The John Marshall Law School

Resource Guide on Criminal
Law Practice

Criminal Law Practice Overview


What is Criminal Law Practice

Criminal Law Practice is
an exciting and vital part of our legal system.  Typically, lawyers
engaged in criminal law practice work for a governmental agency on either
the federal, state or local level, or, in the case of non-indigent defense
work, for small or solo private practices.  They either prosecute
or defend persons accused of violating the federal or state criminal
codes, and, depending on the employer, may work on a wide variety of
matters beyond purely criminal law, including abuse and neglect and
paternity.  Lawyers involved in Criminal Law practice work at the
trial or appellate level, have a good grasp of courtroom procedures
and the Rules of Criminal Procedure, and enjoy the fast-paced and often
uncertain challenge of trial work.

Gaining Experience and Getting Employed

Within each local, state
and federal governmental agency devoted to criminal law practice, a
variety of opportunities are available for gaining hands-on experience. 
Most students work on a volunteer basis through their first and second
years, and continue to gain experience with externships and, sometimes,
paid positions during the third year of law school.

Students who meet eligibility
requirements may also serve as student attorneys, under Supreme Court
Rule 711, which enables students to work for authorized agencies as
counsel with the supervision of a licensed attorney.  Holding a
711 license can enhance experience and employability. 

A  J.D. student currently
enrolled at The John Marshall Law School who has earned a minimum of
53 credit hours may be eligible for a 711 License.  711 Licenses are
not available for students who work at private law firms.  The license
is only available for work at the following: (1) A legal aid bureau,
legal assistance program, organization or clinic chartered by the State
of Illinois or approved by a law school located in Illinois; or (2)
The Office of the Public Defender; or (3) A law office of the state
or any of its subdivisions.  Senior law students who apply for a 711
license and have taken the MPRE prior to graduation must have received
a passing score in order to be eligible for the issuance of, or the
continued practice under, a 711 license.  For more information, please
see www.state.il.us/court. 

If you have questions about
the 711 License, please speak to Jodie Needham.  Applications should
be given to Jodie Needham, Registrar, Room 301.  Please see this
site for additional information and downloadable forms:  
 http://www.state.il.us/court/Administrative/Forms/711/App_711.pdf

Types of Employers in Criminal Law


Prosecution


Federal:  Virtually all federal prosecutors work for the Department
of Justice in some capacity.  The DOJ has a summer honors internship
program for eligible 1Ls and 2Ls.  The DOJ also hires entry level
attorneys.  While the DOJ does not participate in On Campus Interviewing,
the DOJ often posts employment opportunities with the CSO.  
Resources including application materials, deadlines, and additional
information are found at the following site:

http://www.usdoj.gov/careers/student_programs.html

2.  
State:  The official prosecutor for the State of Illinois
is the Illinois Attorney General.  The office encourages law students
to volunteer for its law clerk program.  Law students seeking to
clerk any time during the fall semester should submit applications as
soon as possible and preferably no later than August 1.  The AGs office does not at this time participate in
recruitment through the On Campus Interviewing Program.  Application
forms are available at the following site, in addition to extensive
information about the office. The website for the Illinois Attorney
General is http://www.ag.state.il.us/

The website for the National Association of Attorneys General is http://www.haag.org

3.  
Local Perhaps one of the most visible and desirable experiences
available for students, with a view toward permanent employment in criminal
prosecution, involves volunteering, interning, externing, or serving
in a paid capacity for the Cook County States Attorneys Office. 

Cook County States Attorneys Office http://www.statesattorney.org

The following site contains a list of Prosecutors offices and rest
of the country by county via Eaton County site http://www.co.eaton.mi.us/ecpa/PA-MWest.htm#IL

There
is also the National District Attorney Association website which is
very useful

http://www.ndaa.org

The office is divided into
eight bureaus: Criminal Prosecutions, Juvenile Justice, Narcotics, Special
Prosecutions, Public Interest, Civil Actions, Investigations and Administrative Services.
The Criminal Prosecutions Bureau is the largest bureau in the office.
The Bureau is divided into three divisions: Felony Trial, Sexual Crimes,
and Municipal. Each division is further divided into specialized units,
which are located throughout Cook County.

Annually, a large number
of JMLS students volunteer, or gain course credit through externships
for the CCSA.  Typically, students begin volunteer work in their
first year or during their first summer.  The CCSA interviews 3Ls
during Fall On Campus Interviewing (OCI).  All interested students,
even those serving as volunteers in the CCSA, must go through the formal
OCI process their third year of school to be considered for permanent
positions following graduation. 

Finally, a number of John
Marshall graduates are offered permanent positions with the States
Attorneys Office each year upon graduation, or following the results
of the Illinois Bar Examination.  If you are interested in speaking
with a JMLS alum who works for the CCSA, please stop by the CSO for
a list of recent alums.

John Marshall students
are also afforded opportunities in Lake, DuPage, Kane, Will and McHenry
Counties, all collar counties to Cook.

Defense

On the defense side of
criminal law, the spectrum of employment opportunities is smaller, but
very rewarding nonetheless.  Lawyers and students may work for
the government as public defenders on either the local, state or federal
level, or they can work for public interest agencies or in private practice,
generally with smaller law offices.  The following briefly describes
the various types of employers students may research for employment
and experience.

Federal

a.  Federal
Defender Program and community defender programs nationally:

  http://www.fd.org/Contact/CDODirectory.PDF

Contact
Information in Chicago: 

Terence
F. MacCarthy, Executive Director 

Carol
A. Brook, Deputy Director

55
E. Monroe St., Suite 2800

Chicago,
IL  60603

(312)
621-8300

(312)
621-8399 (fax)

b.  Office
of the Federal Appellate Defender: www.state.il.us/defender/fed.html

2.  
State and Local

a.  State: 
The principal function of the Office