welcome to felony ones

This week my partner and I got assigned another lawyer at the Public Defender Service. Because our first lawyer will be going on paternity leave in April, we are now picking up additional cases with a second attorney. She has been working with PDS for eight years and also teaches occasionally at American University. Because of her seniority and experience, our attorney handles felony one cases; mostly homicides and rapes. We initially picked up three homicides, got briefed in the morning and went into the field at noon.
The cases are fascinating, at least partially because of the severity of the crime. While we investigate each case in the same way, we are clearly conscious of the fact that someone died in these instances. It is something of a shock to me hearing from a witness that someone got shot or stabbed. The disconnect that the media provides in a killing is not to be underestimated. Merely hearing about a murder, and then seeing the place it happened and having it described to you is an experience that I am still becoming accustomed to. Overall I am quite glad that we have picked up these cases because it provides me an opportunity to see the highest profile facet of the criminal justice system.
My new lawyer, like my previous one, has a staff investigator and she makes my life infinitely better. Our staff investigators act as intermediaries between us and the attorney, and they often know the most about the cases. Because they start the investigation, they introduce us to the cases and give us instructions about what is priority. My partner and I both agree that these investigators are our most valuable resources and I know they feel similarly about us. We are constantly told how important our work as interns is to the case, which is obviously a good motivating technique. Despite this, I know that we are simply part of the team and our successes are celebrated by all. Something as simple as talking to a witness we have been trying to catch up makes everyone's day.