Letters of recommendation (LOR) are a necessary part of the admission process.

• It is recommended that you contact your professors early in the semester/s and ask if they would be willing to write you a letter, provided you earn it.

• How can you earn a letter?


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Law School

• You may not interact with particular instructors for a period of time and you don’t want to be forgotten, so collect a letter near the end of the semester.

• Later on, when you are ready to start your law school application process, LSAC will send an email to your LOR references and ask them to submit their letters electronically.

• It is easier for an instructor at this point if the letter is already written and saved. You will be facing deadlines, so you want to make it as easy as possible.


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Law School

• Personal Statements are another necessary part of the process.

• Excellent writing skills will boost you ahead of others who didn’t take the time to have the statement proofread and fine tuned.

• In law school, your assessments will almost always be contingent on your ability to write.

• Look at every essay and paper assignment as privileges for practice and feedback from knowledgeable professors.


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Law School

• Contact your professors early in the semester and let them know that you would appreciate more than just a grade.

• Let them know that you welcome feedback that will make you better.

• Take English classes seriously!

• Even classes that seem to be a waste of time can be of benefit if you approach them as job preparation.


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Law School

• Law school admission committees may consider your undergraduate studies.

• Criminal Justice degrees are acceptable and applicable, but there are several other relevant degrees, majors, and minors that would also be equally eye-catching on your application.

• These include History, English, Communications, Political Science, Business, Psychology, Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Philosophy.


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Law School

• An appealing stand out for law school applications (and resumes) is community involvement.

• It is important for law school admission and important for the job search that follows.

• It exposes your unselfish character if you are compassionate with others and give of your time and talents for the betterment of society.


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Law School

• Be a volunteer at an agency that also gives you experience of some relevance.

• Join a club at your college and participate with the activities.

• Volunteer to help students with disabilities.

• If you can come up with 3-4 entries on your application for volunteer/community activities, you will be a step ahead of your lackadaisical competition.


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Law School • Work experience tells a story about you, hopefully a good story.

•It is difficult to work while attending school and trying to achieve an impressive GPA.

•Any official part time work that spans at least a year can boost you ahead of your idle opponents.

•It is best to work for a business that has some kind of consistent schedule with pay checks and taxes deducted.


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Law School • Questionable jobs, working with family members, and jobs lacking consistency might not translate into a notable entry on your application.

•Consider eight hours every Saturday, or a couple of four-hour shifts on week nights.

•If you are interning during the day and working school into the schedule, don’t change a thing.

•Remember good, better, best!


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Law School • Honors, awards, talents, and leadership experiences can add zest to your personal statement. • Did you ever win a spelling bee, a dance competition, or employee of the month?

• Did you ever make the honor role or dean’s list?

• Did you ever win an award in a science fair or speech festival, or maybe earn your Eagle Scout award?

• Were you ever on student council or serve as an officer in any type of organization?

• Did you serve on a church mission where you learned a foreign language and possibly gained some leadership experience?


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Law School • How are you going to pay for law school?

• About 88% of law students finance their education.

• Living entirely on a student loan during your three-year law degree might be your only option.

• Being over $100,000 in debt upon graduation may deter some students from pursuing a law career, but it is the only viable avenue for most.


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Job Search The Wall Street Article also stated “The 2011 data reinforce the notion in the industry that students from the top 14 U.S. law schools have little trouble finding work.

The top-ranked schools sent graduates into long-term legal jobs in high numbers, but 87 lower-tier schools had placement rates of 50% or less”


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Job Search

• Networking amplifies your job potential.

• It involves meeting people who are doing what you want to do and conducting an informational interview.

• You will learn more about the market and at the same time make valuable contacts.

• Identify people you can contact.

• Mail a letter, send an email, or make a direct phone call.


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Job Search

• To formulate questions, you will want to do your homework to learn all you can about the contact’s practice.

• You will want to be in business dress for the meeting and have with you a pen, a pad of paper, and your resume.

• These interviews are a good time to show your resume and ask for advice on how it can be improved.

• You can also ask advice on how you can improve your presentation.


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Job Search

• Possible topics you might cover with your contacts:

•Contact’s position, career path, and background

•The typical work day

•Positive and negative features of his/her job or practice

•Structure of the organization and practice

•Practice of law in the geographical area


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Job Search

• Possible topics you might cover with your contacts:

• Future prospects and growth

• Obligations this type of job places on life outside the office

• Important factors used in hiring

• Advice on how to be more marketable for hiring

• Suggestions for other people you could speak with


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Job Search

• During your final year of law school you will want to update your resume.

