2 answers
Kaylee
Student
Harrison, New York
1
Question
Asked
444 views
What aspects of a detective career might persuade me to pursue that route over becoming a criminal lawyer?
I am interested in being a detective more, I just really do not want to be a cop first, and have heard mixed things about this route. I am aware they both require way different schooling, I just don't know anyone personally with experience to ask about this.
Login to comment
2 answers
D.J. Benion, MBA
Federal Law Enforcement Officer
34
Answers
Updated
D.J.’s Answer
Both being a detective and a criminal lawyer are highly respected, impactful careers — but they’re very different in what they require and how they operate day-to-day. If you’re already leaning toward becoming a detective but are hesitant about the patrol officer requirement, here’s what might help solidify your decision.
As a detective, you’re the one who solves the puzzle. You investigate crimes directly — interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and connecting the dots — not just reviewing what others have done. You’re hands-on, building cases from the ground up, often from the moment a crime is reported to the moment an arrest is made. If you like critical thinking, working in the field, and being actively involved in finding the truth, the detective route gives you that direct connection to the case.
Detectives also spend far less time behind a desk than criminal lawyers do. While lawyers spend years in school and much of their careers researching case law, writing motions, and arguing in courtrooms, detectives are out in the real world — on the streets, at crime scenes, serving warrants, and interviewing people. If you want movement and variety, investigations give you that. Plus, becoming a detective typically requires only a bachelor’s degree and police academy training — not seven years of school and six-figure law school debt like many criminal attorneys take on.
That said, yes — in most departments, you do have to start as a patrol officer first. It’s not optional in most places. But that experience gives you the street knowledge, instincts, and credibility that great detectives are built on. If you're set on avoiding traditional patrol work, you could explore investigative roles in federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, or HSI, which don’t always require you to start on patrol. Or you can look into becoming a civilian crime analyst, private investigator, or corporate fraud investigator — roles where you still work criminal cases, but without a badge.
To help you explore both careers in more depth, use the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website -- www.bls.gov. Click on the Occupational Outlook Handbook and search for terms like “Police and Detectives,” “Lawyers,” “Criminal Investigators,” or “Private Detectives and Investigators.” You’ll find data on average salaries, job growth outlook, required education, job descriptions, and work environments. This gives you real, up-to-date info on what to expect — not just opinions or assumptions. The site is a powerful tool to compare your options side-by-side using hard facts.
Final advice: If solving crimes, building cases, and working in the field excites you, detective work is likely the right fit. And while the patrol phase can feel like a hurdle, it’s also the foundation that sharpens your judgment, instincts, and skills for real investigative work later.
As a detective, you’re the one who solves the puzzle. You investigate crimes directly — interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and connecting the dots — not just reviewing what others have done. You’re hands-on, building cases from the ground up, often from the moment a crime is reported to the moment an arrest is made. If you like critical thinking, working in the field, and being actively involved in finding the truth, the detective route gives you that direct connection to the case.
Detectives also spend far less time behind a desk than criminal lawyers do. While lawyers spend years in school and much of their careers researching case law, writing motions, and arguing in courtrooms, detectives are out in the real world — on the streets, at crime scenes, serving warrants, and interviewing people. If you want movement and variety, investigations give you that. Plus, becoming a detective typically requires only a bachelor’s degree and police academy training — not seven years of school and six-figure law school debt like many criminal attorneys take on.
That said, yes — in most departments, you do have to start as a patrol officer first. It’s not optional in most places. But that experience gives you the street knowledge, instincts, and credibility that great detectives are built on. If you're set on avoiding traditional patrol work, you could explore investigative roles in federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, or HSI, which don’t always require you to start on patrol. Or you can look into becoming a civilian crime analyst, private investigator, or corporate fraud investigator — roles where you still work criminal cases, but without a badge.
To help you explore both careers in more depth, use the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website -- www.bls.gov. Click on the Occupational Outlook Handbook and search for terms like “Police and Detectives,” “Lawyers,” “Criminal Investigators,” or “Private Detectives and Investigators.” You’ll find data on average salaries, job growth outlook, required education, job descriptions, and work environments. This gives you real, up-to-date info on what to expect — not just opinions or assumptions. The site is a powerful tool to compare your options side-by-side using hard facts.
