When I became a criminal defense lawyer way back in the day, I started by taking on 18b assigned counsel cases in New York.  This was before I joined Terry Kindlon and worked in his shop learning how to really try cases.  They don’t teach you much of that as a prosecutor because, well, you are supposed to win.  So, I went to TLK’s place and learned via the school of hard knocks, trial by fire, and also good old fashioned mentoring.  After a while in the office, I was admitted to federal court in the Northern District of New York.  The bar there is pretty small, so I got a bunch of federally (CJA) appointed work as well. 

Terry didn’t like that I did the state assigned work.  He thought it diminished the value of my work – if they can get me for free why would they pay?  He also was familiar with the stereotypical client that comes with assigned counsel work, people who are ungrateful and who think that we work for the government and not for them.  Still, as some of you know, I’m not one to do as I’m told so I continued to represent indigent clients.

When I say Terry didn’t do assigned work, I’m not saying he didn’t do cases pro bono or that he didn’t cut his fees when the case or the client was worthwhile.  We earned a good living in Albany, and we paid it forward when we could.  Terry taught us that our work had real value and if we were going to do it – assigned, paid,pro bono, we should do it well.  You reap what you sow, so sow some good shit.

When I started here in Takoma Park, I wrote to Terry asking his advice on how to let people know I was here – website, blog, letters to folks who’d recently been arrested?  His response wasn’t unusual for Terry.  He doesn’t have a huge web presence, he’s not on twitter.  He’s a lawyer’s lawyer.  Meaning, he practices law every single day without rest. Even after heart surgery.  He just does it.  His advice to me?  Just do it.  Get on the assigned counsel list, the CJA panel.  Let them see you try a case. Once they’ve seen you, the clients will come.

So, in this case, I followed his advice and applied to get on the CJA panel. The vetting process was fairly intense and I spent an entire day on email and phone with the head of the unit.  I gave her the names of judges, other attorneys, cases I’d tried, federal sentencing memos I’d written.  The panel in Maryland is small, not much more than 100 attorneys in the state, so despite my belief that I was well qualified, I’d have to wait and see.

I got an email yesterday saying I was on the panel.

My website still needs to get done, but I’m getting itchy.  I like the immigration stuff and while I’ve been to immigration court a few times, I’m a criminal law junkie.  Being on the panel is a step in the right direction in getting back into the game.  While google is good, trying cases is better.