Spend a day in traffic, misdemeanor, or felony court and see what goes on. The volume of cases filed is enormous, and the government mandates that cases proceed within fixed time limits, so be prepared to work in a fast-paced environment. The Players know this. The sooner you learn how to figure out what is litigable and what is not, the better off you and your clients will be. If you tie up a judge's call with unwinnable cases, the judge and the prosecutor will hate you.
Most people know when they are in trouble.
Regardless of how much information a client provides you at your first meeting, you will not be in a position to render any advice until you see all of the prosecution's case. Be honest and tactful when you tell this to the client. You need to be patient and explain to the client that if you could guess results with less than all of the information, you'd be a fortune teller, not a lawyer. You should always tell clients what the minimum and maximum penalties are upon being convicted, and the time frame for bringing the case to a conclusion. If you determine that the client is guilty, be forthright and tell the client.