Legal Counsel in the United States

The recruitment of judicial system personnel varies considerably by position. Obtaining assistance of legal counsel is largely a private matter, and selection is made by the client. This is true for virtually all legal services a lawyer may provide, including litigation. Economic resources often determine the selection of an attorney. The Constitution, however, requires assistance of counsel in criminal cases, and local jurisdictions must provide lawyers for those financially unable to retain their own. Attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants are typically recruited under the auspices of the trial courts of the local jurisdiction. In places where a public defender system is used, trial judges formally select the public defender.

Notes and References

1. Definition of Legal Counsel from the American Law Dictionary, 1991, California