• Hopefully you will add some new information from your first two years of law school.

• The expectations for a quality resume from a law grad are significantly higher than what is submitted to enter law school.


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Job Search

• Your participation in law school will have enhanced your vocabulary significantly.

• You will want to replace any weak verbs with stronger language. You will want to use more specific statements.

• You will want to add a section titled Relevant Coursework and Professional Organizations.

• Remove high school information that helped you get into law school and replace it with data that will impress professionals.


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Job Search

• Your third year is the time to beef up networking activities because most jobs are filled by word of mouth.

• You want your name to be tossed around at potential firms even before they consider posting a job opening.

• Take good care of yourself!


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Job Search

• It is common during school for students to disregard their health and stress management and put on a few extra pounds.

• In order to think clearly and stay positive, you will want to exercise often and eat a healthy diet.

• Remember, attractiveness is one of the most influential assets one can have, which includes confidence and overall attitude.


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Job Search

• Resources:

•Martindale-Hubbel Law Directory (www.martindale.com)

•The West Legal Directory (www.lawschool.Westlaw.com)

•NALP Directory of Legal Employers (www.nalpdirectory.com).

•Chambers Guides (www.chambersandpartners.com)

•Law Periscope (www.lawperiscope.com)

•Legal 500 (www.legal500.com)

•Hieros Gamos (www.hg.org)

•U.S. News & Law Firm Rankings (www.bestlawfirms.usnews.com)


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Job Search

• Resources:

• Government Honors & Internship Handbook

•Public Policy Handbook

•Federal Careers for Attorneys ( www.lawschool.westlaw.com)

•PSJD Guide to Government Careers (www.psjd.org)

•DC Resources: The Legal Times (www.law.com/dc)

•Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide

•The Plum Book (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search)

•The National District Attorney’s Association Website (www.ndaa.org)

•National Legal Aid and Defender Association


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Job Search

• Resources:

•National Assoc of Atty General (www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php)

•The Internship Series

•Yellow Book Series

•PSJD

•International Public Service Resources (www.psjd.org/resource_center)

•Job Fairs

•Midwest Public Interest career Conference


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Job Search

• Resources:

•PSJD (www.psjd.org)

•Public Policy Handbook (www.law.arizona.edu/publicpolicyhandbook)

•National Legal Aid and Defender Association (www.nlada.org)

•Serving the Public: A job Search Guide, Action Without Borders

(www.idealist.org/career/career.html),

•Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) (www.pililaw.org),

•Symplicity Job Bank,


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Job Search

• Resources:

•The Internship Series

•Public Interest Firms (www.pslawnet.org/publicinterestlawfirmcareers)

•Capital Defense Resources (www.law.berkeley.edu/capitaldefense.htm)

•U.S. Courts (www.uscourts.gov)

•Online System for Clerkship Application and Review

(www.oscar.dcd.uscourts.gov)

•Recent Federal Confirmations (www.judges.law.yale.edu)


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Job Search

• Resources:

•Federal Administrative Law Judges Conference (www.falgc.org),

•Federal Judicial Center (www.fjc.gov)

•Almanac of the Federal Judiciary (www.westlaw.com )

•Federal-State Court Directory

•Guide to State Judicial Clerkships

•National Center for State Courts

•Judicial Staff Directory

•Judicial Yellow Book.


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Law Careers

There are several directions you can go after graduation.

Some lawyers have a private practice and work for the government at the same time.

There are unlimited possibilities for volunteering, interning, and being hired in the private sector.


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Law CareersDeputy City Attorney

• To work in this capacity for Vista, California, you would be in a management position, serving at the pleasure of the City Attorney (who is also the City Prosecutor).

• You would be primarily responsible for municipal code civil actions and criminal prosecutions.

• You would prosecute infractions and misdemeanor violations, litigate civil nuisance abatement actions, and interview complainants.


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• You would interview witnesses and enforcement officers, perform legal research, prepare pleadings and motions, make determinations on advisability of prosecuting, compromising, or dismissing cases, present civil actions in court, and act as legal advisor to the Code Enforcement and other city departments.

• You would also respond to subpoenas, public records requests, and requests for release of city records (discovery motions), render oral and/or written opinions on applicability and interpretation of city, state and federal laws.


