Even if you have a working understanding of what defense attorneys and prosecutors focus on in their careers, the process behind how each one operates is extremely different.
It’s important to note that while they may seem similar, their daily schedules and how they approach a case can vary greatly. We’ve outlined some of the major differences below, from the goals to the job description, workload, salary, and famous examples.
| Prosecutor | Defense Attorney | |
Defense Attorney |
A lawyer who represents The People or a person at the local, state, or federal level when they press charges against an individual or corporation | A lawyer who defends an individual or corporation against criminal charges. A defense lawyer may operate in private practice or, if employed by the government, work as a public defender assigned to clients who cannot afford an attorney. A civil defense attorney represents a client who faces fines, while a criminal defense attorney represents a client who faces jail time. |
Goal |
The prosecutor must charge the accused with a specific crime or crimes, then present evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty. | The defense attorney must defend their client against criminal charges. The client is innocent until proven guilty. |
Job Description |
A prosecutor represents the interests of public safety, working to prove that a person or group has committed a crime and deserves to be punished.
The prosecutor may offer a plea before going to trial. If it seems unlikely a jury will convict, the prosecutor may offer a plea so that the defendant is convicted of something, even if it’s a lesser charge. The prosecutor must gather evidence to present in court, interview and prepare witnesses to testify in court, research all aspects of the case to prepare for cross-examination, and prepare opening and closing statements. |
A defense lawyer represents the client’s best interests at all stages of legal proceedings—from arraignment to sentencing—helping the client avoid incriminating himself and making sure the client’s constitutional rights are not violated.
If a plea is offered before a trial, the defense attorney must decide if taking the plea is in the client’s best interest, taking into account not only the facts but also the jury’s likelihood to convict. In some cases, it may be in the client’s best interest to take a plea, which the defense lawyer must convince the client to do. During proceedings, the defense attorney must present any mitigating circumstances—like mental illness or temporary insanity—that would affect the verdict and sentencing. The defense lawyer must gather evidence to present in court, interview and prepare witnesses to testify in court, research all aspects of the case to prepare for cross examination, and prepare opening and closing statements. If the client is convicted, he and the defense attorney may decide to appeal. |
Workload |
Prosecutors and defense attorneys both have demanding workloads which vary depending on firm or company size, location, and career level. | |
Salary |
Prosecutors and defense attorneys make comparable salaries, with the caveat that jobs in the private sector typically pay more than those in the public sector. | |
Famous Examples |
Deputy District Attorneys Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden charged O.J. Simpson with two counts of first-degree murder in The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson in 1995. They lost the case when the jury found O.J. not guilty. He was, however, later found liable in a civil suit concluding in 1997.
Special Prosecutor Kristen Gibbons Feden charged Bill Cosby with three counts of aggravated indecent assault in Andrea Constand v. William H. Cosby, Jr. in 2018. Cosby was found guilty on all three counts. Ted Boutrous leads a group of lawyers from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as the prosecutors in the ongoing case Ashley Judd v. Harvey Weinstein, in which Weinstein has been charged with sexual harassment and defamation |
Johnnie Cochran led the “Dream Team” of O.J. Simpson’s defense lawyers in The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson in 1995. As a result, Simpson was found not guilty in the criminal case. Cochran has also famously defended Sean Combs (aka P. Diddy), Michael Jackson, Tupac, and Marion Jones.
Anne Bremner represented American Amanda Knox when she was charged with the murder of her roommate in Italy while studying abroad. Knox was found guilty, but the verdict was eventually overturned. Clarence Darrow defended teacher John T. Scopes in The State of Tennessee v. Scopes trial—aka the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. In which Scopes was accused of violating a law that forbade teaching evolution. Scopes was found guilty, but the verdict was later thrown out on a technicality. |
If you prefer cases defending the wrongly accused or ensuring that each defendant gets the proper legal counsel, then maybe you’d prefer a career as a defense attorney. However, if you want to ensure that The People are getting proper legal representation, then you may consider becoming a prosecutor.
Both defense attorneys and prosecutors come with their own set of challenges and pressures daily; the question is: Which appeals to you the most?
