What type of law do you practice?

I practice criminal defense as a public defender, which means that if someone can’t afford legal counsel, we represent that person. I chose this type of work in part because of my faith; I believe no one is irredeemable. There’s a great quote by Bryan Stevenson that really resonates with me, “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” I truly believe that. I also firmly believe that our criminal system is profoundly unjust. While my work is in direct services, and therefore not going to affect the problems that are system-wide, I believe that by representing my clients well, I’m still working towards a more just system.

What is an average workday like for you?

It’s going to be changing because I am starting a new position soon within my office! But right now, I’m in the preliminary hearings division, where we handle the beginning stages of felony cases. Preliminary hearings are where the prosecutor has to bring witnesses to testify at a hearing. The judge then decides whether they’ve shown enough evidence for the case to proceed. My role at these hearings is to challenge the testimony and evidence, and argue that there is not enough evidence to support the charges against my client. I also handle other types of hearings prior to the preliminary hearings, where I advise clients on their cases, argue over discovery issues, and try to negotiate with the prosecutors to get people into diversion programs or get them good plea offers. An average work day for me is reviewing evidence and preparing for a day of hearings, or in court arguing and negotiating.

In my new position, I will be a felony attorney and have a full felony case load. That will entail reviewing evidence in my cases, interviewing witnesses, sending out investigators to do our own investigations, negotiating plea deals, advising clients, and litigating trials.

What are some of the most and least enjoyable parts of your work?

One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is working with my colleagues, who are pretty much all incredible attorneys and people. I love working with my clients as well, and trying to get each of them the best outcome possible.

Trials are a love-hate relationship – I’ve mostly done misdemeanor bench trials so far (which are in front of a judge) but I’ve also done one jury trial. Trials can be really stressful and crazy, and while you have some idea of what will happen, sometimes things happen that you couldn’t have predicted. You have to be able to think on your feet and pivot if you need to. You have to know the evidence better than anyone in the room, as well as the evidentiary rules. You also have to be able to connect with the jury. And on top of that, you have to be an amazing storyteller! Despite all the stress, trials can be a great experience, and ultimately I really like that part of my job.

One of the least enjoyable parts is probably just figuring out my schedule! It wasn’t a huge issue in the preliminary hearings division because we’re only ever in front of two judges, but once you’re a felony attorney you’re in front of many more judges and you might be scheduled for multiple hearings in multiple courtrooms at the same exact time! It can be hectic figuring out how to get everything covered. But my office is great about helping each other out when things like that happen, which is wonderful.

Why did you decide to apply to law school?

I knew I wanted to do something in public service, and I had done undergraduate mock trial at Baylor and loved it. I thought a lot about social work or law school, but I ultimately decided on law school because I thought it was a better fit for me. I do think I would find a social work degree helpful in my current position though, and sometimes I wish I had done a dual-degree program in social work and law! It’s definitely something to think about if you are interested in both law and public service. 

How did you decide which law programs were a good fit for you?

One thing I did was look at the clinic programs they had and whether they sounded like something I would be interested in. Clinics are a great way to get practical experience while in law school, because you’ll work for clients and get to represent them as law students. However, the clinic that I thought I wanted to do when I picked my law school I didn’t end up choosing, and the two I chose I really enjoyed. Don’t be afraid to change your mind about specific plans or ideas you had when you entered law school!

I also tried to look into the culture of the law school and whether it was hyper-competitive or whether it was more collegial. This was because I wanted to be in a supportive environment with students who cared about and supported each other. Talking to current students at the different law schools I applied to helped me figure this part out.

Scholarships were also a big factor for me, and you can negotiate with schools on this! Especially if you have a scholarship offer at a different school you can use as leverage. I also looked at schools that had great loan repayment assistance programs, because I knew I wanted to do public service. I specifically looked at law schools that had a higher income cap for loan repayment assistance.

Do you have any advice to share with current students who may be considering law school in the future?

I would suggest interning at a law-related workplace while in undergrad to help figure out if you want to be a lawyer. I would also consider taking time in between undergrad and law school to work, whether that’s in something law-related like as a paralegal or investigator, or something else entirely. I was a paralegal at a law firm prior to law school and that helped me figure out what I would look for in a post-law school job. It can also help you figure out if law school is right for you in the first place!