For those of you who don't know, I'm a practicing criminal defense attorney. My life consists of visits to the county jail, docket calls, pleas, and numerous other not-so glamorous appointments. It's exhausting and draining, and yet I love it. I'm more than aware of what people think of criminal defense attorneys. When people ask what area of the law I practice in, my answer is almost always followed by a big 'oh' from the person asking.
Unfortunately for me, people have an unfair perception of defense attorneys. The defense attorneys that I know are good, honest, hard-working people, people you'd want on your side should you run into any trouble. They're the only people who stand between you, your loved ones, your friends, your co-workers, your neighbors and jail.
The people I represent might not always be the smartest, most educated, clean-cut people around (I don't get to choose my clients), but they deserve a fair shot in court because next time it could be you in the courtroom, unjustly accused and scared out of your mind. It could be you that people are whispering about and condemning before a trial begins. It could be you that people are attacking and belittling without knowing all the facts. It could be you that only wants a fair deal and a chance at proving your innocence. Next time think about that before you attack the defense attorney you see on TV or read about in a newspaper.
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