And they have nothing but praise for the colleagues they left behind. However, public defenders are necessarily hampered with a case load they cannot really control. One reason I left the public defenders office was I felt I could not put enough time into a defense. In private practice I really regulate my schedule. I usually am not found in a position where I'm overloaded.
Public defenders say they're as good as their private sector counterparts.
What you do get, if you are paying the right money, is more hand holding. That's not to say every lawyer in this office is Johnnie Cochran. But that is not always true. There are some really excellent public defenders who do a great job. You're accused of murder.