Welcome back to Ms. JD's "Attorneys Across America" series! It's been a while since I've written, but I'm back with an interview with Angela Noble, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida. Ms. Noble tells us what it's like to practice criminal law in The Sunshine State. Ms. Noble’s full bio appears at the end of this post.
KW: Where do you practice law?
AN: I'm an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida. I work in the Criminal Appeals Division of the West Palm Beach office. This office covers criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Fourth District Court of Appeal. The district extends from Ft. Lauderdale to Vero Beach.
KW: Please describe your legal market.
AN: Unfortunately, there are more attorneys in South Florida than there are jobs available. This is not surprising given that we live in such a beautiful state. I am very lucky, and quite proud, to represent my state and to be a member of the criminal bar in my area. Prosecutors and defense attorneys tend to respect each other in a way opposing counsel in other fields may not. (My husband and I are proof of this - he's a defense attorney.) Life in government service is very different from that in the private sector. Your value is not measured in billable hours, but in your commitment to the job.
KW: Please describe your practice area.
AN: The Attorney General's Office represents the State of Florida in both civil and criminal cases. The Criminal Appeals Division handles direct criminal appeals and post conviction matters. Unlike local prosecutors, Attorneys General practice in both state and federal courts. The majority of my work involves reviewing trial records and drafting appellate briefs. However, when called upon to do so, Assistant AGs argue cases before appellate courts and participate in evidentiary hearings.
KW: How did you get started in this practice area?
AN: My grandparents lived in a public housing project in East Harlem. I learned more about crime there than I ever learned in school. I've wanted to fight crime since my grandfather was robbed at gunpoint when I was about eight years old. It wasn't until I graduated from college and worked as a paralegal in the Brooklyn D.A.'s Office that I realized that I could do more as an attorney. That's when I applied to law school. With hard work and a little bit of luck, everything else just fell into place.
KW: What makes South Florida a unique place to practice law?
AN: Criminal practice is very different from state to state. The larger the population, the greater the number of arrests. Also, a state's budget has a direct impact on your work. More money means more resources, more programs, etc. When the economy suffers, we all feel it. However, criminals still need to be brought to justice regardless of budgetary constraints. You have to be dedicated to this job.
KW: What are good resources for women attorneys in your area?
AN: Though I am admittedly not a member, the Florida Association of Women Layers (FAWL) is very well known and respected in my area.
KW: What has been your hardest day on the job?
AN: A criminal attorney's hardest days are those when you're face to face with the victim of a heinous crime. It is incredibly difficult to remain stoic and professional, yet compassionate, when you're faced with an emotional victim who is reliving, in painful detail, the worst experience of his or her life. We don't often see victims in post conviction work, but I have encountered this scenario frequently throughout my career. It never gets easier.
KW: What has been your best day on the job?
AN: The best days are those when you realize justice has been served. It is important to realize that justice comes in many forms. Sometimes it means that a criminal gets his due punishment. Other times it means that someone falsely accused, or whose rights have been violated, will be freed or his sentence reduced. A federal judge in New York recently reminded prosecutors that they work for the Department of Justice, not the Department of Prosecutions.
KW: What advice do you have for women attorneys following in your footsteps?
AN: Don't wait until you graduate from law school to be introduced to the field of criminal law. Visit your local courthouse, intern at a local prosecutor's office, tour a local jail. You may learn early on that being in the company of criminals is not something you can handle. This type of work isn't for everyone. The stakes are high, the work is difficult, and the pay is significantly less than most other areas of law. You must have a thick skin and a strong sense of duty to excel in this line of work. (A sense of humor doesn't hurt either. It will get you through hard times.) If you decide you can handle it, practice public speaking and write, write, write!
KW: Any additional stories, anecdotes, or thoughts on practicing in your practice area or location?
AN: Women have made great strides in the legal profession, but we still have a way to go. A named partner at a law firm once asked me, "Why do you need to earn more? You have a husband." Another once told me I was lucky to be a lawyer. In his day, women were "just" secretaries and teachers. My New York upbringing and experience in criminal law have helped me handle these types of situations. The key is to remain strong and help lift as many people as you can.
Bio: Ms. Noble was born, raised, and educated in New York City. After obtaining a degree in legal studies, she began her career as a paralegal in the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. She later worked as a docket clerk and relief courtroom clerk at the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn while attending law school at night. After law school, she made Florida her home. After a short time in private practice, she returned to government service as a clerk and criminal case manager to a U.S. District Judge in West Palm Beach. Eight years later, she joined the Florida Attorney General's Office.
A Message from the Author: I hope you find our lineup of interviewees interesting and their input useful. If there is a female attorney you would like me to include in this blog, please contact me at attorneysacrossamerica@gmail.com and include the contact information and brief biography of the potential interviewee. I look forward to and will consider all suggestions.