Re: Public Defender Work

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On 11/16/06, P.Def. wrote:
> Thanks for the input, and I apologize to readers other than Bryan
> for sinking to his level. It's frustrating to see so much negativity
> on this board, which I read but have not until now posted.
>
> In my area, it's difficult to get on the p.d. list, no matter how
> many times you're in court. A reason not to give it up. My other
> work has not come from being on the list - in fact, being on the
> list has hurt, because I am not so accessable to my other business
> sources when I am in court.
>
> Sometimes I look at being on the criminal list as having a low-
> interest but fixed investment in a retirement portfolio - something
> that will always make some money, but never a lot of money. The
> question I am struggling with is whether this is worth it.

I love the PD work so for me it's worth it. So I guess the question
becomes, if an investment was losing money wouldn't you dump it and
invest in something more lucrative? it's not really security if you
lose money is it? Invest the extra money you make by being more
accessible to your other clients, take a couple of private criminal
cases to keep your hand in it. or do they have pd lists for different
courts? maybe only do one court. that's what a couple of attorneys
do here, one only does juv. and one only does muni.
>
> On 11/16/06, Carol wrote:
>> On 11/16/06, P.Def. wrote:
>>> Brian = fool.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/16/06, Brian wrote:
>>>> What kind of work does the typcical PD do? Defend people who
>>>> urinate in public and who cause disturbances in trailer
>>>> parks? Sounds like you are just tired of the work, and
>>>> nothing more. If your private side was doing so well, you
>>>> wouldnt even be asking the question.
>>>>
>>>> On 11/16/06, Rob wrote:
>>>>> Have you considered the fact that the reason your caseload
>>>>> has increased so much is the exposure you receive from doing
>>>>> the PD work? Maybe you can do conflict work. I am on
>>>>> the conflict attorney panel for my local IDB office, and
>>>>> while the pay is a lot less, I still get the same exposure,
>>>>> and do not spend as much time handling the IDB work.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 11/15/06, P.Def. wrote:
>>>>>> Looking for some advice.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have been a solo for a few years. I was mainly doing
>>>>>> public defender work, for o.k. but not a lot of pay. Now,
>>>>>> my non-criminal private practice has grown significantly
>>>>>> to a point where I can make it without the public defender
>>>>>> work. I am considering resigning from the p.d. list. On
>>>>>> the pro side, the public defender work is costing me money
>>>>>> right now, because the time I am spending in court could
>>>>>> be spent on higher-paying matters (not to mention the time
>>>>>> I spend keeping current with criminal law). On the other
>>>>>> hand, it's nice to keep it as a safety valve, in case my
>>>>>> other work dries up. Staying on the list and not taking
>>>>>> cases does not seem to be an option - I was told that
>>>>>> refusing cases for two sessions in a row is grounds for
>>>>>> removal from the list.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Opinions???
>> Hmmm. if you don't have time to do the PD work anymore, have you
>> considered just accepting an occasional private pay criminal
>> client and devoting more time to the more lucrative areas of your
>> practice? You keep up with the law and keep your hand in it
>> without it consuming you. In my area if you're in criminal court
>> a lot you're automatically on the list, it's considered a duty as
>> a bar member. but a couple of attorneys only take a very
>> occasional criminal case so they aren't on the list.