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A career working in criminal law isn’t just a job; it’s an opportunity to work with the types of files that you have likely heard about on true crime podcasts or television shows. If this sounds exciting to you, then you might be a good fit for this role. However, if just thinking about it causes your stomach to turn, then this is not the career path for you, my friend.
But working in a criminal law office can be exciting. Every day is different, and there is no shortage of new things to learn, from the latest Alberta Courts processes to staying up to date with Legal Aid Alberta’s Lawyer Billing Portal. You must have excellent communication skills, especially in tough situations, and the ability to problem solve with efficiency.
The difficulty with transitioning to a career working in criminal law from a different area of law relates to the structure of criminal law offices—or rather, the lack thereof. Most criminal law firms in Alberta are small, with only one or a few practising lawyers and very few legal support staff. Lawyers are frequently attending court for full days or even month-long trials, leaving virtually no time to train new staff.
That’s where this book comes in. The authors, Ashley Stasiewich and Paul Moreau, have created a resource specifically for criminal legal assistants in Alberta to support new legal professionals entering the field. Criminal Law and Procedure for Alberta Legal Professionals is designed as a step-by-step guide to all the nitty gritty of criminal procedures that you didn’t know you needed to know.