Final advice: If solving crimes, building cases, and working in the field excites you, detective work is likely the right fit. And while the patrol phase can feel like a hurdle, it’s also the foundation that sharpens your judgment, instincts, and skills for real investigative work later.
Michael W. Blanchette
Law Enforcement Professional - Experienced Auto Theft, Fire & Insurance Fraud Investigator
13
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Michael W.’s Answer
The two career paths are quite different.
It depends what intrigues you the most.
To become a Detective in most Police Departments, you are required to become and work as a regular officer first. Depending on the department's policy, they might post an open detective position, and advise anyone that is interested to respond. The department might hold interviews, review your past work history ect, and choose from those who have responded. In some departments, Detectives are assigned by the Chief of Police without any particular process. As a Detective, you are a fact-finder, evidence collector, interviewer/interrogator, report writer, and testify in court when necessary regarding a case you were involved with or built. You are also an advocate for the victims of crime and their families, in addition to being a crime-solver. Be prepared to see things no human being should normally see such as: violent murder scenes (some involving young children), gruesome accident/suicide crime scenes ect.
As a criminal lawyer, you would work as a prosecutor or defense attorney. The prosecutor works for the Government (state or federal) and their job is to take a case that police officers/detectives have put together, and work in conjunction with them along with witnesses and victims to charge and convict a person that has committed a crime(s). You also advocate for an appropriate jail/prison sentence, fine, probation period restitution, if the defendant if found guilty of a crime(s). A Defense attorney (also a criminal lawyer) is responsible to representing a person charged with a crime. They represent the defendant and their responsibility is to make sure their client receives a fair, and speedy trial, makes sure the law is followed properly, and that his client receives a fair disposition (fine, jail/prison sentence, probation period ect. Some criminal lawyers (defense or prosecutor) can struggle with "second guessing" their performance after a case is over, wondering if they could of somehow done a better job, whether if it was prosecuting or defending their client.
One suggestion I would make is to possibly find a job in the criminal court like as a Victim Witness Advocate, Prosecution Assistant. This would give you access to the criminal court in session, and would allow you to see each element of the criminal justice system at work in real-time. Another suggestion would be to look into if your local police department hosts ride-longs for career-minded people.
Try to find and then follow your passion...
Best of Luck!
-Michael-
It depends what intrigues you the most.
To become a Detective in most Police Departments, you are required to become and work as a regular officer first. Depending on the department's policy, they might post an open detective position, and advise anyone that is interested to respond. The department might hold interviews, review your past work history ect, and choose from those who have responded. In some departments, Detectives are assigned by the Chief of Police without any particular process. As a Detective, you are a fact-finder, evidence collector, interviewer/interrogator, report writer, and testify in court when necessary regarding a case you were involved with or built. You are also an advocate for the victims of crime and their families, in addition to being a crime-solver. Be prepared to see things no human being should normally see such as: violent murder scenes (some involving young children), gruesome accident/suicide crime scenes ect.
As a criminal lawyer, you would work as a prosecutor or defense attorney. The prosecutor works for the Government (state or federal) and their job is to take a case that police officers/detectives have put together, and work in conjunction with them along with witnesses and victims to charge and convict a person that has committed a crime(s). You also advocate for an appropriate jail/prison sentence, fine, probation period restitution, if the defendant if found guilty of a crime(s). A Defense attorney (also a criminal lawyer) is responsible to representing a person charged with a crime. They represent the defendant and their responsibility is to make sure their client receives a fair, and speedy trial, makes sure the law is followed properly, and that his client receives a fair disposition (fine, jail/prison sentence, probation period ect. Some criminal lawyers (defense or prosecutor) can struggle with "second guessing" their performance after a case is over, wondering if they could of somehow done a better job, whether if it was prosecuting or defending their client.
One suggestion I would make is to possibly find a job in the criminal court like as a Victim Witness Advocate, Prosecution Assistant. This would give you access to the criminal court in session, and would allow you to see each element of the criminal justice system at work in real-time. Another suggestion would be to look into if your local police department hosts ride-longs for career-minded people.
Try to find and then follow your passion...
Best of Luck!
-Michael-