Another on-time posting. This madness has to end…. I provided questions, and Zach provided answers. Enjoy!
Zach Martin
What do you do for work?
I’m a lawyer with the Montrose regional trial office of the Colorado Public Defender (“PD”), check out the website: http://pdweb.coloradodefenders.us/
In Colorado, the PD is an independent government agency that represents poor people accused of crimes all across the state. Our regional trial office represents people in a rural six-county area in all phases of their cases. In the lead-up to trial, we often argue that certain evidence should not come in at trial if the police or prosecutors did not play by the constitutional rules (e.g. evidence found during an illegal search of someone’s home or statements obtained from them through a coerced confession.)
Green with envy for Zach’s cool job.
My job is never boring. I get to deal with all kinds of people, each with their own stories, hopes, and challenges. It can be stressful at times because the consequences of a conviction can be life-changing, and the stakes only get higher the longer you work. About a year in, younger PD attorneys typically transition from misdemeanor to felony cases.
Effective advocacy for the poor involves a set of skills, including the ability to think on your feet, to see similar patterns in facts and legal decisions, a desire to stand up for the underdog, and a healthy dose of anger for the police.
What do you do for play or enrichment?
I love the outdoors. Western Colorado has a lot of great opportunities for that. My fiancé has been getting me more into skiing this winter. I also snowshoe and cross-country ski. My favorite is long distance running, and I’m hoping to run my first 100 mile race this August. I also enjoy listening to music, reading when I get the chance, keeping in touch with family, and hanging out with my fiancé, my friends, and my coworkers.
How did you prepare for your career/life so far (through college or otherwise)?
To be a lawyer, you first have to go to college. People of all academic backgrounds go to law school. A reading and writing-intensive undergraduate major certainly helps. My English major at Goucher College near Baltimore gave me a good foundation for law school.
Sometime before law school, you have to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The LSAT works much the same as the ACT or SAT for college. It’s one factor that schools use in determining who to admit. Law school is three years. At most law schools, the first year is traditional and structured, the second and third years are more academically flexible and part-time and summer work experiences are strongly encouraged.
After graduation, you have to take the bar exam, which is an exam on many areas of law. It’s nerve-racking, but most people do fine on it. Luckily, my first try was enough.
I chose to be a Public Defender because I wanted a job where I could use my brain to help people. Public Defenders help protect both the individual clients they serve, and society as a whole, from government overreach. After trying out a few different types of legal jobs, I realized that there was nothing I’d rather do with my law degree.
Slippery slopes of romance?
What are you proud of?
I’m proud that I get to wake up every day to fight on behalf of people who have been kicked around. My clients often come to me with other problems that I can’t help with. My role is limited to protecting their freedom, a job I take seriously and engage in passionately.
I’m proud to be part of an organization of attorneys, investigators, and other staff who work as a shield against the power of the state, and to guard both the individuals we serve and the big picture concerns of individual liberty and constitutional integrity. Because of this work less people are wrongfully convicted, and everyone’s rights are protected.
What advice do you have for young(er) people as they prepare to launch themselves into the adult world?
Don’t be too quick to jump into anything. Life is very long, and you have many lives to live. Also, never be afraid to ask around when you’re unsure of something. When you’re facing a dilemma, it may seem like only you have dealt with it, but it’s often the case that someone has been there before, and you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
Enjoy the process of learning. College is a wonderful time, a time when inquiring about the world is your overriding goal, whatever path that takes, and whatever it ends up leading you, enjoy.