Re: Public Defender Work

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There's a waiting list of attorneys who want to represent purse
snatchers and drunks? Is your area suffering from an economic
depression?

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.
>
>
>
> 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.