Well, I haven’t been much of a post-er on this blog, but defending people takes a lot of time, not to mention running a private law practice, a completely separate job.
What’s worth noting is that the job itself, defending the accused, hasn’t changed and never will. A good lawyer is always looking to humanize his client, to separate him or her from the others who pass through the court system.
In Orange County, the criminal defense community is small. We know who each other is, who’s a fighter and who dumps clients the moment they’ve been paid. How do you tell who’s a fighter? Ask for their results. There should be no problem finding out their track record.
Not every lawyer gets his name in the paper. Some work quietly behind the scenes. They depend on their reputation and network of relationships to effectively represent their clients.