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Prosecutors and defense lawyers are attorneys working on criminal cases. Prosecutors charge suspects with crimes and attempt to convict them in court, while defense attorneys strive to defend their client, the suspect, and prevent a conviction. Although the two types of lawyers are similar, each plays a distinct role in the court system.
[SIZE=5]Prosecutor and Defense Lawyer Similarities[/SIZE]
Both prosecutors and defense lawyers complete the same education. In addition to completing a four-year undergraduate program, lawyers must attend three years of law school to attain a juris doctor degree. Required coursework includes contracts, constitutional law, civil procedure and legal writing. After completing law school, lawyers must pass the bar examination to be admitted to the state bar and begin practicing law. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are both key players in the criminal court system.
[SIZE=5]Potential Employers[/SIZE]
Prosecutors are employed by the government. They serve the state or jurisdiction that employs them by reviewing arrest reports from law-enforcement investigations, and deciding when to press charges and when to drop a case. Defense lawyers may be employed by the government and serve as public defenders. Alternatively, these lawyers may work in the private sector and some may even own their own law firm. Defense lawyers are hired to represent the people charged with a crime.
Related Reading: The Average Salary of Criminal Lawyers
[SIZE=5]Investigations and Disclosure[/SIZE]
Prosecutors do not generally conduct their own investigations. In most cases, initial and follow-up investigation is done by law-enforcement personnel. Any information and evidence uncovered in these investigations or from interviewing witnesses must be disclosed to the defense counsel as soon as possible. Defense attorneys conduct their own, independent investigation for the case. If physical evidence will be presented, the defense may bring in independent scientists to evaluate the evidence. Unlike prosecutors, defense attorneys are not required to share any evidence or information they uncover in the course of their investigation.
[SIZE=5]Role in the Courtroom[/SIZE]
During a trial, the prosecutor must prove that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He does this by presenting evidence and questioning witnesses in an effort to convince the jury of guilt. The defense lawyer’s goal during the trial is not to prove the accused is innocent, but rather to be an advocate and represent the client throughout the trial. Even if the accused has admitted guilt to the defense attorney, the defense does not have to share this information and may still defend the client. If evidence was obtained illegally or the client’s rights were violated, this may allow the defendant to escape conviction.
http://work.chron.com/comparison-defense-lawyer-prosecutor-26628.htm