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This is a straightforward question. Don't reply if you're merely going to judge me rather than offer helpful advice.

I didn't get the best grades in law school. I took the bar multiple times before finally exorcising that demon. I'm currently working at an unpaid internship at a legal aid organization. I also have a paying non-legal job on the side. I want to be a public defender. I'm also open to any other reasonable suggestion.

Where are you applying? If you go to a suburb public defenders office they normally aren't super competitive, although many of them are stingy on the hiring because of budget problems. I have a family member who hired for PDs and he always said that he cared mostly about whether people could spot issues in cases he threw at them and whether they had a sense of humor.

I'm applying in an "urban" area (Newark/East Orange, NJ)

What advice do you want other than apply to anything you see?

Anonymous User wrote:I'm applying in an "urban" area (Newark/East Orange, NJ)

I would suggest trying central or further upstate. Those are probably fairly competitive. But if you keep at it I'm sure you'll find something eventually. If you PM me I can ask if there are any openings in a particular office in a suburban area.

I second the advice of applying to everything you see. Don't just aim for PD offices. Apply to legal aid organizations and criminal defense firms or other small civil litigation firms. Try to lean on any contacts you've made at your volunteer position. They might be able to get you in touch with someone. You could even see if career services can get you in contact with alumni or forward your resume', although that highly depends on the quality of career services.

Even PD offices that are competitive may not care about grades, though. I know people hired by a "good" PD office and they never even submitted grades, so it never came up. Not getting barred right away may be more of an issue, but since you are barred now I think more it will depend on what other experience and qualifications you have. Legal aid isn't bad experience in that you work with the indigent (though if you do any DV stuff some PDs will be wary tha you're too victim-minded). Did you do a criminal law clinic? Intern with a PD office? Do you know anyone working as a PD? Have you checked out the prosecutor/PD thread in this forum?

It is possible. I'm living proof. Please don't give up on yourself or working as a lawyer if that is what you want to do.

As others have said, look at public defender options, or, if possible in your area, try to get hooked up some sort of court appointed attorney list (if not public defender office locally) or conflict PD.

You'll need to make connections, network, volunteer,ect. At this point, your connections you have or will make somehow, will be what gets you a gig.

Can you open up your own shop? Or rent office space from another solo or small firm and work that angle?

Volunteer, both legal related and non legal related.

It certainly is possible if you grind it out and set your expectations accordingly. My grades were shit. (I don't work as a PD but know many who started that way)

Smaller firms, even mid-sized firms usually don't ask for grades. Don't put your rank or whatever on your resume. If the firm advertisement doesn't ask for it, then don't provide it.

My grades were bad as well, and I also failed the bar the first time around. I disclosed me failing the bar, but didn't disclose my transcript or rank (they didn't ask for it). Ended up a firm with offices in four states with over a hundred attorneys.

Public defender / DA or any public interest outfit is not going to ask about grades or school, they usually look commitment and passion.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:Even PD offices that are competitive may not care about grades, though. I know people hired by a "good" PD office and they never even submitted grades, so it never came up. Not getting barred right away may be more of an issue, but since you are barred now I think more it will depend on what other experience and qualifications you have. Legal aid isn't bad experience in that you work with the indigent (though if you do any DV stuff some PDs will be wary tha you're too victim-minded). Did you do a criminal law clinic? Intern with a PD office? Do you know anyone working as a PD? Have you checked out the prosecutor/PD thread in this forum?

This is right on, although I'll add that only the snootier PD offices would be concerned about academics (PDS and Brooklyn for example) most won't give a crap tho, and certainly I doubt New Jersey offices would care.

As far as the DV-victim stuff, if it comes in an interview it'll be to make sure you aren't just watching out for victims. There is nothing wrong in anyway with helping DV victims (though a good number of the alleged victims use the system for their own DV purposes). A lot of PD clients are DV victims at some point in their lives anyway as there is a good deal of overlap between the two populations.

It's possible. I had low grades and did an unpaid fellowship for a few months out of law school and now work in bigfed. Just keep at it.