PROVO — Utah County has two new taxpayer-paid attorneys to help those in court who cannot help themselves.
Michelle Wilson and Dave Stewart are new hires at the Utah County Public Defender's Office, a government-hired group of attorneys who give legal advice and prepare courtroom arguments for people who are accused of a crime but can't afford a lawyer.
So far, they say, the work is good.
"I really like it," Stewart said. "It's an interesting field of law."
Stewart has been at the public defender's office since January, but only officially allowed to take on the duties of an attorney since Thursday, when he was sworn in as an officer of the court by the Utah State Bar.
Before he was given a chance to defend clients, he did behind-the-scenes work.
Stewart, who worked at the Utah County office last summer, wants to be a public defender for a while.
"A fair amount of attorneys start in a government position to get the experience," said Stewart, who graduated from law school in Michigan. "I might stay here even more than a few years, but we'll see."
In the future, though, he's wary of marketing himself as a personal-injury lawsuit lawyer. Those kinds of attorneys are often looked at as "ambulance chasers," he said.
Wilson, who has practiced privately for 10 years, began at the public defender's office on March 1. Her primary responsibilities as a private attorney were divorce cases and some criminal defense, she said. "It's a good change," Wilson said.
The Utah County native has also done some contract public-defense work with a few cities surrounding Provo.
Wilson, who plans to remain at the public defender's office for a few years, graduated from Brigham Young University's law school and spent her first year as an attorney working for a judge as a law clerk-bailiff.
To Wilson, public defense work is a vital part of the justice system. It ensures everyone, regardless of wealth, is represented in court by a trained, capable lawyer.
As far as the day-to-day for Stewart and Wilson, they spend all of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in front of various judges at Provo's 4th District Court.
Monday and Friday is saved for meetings, preparation work, client appointments and phone calls.
"Any one of those days could be a day we have trial," Wilson said.
Once a case is assigned to them, they must go through the police reports and look through evidence before determining what step to take next, Stewart said.
They talk to clients, find out what deals the prosecutor might be offering, and then there's always the necessary paperwork with every step.
E-mail: shelps@desnews.com