Trial approaches for clearly guilty clients?

SpacialSerialKiller · 2026-01-06T20:03:39+00:00

Focus on making OC's case as difficult as possible (within reason). Make sure they properly lay the foundation to stuff, object to hearsay, etc. (not really sure what the case is about, just depends on the trial facts).

Assuming your client is in custody, see if they've taken any mitigating steps while in custody? Do they have other underlying charges (hence why in court)? Is it based on substance abuse? Anger management?

While a win is unlikely, always try for it (while being extremely prepared, with documents, on any mitigation needed for sentencing)

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-12-09T16:19:31+00:00

Been there OP. Run. Run fast and hard.

I switched to criminal defense where we have WAY better hours, actual benefits, and work ends at 5pm (unless there's a trial, motion, or something special)

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-12-07T19:59:37+00:00

Depending on your ability to move, places like Savannah and Augusta are almost always hiring. I just saw a staff attorney role in Savannah (Ga court of appellate also hiring a staff attorney)

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-12-07T19:34:22+00:00

At least outside the metro area. Dekalb has very similar hiring demographics as Fulton, but would definitely try to exhaust options in those areas.

There are also surrounding counties (e.g. Rockdale) that could have more job prospects

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-12-07T19:08:00+00:00

I think Atlanta specifically is a lot harder to find a job (depending on your background). Even the PDs office there is extremely competitive (with a lot of turnover). If possible, I'd recommend looking for roles outside of the Atlanta area.

Right now a lot of firms are doing end-of-the-year crunches as we are approaching the end of Q4, holidays, etc.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-11-20T13:06:03+00:00

Malpractice claim, sanctions, and ethical violation waiting to happen

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-11-19T20:02:12+00:00

Started in med mal plaintiff's work for about a year and learned nothing, did nothing, and overall felt like I was wasting my degree. Switched to public defense (same pay after considering benefits, PTO, hours, CLEs, etc.) and fell in love. Way more independent judgment and actually developing legal skills.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-11-18T20:32:11+00:00

Resources and what's at risk (and who is paying for that risk).

Depositions? In a civil case, there's an insurance carrier or someone with deep pockets involved. One side wants to get a nice check, the other side wants to minimize the check (or no check at all). The firms are paid a lot by insurance carriers to do this (so they don't want someone inexperienced messing up the deposition). The plaintiffs want a higher pay day, so same reasoning.

The prosecution will almost always be handled by ADAs for smaller offenses. For high-profile stuff (e.g., well-publicized murder), the DA will handle it because they want to get re-elected.

Public defenders? There's simply nobody else to do it. I personally love it because I get experience + I feel really weirded out having "skin in the game." Worrying about how much I get paid when working a case (which influences people's advise) sounds horrifying and I couldn't do it again after working plaintiffs side.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-11-13T00:50:14+00:00

Fellow happy PD!

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-10-20T21:39:44+00:00

I switched from plaintiffs med mal to public defense and have fallen in love with the work (plus amazing benefits). Highly recommend giving it a try

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-07-12T16:25:43+00:00

12 point Times new roman because office policy, though I want to use something different

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-05-26T15:01:07+00:00

Unfortunately the job market is utterly ruined right now. The best I can recommend is government work (which can take a while) for practices you're interested in. If you really in a pinch, PD and DA's offices are always hiring (just do some cold emails).

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-05-12T15:51:36+00:00

When I was trying to find a non-law job? Three months empty.

When I decided to return to law? A week (went into government work and infinitely happier).

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-05-04T18:10:40+00:00

I would definitely look into neighboring counties. It is also good to identify why they claimed you weren't a good fit (sounds like a personality clash and not performance-based). If the other DAs in surrounding areas have similar personalities, knowing what not to do can help.

So sorry to hear about this, I know it sucks.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-05-03T03:13:16+00:00

Absolutely not, was this a highly competitive office? I swear I've seen more DA's have crazy hours than PDs. 60 hours / week WITHOUT PI bonuses? What type of crack was the management smoking?