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• You would draft and review ordinances, resolutions, and

contracts, respond to inquiries from citizens regarding city

policies, procedures, and practices, attend meetings of

boards, committees, and commissions as requested, and

perform other related work as required.


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• The qualifications are any combination of education,

training, and experience that demonstrates an ability to

perform the duties of the position.

•A typical qualifying background is an active member of the

California State Bar with a minimum of three years of

experience in prosecutions of municipal code violations and

related civil litigation.


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• Desired qualities include:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.

• A good working knowledge of civil and criminal litigation.

• Trial advocacy skills.

• An ability to work cooperatively and effectively with elected officials, executives, management, staff, and the public.


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• Desired qualities include:

• A broad understanding of all facets of municipal government law and a commitment to public service.

• Strong analytical and administrative capabilities.

• Organizational, team and goal oriented skills.

• The ability to use current computer programs and have good caseload management.

• Be proactive, results-oriented, confident, and persuasive


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• To apply you would submit a city application form and supplemental questionnaire.

• You would have to clearly demonstrate through your application materials that you meet the employment standards as outlined.

• All properly completed applications would be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals would be invited to continue in the selection process.


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• Examinations for this position would consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate your skill, training, and experience for the position.

• You would also have to successfully complete pre-employment clearances, which may include a physical, a drug screen, and fingerprinting.

• The salary for this position is $112.872 - $137,208


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Law CareersPublic Defender

• The Public Defender in Spokane, Washington performs highly responsible and complex administrative, supervisory and participatory legal work in directing the staff, policy, and operations of the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office.

• If you held this position you would perform direct trial level representation of indigent defendants in a diverse range of criminal and civil cases.


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Law CareersPublic Defender

• The minimum requirements include graduation from a law

school accredited by the American Bar Association and

eight (8) years of progressively responsible criminal trial

experience, including three (3) years in a managerial position

performing administrative functions and supervising

professional staff.


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Law CareersMunicipal Court Supervisor

• In New Braunfels, Texas you would perform the following functions:

• Supervise and coordinate the smooth and effective daily operations of the municipal court through the planning, organizing, and supervision of work activities for court processes.

• Continually implement improvements relating to municipal court policies and procedures.


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• In New Braunfels, Texas you would:

• Develop and recommend short and long-range strategic plans for the court to the director of support services.

• Direct and coordinate the docket for jury and bench trials.

• Manage the court's records.


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• In New Braunfels, Texas you would:

• Reviews financial records of court fines collected

• Respond to requests for information.

• Manage administrative activities.

• Maintain and enforce all aspects of security and confidentiality of records and information


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• The requirements for this position includes a Bachelor's Degree, and five (5) years municipal court clerk experience in a computerized system, with progressively responsible supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

•You also would need be a Certified Municipal Court Clerk Level II and possess a valid Texas driver’s license.


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• Knowledge base includes:

•City policies and procedures

•State of Texas court procedures

•Court accounting systems, rules, and standards This position pays $56,573 - $69,245


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Law CareersBilingual Staff Attorney

• If you are bilingual (Spanish/English), it not only makes you more marketable, it also opens doors that are only available to those who speak two languages.

• One example of a position like this is Bilingual Staff Attorney for Bronx Domestic Violence Victims in New York, New York, for the Bronx Family Justice Center (BFJC).


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• BFJC utilizes an attorney to provide legal representation to

monolingual Spanish speaking victims of domestic violence

in family law matters in the Bronx, primarily family offense,

custody/visitation, and child/spousal support proceedings, as

well as some matrimonial matters.


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• Specific duties for this position include:

•Maintaining a heavy caseload.

•Conducting outreach to underserved communities. •Training law students, pro bono attorneys, social service providers, health care professionals, and community based organizations on domestic violence and the legal needs of victims


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• Specific duties continued:

• Representing Sanctuary for Families (SAF) on task forces and other political and advocacy committees outside the agency.

• Recruiting, supervising, and providing co-counsel to pro bono attorneys on all aspects of litigation in family law matters.

• Supervising and mentoring multiple volunteers and interns


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• Specific duties continued:

• Facilitating clients' access to intra-agency and outside resources, and administers provision of direct financial assistance and donations to clients.

• Attending and participating in interagency conferences and legal/ bar association committee meetings to keep abreast of developments in the areas of pro bono, domestic violence, and legal remedies for victims of domestic violence.


