Criminal law solicitors advise and appear in court on behalf of both accused persons and the prosecution, handling the full spectrum of offences from minor motoring misdemeanours to more serious crimes, including murder. They deal with all aspects of the criminal justice system, from the initial police station interview to the final contested hearing before the court.

Steve Faragher's passion for pursuing a life of crime - on the right side of the law, that is! - was sparked as an A-level student, and it has remained all he has wanted to do ever since. Although, in the interests of comprehensiveness, he felt duty bound to at least consider the Bar thanks to his interest in advocacy, the client contact he was assured as a solicitor ultimately led him down that path. He explains: "I liked the fact that solicitors get to run cases from the outset, while still being able to appear both at the magistrates court and, by getting higher rights of audience, in the crown court. The solicitor side was for me the better option, because I could have the client focus, but still get up and present my clients' cases."

Three and a half years spent paralegalling after he graduated from law school forged a solid bridge between the academic world and the legal profession: "Experiencing law in practice and spending time around partners and associates has helped me so much. You're provided with an excellent base from which to progress to a training contract and ultimately qualify as a solicitor. You are able to show the firms to which you are applying that you've got practical experience of the law, rather than just having the ability on paper."

Steve is now in the first seat of his training contract at IBB Solicitors in West London, in the firm's magistrates department. IBB's criminal defence department is split into general crime (which includes magistrates work) and white collar crime (which includes confiscation, fraud and very high-cost cases). Steve hopes eventually to specialise in confiscation work: "I would like to end up in that area of law one day, possibly having gained my higher rights. However, before then I want to be able to improve and develop my advocacy skills in the magistrates courts, because advocacy is such a fundamental part of the profession. Even if you're a solicitor who does little or no advocacy, the skills are still helpful to have, because you need to be aware of how cases are presented at court and what the barrister requires from you when you are preparing a case."

Day-to-day life in the magistrates department is so varied that it's difficult to describe any one day as 'normal', but a typical morning for Steve will generally begin in the office, determining whether there have been any arrests overnight and, if so, what needs to be done: "If someone's been arrested but hasn't yet been charged, I'll need to arrange for someone to attend the police station to represent them; if they've already been charged and are due to appear in court straight away, I'll arrange for a barrister or solicitor to go down there to represent them. There are then the many other varied day-to-day tasks, including case preparation, reviewing files, analysing evidence, briefing counsel and meeting with clients, who could come in to the office and request a meeting any time. I also get to attend prison quite often to meet clients and take proofs of evidence, which is what the whole case will be based around."

If you're looking to practise in criminal law, you will have to learn to expect the unexpected, because as Steve points out, "anything can happen, at any time. It's one of the things I love most about criminal law - one of my clients could just walk in off the street or I could have to go out on a visit at a moment's notice". Another positive aspect of this kind of work that Steve appreciates is the warm glow he gets from helping clients: "Some people think that criminal law is just about 'getting criminals off,' but that isn't true - it's about presenting a case in the legal environment of the courts for a client who is unable to do so himself and advising him to the best of your ability. The enjoyment comes from knowing that you've done the best job you can for your client."

One of the biggest headaches facing criminal lawyers at the moment has resulted from the recession and the further cuts to legal aid that are impending as a result. "The reduction in the fixed fees that firms receive for criminal cases are going to prove a tough challenge for the profession," says Steve. "One of the most severe cuts will be on fees for cases in which the defendant has elected for a trial by jury in the crown court, but then subsequently changes his plea to guilty. In this situation solicitors risk not being paid for a substantial amount of work they have done in preparation for trial. In some ways it could be viewed as a positive, as it works as a deterrent to unnecessarily late guilty pleas in which the matter could have concluded sooner. However, it could lead to a dangerous situation where some solicitors reduce the amount of hours of preparation they spend on a case, for fear they won't be paid. Solicitors will need to be able to work smarter within the new rules, so that their jobs remain profitable; but it's not going to be easy. There is still money to be made in the criminal law profession; however, law firms must be able to adapt in order to be able to do so."

If you fancy being a criminal lawyer, then to succeed you'll need to be a certain type of person - hardworking, determined and enthusiastic. "I don't think there's any point going into any type of law unless you're passionate, because you're just not going to excel unless you love the work you're doing," Steve elaborates. And wannabe lawyers must also do whatever they can to get ahead: "Take any opportunity you get! When I started out, I didn't realise how competitive the job market was and it's even worse now. Anything extra you can get on your CV will help, whether that's mooting, joining a debating society or getting work experience with a law firm. So many people are coming out of university with similar degrees these days that you need to make yourself stand out to an employer."

If the job (and finding it) sounds like a lot of hard graft, rest assured that it's worth it in the end. "This is a brilliant profession to be in," Steve sums up. "I honestly believe that anyone in the legal profession, no matter what type of law they practise, is extremely fortunate to be in it!"