Meet our hosts: Everett Hopkins
I became a lawyer for the same two reasons why (I think) any black man becomes a lawyer…
We believe we can make a difference in our community and the individual lives of our clients just by interacting with them and being a role model
Becoming a successful black man in this country (especially one who has to speak out against the police and government) is kind of like a giant “screw you” to this country who doesn’t value our life as humans.
A better question is why do defense work and not prosecution? Besides from my belief that prosecutors don’t really help or listen to (my) people as much as they should, it’s really because I can’t really be myself as a prosecutor. I believe that being myself allows me to help twice as many people than if I became someone different and become a prosecutor. Not listening to people won’t get you far in this profession. Not listening is the same reason why there are crazy good trial attorneys who some categorized as “bad attorneys.” In reality, these attorneys aren’t bad… they are actually really good at what they do, but they don’t take the time or have the patients to explain everything to their client in a way that they will understand it.
The most important skill in this profession requires humility and patience. And it can be hard because lawyers are paid for what they say. And we (as attorneys) are all a little narcissistic. You have to be to do this job. But you must balance that with listening. You must understand your client’s life before you can form a good relationship with them. And that is the goal I have with every person I represent. And by doing that, it allows me to then speak to them about my professional (and personal) experience with different cases and impart my knowledge into that conversation. With that understanding, I become a better attorney and advocate and hopefully, my client becomes a better person.