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The qualifications include fluency in Spanish, a J.D. degree, admission to the NY Bar, at least 3 years of relevant experience (preferred), strong lawyer, advocacy, and leadership skills, and high motivation to provide knowledgeable and empathic legal advocacy to domestic violence victims, being sensitive to issues of diversity.

The salaries for positions like this vary but are competitive with most attorney jobs.


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Law CareersDeputy Court Clerk

• Not all positions in the court system require a law degree.

• You could consider bailiff, paralegal, or a court clerk position.

• To be a Deputy Court Clerk in Georgetown, Texas, you would have to be a high school graduate, or its equivalent, plus three years of experience as a court clerk in a computerized system with cash handling experience, or any equivalent combination of experience and training.


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• The duties of a court clerk are as follows:

• Responsible for warrant administration by processing complaints, issuing Capias and arrest warrants, recalling warrants as necessary, and ensuring accurate information.

• Responsible for accurate court disposition and fine records by collecting payments, posting correctly to the court system, balancing a cash drawer, and depositing collections daily.


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• The duties of a court clerk continued:

• Responsible for accurate data entry and timely file transfer process of traffic, parking, state, and city violations. • Assists judge and prosecutors in court sessions by ensuring case files are complete, preparing court documents, and executing and transcribing court docket and records dispositions.


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• Ensures prompt communications for court customers by sending timely pre-warrant notices, notice of past due requirements, late payments, and court appearances.

• Provides quality customer service to municipal court customers by precisely communicating court processes as defined by law, policy, and judicial orders (both oral and written).


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• Interprets for Spanish speaking defendants, if applicable.

• Responsible for accurately capturing documents in a document management system to maximize productivity and provide efficient retrieval of information.

• The salary for this position is $29,868.80 - $35,152.00


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Law CareersPro Tem Judge

• There are also jobs for arbitrators, mediators, and judges.

Some lawyers get an opportunity to pro tem as a judge while

in private practice and eventually land a full time position. To

pro tem in Mesa, Arizona you would preside over

misdemeanor and civil traffic cases filed with the Mesa

Municipal Court


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• You would be responsible for applying relevant Supreme Court Rules, state statutes, city ordinances, and case law when presiding over trials to the court, trials to a jury, pre-trial conferences, arraignments, motions, and other hearings.

• You would be responsible for imposing sentences commensurate to the offense and within the parameters allowed by law.


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• Your duties would include determining the conditions, which if met, will allow the defendant’s release from police custody.

• You would be expected to preside over cases in any division of the Mesa Municipal Court in any type of court hearing.

• A Pro Tem Judge can’t represent clients on cases pending in the Mesa Municipal Court.


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• To qualify for this position you would need any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to extensive (5+ years) experience as a lawyer, judge, or hearing officer in criminal or traffic cases, and graduation from an accredited school of law. For this position, an individual receiving a conditional offer of employment from the City of Mesa must pass a background investigation.

• The pay is $50.00 per hour


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Law CareersAlthough the potential is greater in the private sector to make significant pay, working for the government carries with it great benefits, and in most situations, job security.

Working in the criminal justice system can be satisfying.

It gives you an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of society in different capacities.

Once you are in the government system, it is easier to move around to new and better positions.


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Diversity in Law Careers • According to the ABA Journal (2011), women make up just under half of law associates (47%).

• Historically, however, minorities have been underrepresented in the legal profession.

• The law school population and legal profession do not accurately reflect the racial and ethnic population in our society.


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Diversity in Law Careers

• To promote diversity, law schools actively seek qualified

Native American, Asian, African American, and Latino

students, as well as other students of color.

•Law schools increasingly realize that diversity in the

classroom enriches the learning process for all students.


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Diversity in Law Careers

• Law schools do not apply different admission criteria to

minorities, but some law schools may take race or ethnicity

into account as one of the many factors in the whole-file

review process.

•Applicants may potentially offer something distinctive to a

class and diversity is just one factor among many


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Discussion Questions

1.What are some preparations you can do during your bachelor degree to enhance your chances of admission to a top law school?

2.What are some differences of law school classes and other college classes?

3. What are some advantages of signing up with LSAC?

4.What types of things do admission committees look at in their decision making process?

Documents

Chapter 7: Courts 1 Careers in Criminal Justice Sage Publications Inc