Favorite Parts Of Being An Alternate Public Defender At Los Angeles County
Rachel, an Alternate Public Defender, finds the most rewarding aspect of the role to be "fight[ing] for somebody who oftentimes has never had someone fight for them," despite the challenging reality of working within a "racist and broken system." Building trust with clients and earning their trust is a deeply fulfilling aspect of the job.
Overcoming Challenges, Ethical Dilemmas, Workplace Challenges, Resilience, Hard Truths
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rachel Cala
Alternate Public Defender
Los Angeles County
University at Buffalo
Pepperdine Law -- Juris Doctorate
English
Government & Public Sector, Law
Legal
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. I love my clients so much
2. Being able to fight for somebody who oftentimes has never had someone fight for them
3. Once you earn their trust, that's a pretty amazing feeling
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your current role?
I love my clients so much. It's really hard to be participating in a system that's so racist and so broken in so many ways. To see it up close every day can be really hard.
But I love my kids. They're hysterical; they make me laugh every day. Being able to fight for somebody who oftentimes has never had someone fight for them can be challenging.
In the beginning, you have to really earn trust and show up for these kids. But once you earn it, that's a pretty amazing feeling.
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