Significant Career Lesson From an Alternate Public Defender at Los Angeles County
A significant career lesson for this Alternate Public Defender in Los Angeles County is that "showing up and being prepared" is paramount, even when "your best isn't always gonna feel good," because consistently representing clients is impactful, regardless of case outcomes. The work is demanding, and accepting that "you can't fix everything all the time" is crucial for maintaining well-being.
Resilience, Overcoming Challenges, Hard Truths, Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges
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. Showing up is crucial, even when the work is emotionally challenging.
2. It's okay to not win every case; your effort in representing your client is significant.
3. The job is not always glamorous, and it is important to remember your work's value to society.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
That's a tough one. I feel like I learned lessons every single day about what not to do and what to do. One lesson that's significant to me is that you have to show up.
Sometimes, your best isn't always going to feel good. This job is not always going to feel good. It's not a job where you always get thanked or patted on the back.
Everyone glamorizes what a public defender's job is like. People say, "Oh, you defend criminals," you know? It's not my job to make them understand what I do and why it's meaningful to me and to society.
I'm not going to sit here and try to make you understand why it's so important. But there's always more work to be done. Sometimes you just have to be okay with what you did today and give it a rest.
You can't fix everything all the time, and you're not going to win every case. You might not even win a single issue in one day or a week. You have to understand that just you showing up, being prepared, and standing between the state and your client is enough sometimes.
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