20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You’ll split time between the courtroom and the office. Mornings often start by reviewing case files in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat, checking deadlines and court calendars in Microsoft Outlook, and preparing witness lists or PowerPoint exhibits.
Afternoons can be hearings, plea talks, or trials where you present evidence and arguments. Between appearances you research law and evidence, draft motions, and call witnesses. You usually manage several cases at once, so you switch tasks quickly and update case management software like AbacusLaw.
Expect to use Microsoft Word for drafting complaints, motions, and pleadings; Adobe Acrobat for signed exhibits and scanned evidence; and Microsoft Outlook for court dates and client or witness emails.
Prosecutors also use case management systems like AbacusLaw (Abacus Data Systems) or AbacusNext HotDocs to store files, track deadlines, and generate standard documents. Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint are common for evidence charts and courtroom slides.
You must pass your jurisdiction’s bar exam before representing clients in most places. Study with a bar prep course, practice essays, and timed multiple-choice tests. Focus on criminal procedure, evidence, and constitutional law — the topics you’ll use every day.
While studying, get practical experience: intern or clerking with a prosecutor’s office, assist with legal research, and learn the office’s case management system (AbacusLaw or similar) so you can hit the ground running.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 754,500 employed in this legal field. Median pay is $159,670 per year. The lowest tenth earn about $78,360, and the top tenth about $351,600. These numbers cover prosecutors and similar lawyers across public and private settings.
Local pay varies by county, state, and whether you work for a city, state, federal office, or private firm. Seniority, trial experience, and supervisory roles push earnings toward the top tenth.
A prosecutor represents the state and decides whether to charge defendants, pursue plea bargains, and present evidence to prove guilt. You spend time on case screening, victim interviews, and coordinating with police and witnesses.
A defense attorney protects a client’s interests, looks for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and develops defensive strategies. Both draft motions and appear in court, but prosecutors manage public safety and charging decisions while defense lawyers focus on client protection and confidential strategy.
You can use AI for drafting initial outlines, summarizing long documents, and legal research checks, but never rely on it without verification. AI can hallucinate cases, misstate law, or omit jurisdiction-specific rules. Always confirm citations and legal interpretations against primary sources and your case files in Word, Adobe, or AbacusLaw.
Keep client confidentiality: do not upload confidential evidence, witness statements, or sealed documents into third-party AI services unless the service meets your office’s security rules. When in doubt, ask your supervisor or IT about approved tools.
Both matter, but start with strong legal research and document drafting. You’ll spend hours preparing motions, charging documents, and briefs in Word and AbacusLaw; good research reduces mistakes in court.
After you master writing and case management, practice courtroom skills: opening statements, witness questioning, and persuasive argument. You’ll learn trial techniques on actual cases; supervisors and experienced prosecutors usually mentor trial work once your paperwork and research are reliable.