| The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, | | | | terminal] doing research on relevant points of law. He |
| based in Tallahassee, regulates the functioning of | | | | may spend yet another day in trial practice, actually |
| criminal lawyers in Florida. Founded in 1988, it has | | | | pleading before the judge in court. Sometimes, he |
| nearly 1,500 members. Its mission statement, | | | | may also be visiting the scene of the crime. |
| according to its official website lists five important | | | | Most criminal lawyers spend hours researching and |
| objectives, of which two are of great importance to | | | | developing legal reports and documents. Though the |
| consumers. They are: "To improve the criminal justice | | | | advantages of information and communication |
| system at the judicial, legislative and executive levels" | | | | technology are immense, there is a downside too, |
| and "To promote the protection of the rights of | | | | particularly in relation to cyber and transnational |
| individuals." FACDL is the state organ of the National | | | | crimes. This means that today's criminal lawyers need |
| Association Criminal Defense Lawyers, whose Official | | | | to be equipped with the latest methods to handle |
| website is | | | | these issues. In the US, there have always been |
| Usually people imagine a criminal lawyer to be a | | | | excellent facilities for continuing legal education |
| professional involved in highly dramatic situations in | | | | programs. The Florida Association of Criminal Defense |
| courtrooms. However, this is only one aspect of their | | | | Lawyers offers regular programs for its members. is |
| work. A criminal lawyer may spend one day with the | | | | an excellent resource to locate criminal lawyers in |
| client discussing the legal problem. He may spend | | | | Florida. |
| another day in the study [library or a computer | | | | |