by 
The Curious Bag
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A public defender is a lawyer assigned by the government to represent people who cannot afford their own lawyer. Public defenders are used at all court levels and are a right guaranteed to all people prosecuted in the United States.
Qualifications
To become a public defender, most states will require you to be of a certain age, usually around 25, be in good standing with the state bar, and have a minimum amount of experience. Public defenders are commonly elected by a selection panel of other public defenders.
Who you Defend
Public defense lawyers are required to protect the rights of anyone who has been prosecuted of a crime and cannot afford his own lawyer.
Area of Concentration
Public defenders spend their time almost exclusively on cases dealing with criminal law, which is why many people are drawn to this profession.
Case Loads
In the past, public defenders were notorious for taking on incredibly large case loads that left them little time for their clients. This has changed dramatically in recent years and public defenders have more than enough time to adequately represent their clients.
Benefits
One of the reasons that being a public defender is so attractive to lawyers is that they get to spend a great deal of time actually in the courtroom practicing their craft.
Source:
Resource:
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
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