Transition From Student To Professional Is Pivotal Says Philadelphia Attorney
Former prosecutor Steve Jarmon, Founder of Jarmon Legal LLC, is currently a criminal defense attorney practicing in the greater Philadelphia area. He has defended a wide range of cases ranging from homicide to driving under the influence (DUI). Steve's work on behalf of his clients recently earned him the recognition of Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine.
What sort of education is needed to secure a good job in your field?
"In order to become an attorney a person would need to have approximately seven years of post high school education, four years of college and three years of law school. Most law school programs are designed to be completed in 3 years as a full-time student, however, some law schools offer 4 year programs for part-time students."
What is the most challenging aspect of being in your field?
"The most challenging aspect is having to see your client suffer from the negative consequences of bad decisions. The overwhelming majority of people that I have represented over the years have been decent and good people who made bad decisions. They weren't bad people. When a client comes to you, they don't come to you as a criminal, they come to you as a real person who is scared and needs your help. You learn immediately how a conviction or jail time would not just affect them but would affect their entire family. It doesn't take much interaction with the client for me to start caring about how the case may affect their life. I want to help them get a result that would not be destructive to them and their family. Sometimes unfavorable consequences are unavoidable and can have a deep impact on the client and their loved ones. When that happens, that feeling can linger with you for a long time. I use that feeling as motivation to make sure that I represent my clients to best of my abilities."
After graduation, how hard was it to transition into the actual working world?
"It was not hard for me at all. Beginning the summer of my 2nd year and throughout my third year of law school, I interned with the Chester County District Attorney's Office. There I was given the opportunity to handle hundreds of preliminary hearings (probable cause hearings) at the local magistrate courts. After I graduated law school, I accepted an offer for a full-time position as an assistant district attorney with that same district attorney's office. For the first year as a full-time prosecutor, my work assignments were similar to the type of work I did during the internship. The internship was pivotal in my transition from student to the actual working world. I remain grateful for that opportunity."
What advice would you give?
"Be yourself. Stay true to who you are as a person when you practice law. Some attorneys coming out of law school try to emulate a caricature of a lawyer that they have seen in movies and tv. When you try to be someone you are not you can come across as inauthentic. The most important skill in being a lawyer is being persuasive. Whether it's a prosecutor, judge or jury people are more likely to listen to you if they feel you are being real."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. She reports on various topics such as; Social Media, Local Events, Entertainment, Food and Drink and more. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