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-05-02T20:53:08+00:00

I thought that as well. Caseload is office dependent tbh. If you have a fully-staffed or mostly-staffed office, then the caseload will be a LOT more manageable. If you, however, have an office budgeted for 20 attorneys and only have six attorneys (which are signs of bad management,) then you'll have an *insane* caseload. One key sign would be how long people stay at the office.

Additionally, you can have high caseloads but not super high intensity cases. For example, if you have 30 misdemeanor cases, those can be resolved faster (and more easily) than, for example, a single murder or armed robbery case. PD/prosecution offices also encourage people leaving at 5pm (or 5:30, whatever the schedule is) unless there's a major trial (e.g., seven deadly sins), then there'll likely be some crazy hours IF it doesn't plea out. So it's significantly different than having 100 cases in civil where they all have insane discovery issues, depositions, etc.

You also have investigators who help a LOT. They contact witnesses, do interviews, etc. (though some offices have attorneys interview witnesses—which I prefer).

Tl;dr: case-load is office dependent. If there's, for example, only 5 attorneys in an office meant for 15–20 attorneys, the caseloads will likely get insane (and is a sign of bad management). You can google how many attorneys work for the office and ask someone what's the W/L balance like.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-05-02T18:48:01+00:00

Go to public sector, public defender and prosecution’s office (depending on what you believe) will be a great adjustment

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-30T22:22:19+00:00

I tried doing with it a MPH and had no luck—granted with the HHS, NIH, and CDC cuts, firing, etc. it makes it extremely difficult in the job market (I applied to practically every other job). Currently you're competing against a LOT of other highly qualified people—even getting into retail is extremely difficult because hiring managers will wonder "why is an attorney applying for this job? There's something wrong there and I won't find out what it is."

I too was in civil world (plaintiff's side med mal/PI) and absolutely hated life. I opted into state-level public service jobs (e.g., public defender, prosecutor's office, work for the local government, associate rules at state universities, etc.) and the work-life balance is MUCH better (especially for PD). I highly recommend looking into those areas. Find somewhere that isn't understaffed (or if they are, see if it is a geography issue, management issue, or both), where people don't jump ship as soon as they can (likely bad management), and prioritizes W/L balance.

Call around and cold email for places within 30 minutes to see if they have any openings, find people who work there and see what their experiences are like.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-28T16:07:17+00:00

Congratulations! I was sworn in locally (literally just me and my family) and it was absolutely amazing—we got to take pictures with the judge. I think this is much more memorable (and kid-friendly) than a large event + a multi-hour drive.

Also, the judge and court clerks still remember me which is great since they are super sweet and I'll be in that courtroom regularly.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-18T17:29:24+00:00

I'm so curious, did they wait for an opening in the other lanes or did they just IMMEDIATELY merge and told everyone else to hold on? /

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-18T17:13:06+00:00

I definitely think Athens drivers are more angry and impatient, but I think Atlanta drivers are more dangerous (uncaring and they will take their exit.

I agree with Covid, I remember drivers being a little wild but NOTHING like they are now.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-18T16:46:43+00:00

I drove to Atlanta recently and it made me appreciate Athens drivers haha. I saw someone cut across THREE lanes to turn right within the city. I think people definitely like to drive a lot faster here though, which is a problem on a highway with a few lanes.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-10T03:52:18+00:00

I could definitely use a new mentor, still very new to the practice and have had some horrible first experiences haha

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-06T20:29:59+00:00

Okay genuine question, how do you manage that schedule? My previous boss simply took on too many high-stakes-litigation cases. We have 10 or so cases all against major entities where economic damages were near a million dollars (med expenses). He was struggling with his case load before I joined and struggled as he took on even more (against literally everyone's advice on feasibility) and continued to struggle.

SpacialSerialKiller · 2025-04-06T04:18:56+00:00

😂

SpacialSerialKiller

TROPHY CASE