For all those who want to pursue a profession in the legal field, you should know that you have a couple of options you could choose from. You can choose where you want to take the bar, what field of law you should specialize in and whether you should either work as a government lawyer or practice in private organizations. For trial lawyers, the major decision to make is which faction of the courtroom should they sit in. Prosecutors and attorneys are both equally significant parts in the legal proceedings on criminal cases. Although a prosecutor attempts to show that the litigant is liable, in any case, the legal counselor attempts to demonstrate his honesty.
Have you always wanted to pursue a career as a prosecutor and help others? Do you want to know what a prosecutor is and what is his/her role? Then you have come to the right place. We have gathered all the information that you need to know about the role of a prosecutor and all that it entails.
Give this article a thorough read to find out all the answers to your questions. So, what are you waiting for? Let us jump right in!
What is a prosecutor?
A prosecutor, also known as the district attorney, is an authoritative and influential chosen official within the state’s legal system. Prosecutors are also needed at the federal stage and are elected by the president.
Prosecutors speak on behalf of the individuals of the United States in criminal issues and choose when charges ought to be brought against a defendant, the individual who stands to be blamed for perpetrating a wrongdoing. The prosecutor’s office is held by one elective prosecutor, and a few assistant prosecutors who are employed experts.
Prosecutor vs lawyer
When understanding the difference between prosecutors and lawyers, you must remember that all prosecutors are lawyers but all lawyers are not prosecutors. The major factor that helps you differentiate between a lawyer and a prosecutor is that lawyers are legal professionals who provide assistance to clients and speak on their behalf in the court. On the other hand, a prosecutor is the chief representative of the prosecution of the state.
A legal counselor (lawyer) is an individual who is authorized to practice all legal matters. A prosecutor is an attorney that works for an investigator’s office, which is basically a government law office whose only customer is the State, and the State pays the prosecutor’s office to maintain it’s laws.
In addition to this, the prosecutors decide whether to carry out legal proceedings against individuals on the basis of criminal activities that the police or the public claim that they have committed. Hypothetically there is an inalienable detachment of forces incorporated with the framework for balanced governance. On the off chance that a similar department could both inquire and accuse individuals of wrongdoings means that they hold a lot of authority and power!
What is the role of a prosecutor in the criminal justice system?
Prosecutors have a one of a kind job because they have both the authority and the responsibility and role that other lawyers do not. This in no way implies that prosecutors are better or less than other lawyers. However, it does lead to multiple misunderstandings regarding the prosecutor’s role within the field of criminal justice.
A prosecutor has three major roles to perform. These roles are:
- Investigating criminal activities
- Choosing whether to move on with legal proceedings or not
- Showing up in court
Investigating criminal activities
Together with the police, the prosecutor also inspects and explores, thus investigating the criminal case. In addition to this, they communicate with the person who is considered to have committed the crime. Moreover, they also connect with the victim and eyewitnesses, and keep in touch with the police.
Choosing whether to move on with legal proceedings or not
Once the basic initial inquiry and inspection has been done, the prosecutor decides whether there is enough proof to bring the case to court. In the event that it is a small or secondary crime, and the suspect accepts their wrongdoing, the prosecutor charges the criminal with only a fine. This is alluded to as an order of summary punishment. In such a case, no legal proceedings are carried out.
Showing up in court
If a court hearing is to take place, the prosecutor must prove that the suspect is guilty of the crime committed. The prosecutor then asks some questions to the suspect in front of the judge. Moreover, the victim and the eyewitnesses are also questioned to prove that the suspect did commit the crime.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a prosecutor?
As a prosecutor, your duties consist of questioning witnesses and suspects, thoroughly examining police reports, and carrying out legal inquiries to work out the prosecution of each case.
In order to be a great prosecutor, you should have excellent reasoning and public speaking skills and be well aware of what your society needs. Moreover, you should be excellent in the courtroom, and have remarkable communication and research skills. Some responsibilities of a prosecutor include:
- Providing instructions and advising counsel in court.
- Communicating with criminal justice and law enforcement organizations.
- Working with police officers and court staff.
- Questioning all possible suspects.
- Making sure that a fair punishment is given to the criminals.
- Arranging criminal cases for pretrial and trial.
- Managing appeals.
Prosecutor requirements:
The following requirements are needed in order to become a prosecutor:
- Excellent writing skills
- Remarkable public speaking and oral communication.
- Good reasoning and logical skills.
- Law degree from an accredited Law School.
- Member of the Bar Association.
What is the average salary of a prosecutor?
The typical annual income of a prosecutor is $59,725. However, it can still range from somewhere between $53,731 to $73,979. You must know that all prosecutors do earn the same amount of money. Prosecutor salary differs on the basis of various significant aspects. These factors consist of:
- Education and certifications
- Additional skills
- The experience the prosecutor has
- The state the prosecutor practices in
How much does an entry level prosecutor earn?
A prosecutor with just less than 1 year experience under his belt will probably receive a mean total income (including tips, rewards, and extra payment for overtime work) of $52,128 on the basis of 11 salaries. Furthermore, a prosecutor with almost 1-4 years of work experience will get a mean annual salary of $61,034 on the basis of 50 salaries. A prosecutor who is in the middle of his career with 5-9 years of experience under his belt will earn an average yearly income of $64,972 based on 34 salaries. On the other hand, a prosecutor with a lot of work experience, preferably 10-19 years of practice will earn a whopping $95,110 annually on the basis of 28 salaries. Furthermore, those who are in the later stages of their career (20 years and more), will almost earn an average annual salary of $97,018, thus almost becoming $100,000 more rich. Thus, as you can now see, your experience plays a major role in how much salary you will earn.
Conclusion
Prosecutors play a very important role in the legal field. Now that you know about the major skills required to be a prosecutor, you can decide whether you want to take up this role or not.