When we think of the most dangerous jobs in the country, we typically think of occupations that are associated with high rates of workplace injuries, such as construction workers or truck drivers, or jobs that inherently put workers in the line of fire, such as soldiers or police officers. But we rarely think of an attorney as being someone who is in harm’s way because of his or her job.
To picture a lawyer in imminent danger because of a disgruntled client or because of retaliation for representing an unpopular client might seem like a page from a John Grisham novel, but it is true that there are some risks associated with being a criminal defense attorney. But just how risky is an occupation in criminal defense?
Dealing With Threats
Anytime you work in criminal law there is a risk that you might encounter someone who has violent tendencies, but the vast majority of clients are not inherently violent people. Even if you do come across a client who has a history of violence, it is highly unlikely that the client will become violent toward his or her own attorney. That’s not to say that criminal defense attorneys don’t receive threats from angry clients who are unhappy with how their case turned out, but it is a very small percentage of clients and it is certainly not the norm.
There are also tales of threats against criminal defense attorneys who represent clients that are reviled because of their alleged crimes. This type of threat is even less common than threats from disgruntled clients. And, to be clear, we’re talking about the threat of violence. While threats against criminal defense attorneys are relatively rare, threats that are manifested into an actual violent act are even rarer.
Comparatively Speaking
Of course, everything is relative. Criminal defense attorneys are in a more dangerous profession than an accountant, for example, but they are in a less dangerous profession that a corrections officer. This is also true for other areas of the law.
Another example of a potentially dangerous legal job is that of a prosecutor. Prosecutors also may face threats of violence from people convicted of crimes, though for entirely different reasons than criminal defense attorneys might receive threats. Still, even for prosecutors, the likelihood of those threats’ becoming reality is very small.
There are examples of criminal defense attorneys who have been the victims of violence. In the Summer of 2014, in an incident that sent shockwaves through the community, Somerset, Kentucky criminal defense attorney Mark Stanziano was killed by a gunman who was apparently upset that Mr. Stanziano couldn’t help him with an issue. In March, an investigator for an Orange County district attorney assaulted a California defense attorney during a heated argument. There are also examples of attorneys being assaulted or killed in circumstances unrelated to their profession. But these examples are exceptions and not the rule.
Yes, there are risks in practicing criminal defense, but not enough to dissuade someone from becoming a criminal defense attorney and certainly not enough for someone to be concerned about the safety of a loved one who is practicing criminal defense.
So, if you’re particularly worried about the safety of this job, you shouldn’t be. There is a good chance that somewhere along the way, a criminal defense attorney will encounter the threat of violence, but the reality is that most of those threats are hollow, and most clients are not likely to commit a violent act against their own attorney.
If you (or a loved one) have been arrested in Kentucky or in the Lexington area in particular, call my office at (859) 685-1055 for a free consultation. Our lawyers specialize in helping defendants fight back on assault charges, misdemeanors, domestic violence, property crimes, drug charges and more, call today.