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I’m a Public Defender

November 2025
Dorothy Weldon, as told to Chava Pearl Lansky | Illustrations by Rafael Alvarez

Courtesy of Dorothy Weldon

Dorothy Weldon

Dorothy Weldon’s favorite part of being a public defender is helping people. A public defender is a type of lawyer who works for the government. They represent people who are accused of crimes and can’t afford to hire a private lawyer. “It can be challenging, but I find it so empowering to work with clients who are in difficult situations,” says Dorothy. Her job involves meeting with clients and arguing on their behalf in court. She also spends a lot of time doing legal research. “I love fighting for people and trying to make sure the criminal justice system is fair to everyone,” she says. Are you interested in practicing law? Read on to learn about Dorothy’s journey.

I majored in physics in college, but I also took classes on U.S. law and society. The more I learned about the criminal justice system, the more passionate I became about helping people.

To get into law school, you have to take a standardized exam called the LSAT. I studied really hard, but I still had to take the exam twice to get the score that I wanted.

Law school was a mix of classes, studying, and internships. The hardest part is that professors call on you at random, so you always have to be super prepared for class.

After law school, I became a public defender in New York City. Many of my clients are accused of minor crimes, but they face major consequences if they’re found guilty.

I work on reducing my clients’ sentences so they can be reunited with their families. It’s incredible to get a case dismissed and know it’s going to change someone’s life.

Dorothy’s Advice for Becoming a Public Defender

  • Graduate from a four-year college. “A cool thing about law school is you can major in anything in college and still take the LSAT and get in,” Dorothy says. “There’s no set formula.”
  • Attend law school (usually three years). Law school can be very expensive. Public defenders often make less money than other types of lawyers. They may be eligible for programs that help pay back their student loans, which can make law school more affordable.
  • Intern at a public defender’s office. “Once I started doing internships in public defense, I realized it was the place for me,” Dorothy says. “It was a perfect fit.” 
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