{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.criminal-defense-lawyer","code":"thing-q512345","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q512345/","name":"criminal defense lawyer","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.1.0-research.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Society, people and institutions","entryKind":"thing","plane":"SOC","domain":["SOC.PER"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer who advises and represents people or legal entities suspected of, investigated for, or accused of criminal offences, protecting their legal rights and conducting their defense within the applicable legal system.","purpose":"Enable an AI agent to recognise a criminal defense lawyer role, assess its authority and readiness for a particular matter, and identify permitted assistance and required human decisions.","scope":{"in":["Authority and qualifications to provide criminal defense services in a specified jurisdiction and forum","Appointment, engagement, scope of representation, and termination of the defense mandate","Defense-specific competence, case responsibilities, and procedural participation","Confidentiality, conflicts, professional independence, and allocation of decisions between lawyer and client","Employment and funding arrangements insofar as they affect defense representation"],"out":["The role holder's complete personal identity and biography","The law firm, public defender office, or other employing organisation","The criminal case, alleged offense, and evidentiary record as independently managed things","The prosecutor, judge, investigator, and non-lawyer legal support roles","Job advertisements, recruitment processes, and employment contracts beyond their effect on the defense role"],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["The role serves the defense side of a criminal matter; prosecuting on behalf of the state is a separate role.","The role requires the applicable authority to act as a lawyer; investigative or administrative support alone does not establish it.","General lawyer status does not establish competence, appointment, or authority for a particular criminal defense matter.","The occupation can exist without a current client, while acting as counsel in a specific matter requires a separately established mandate.","Private retention, publicly funded appointment, and employment by a defender organisation are arrangements within the role rather than separate identities for the person."],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"professional-authority-and-competence","name":"Professional authority and competence","description":"Establishes the basis on which the role holder may undertake a particular criminal defense assignment.","layers":[{"id":"licensing-and-forum-authority","name":"Licensing and forum authority","description":"Records jurisdiction-specific professional status and any additional authority required for the proposed work.","findings":[{"id":"verified-authority-to-act","name":"Verified authority to act","description":"Record the authority, restrictions, evidence source, and verification date supporting each proposed form of practice.","questions":[{"text":"Which jurisdiction and professional body govern this lawyer's proposed criminal defense work?","id":"verified-authority-to-act-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What authoritative record establishes current practice status and any forum-specific admission or restriction?","id":"verified-authority-to-act-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"criminal-defense-competence","name":"Criminal defense competence","description":"Assesses preparation for the particular allegations, procedures, evidence, and client needs involved.","findings":[{"id":"assignment-specific-suitability","name":"Assignment-specific suitability","description":"Record relevant qualifications and experience without treating a general licence or occupational label as proof of specialist ability.","questions":[{"text":"What verified training or experience supports work at this procedural stage and with these allegations or specialist evidence?","id":"assignment-specific-suitability-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What supervision, co-counsel, interpreter, or expert support is needed before accepting or continuing the assignment?","id":"assignment-specific-suitability-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"client-and-defense-mandate","name":"Client and defense mandate","description":"Defines who is represented, how authority arose, and the limits and duration of representation.","layers":[{"id":"engagement-and-appointment","name":"Engagement and appointment","description":"Connects the professional role to an identified client and a documented basis for acting.","findings":[{"id":"client-and-mandate-basis","name":"Client and mandate basis","description":"Record the client, retention or appointment basis, covered matter, and any limits on services.","questions":[{"text":"Who is the client, and which other actors only fund, employ, refer, or appoint the lawyer?","id":"client-and-mandate-basis-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What engagement document, appointment record, or other recognised basis establishes the scope and start of representation?","id":"client-and-mandate-basis-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"continuity-and-termination","name":"Continuity and termination","description":"Tracks whether responsibility remains active and how a change of counsel becomes effective.","findings":[{"id":"representation-transition","name":"Representation transition","description":"Record pending withdrawal, substitution, completion, and handover obligations without assuming that a request immediately ends the mandate.","questions":[{"text":"What establishes whether this lawyer currently remains responsible for the defense matter?","id":"representation-transition-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What consent, court approval, notice, or transfer work is required for the proposed change of representation in this forum?","id":"representation-transition-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"defense-preparation-and-evidence","name":"Defense preparation and evidence","description":"Organises the lawyer's responsibilities for understanding the accusation, investigating relevant issues, and assessing evidence.","layers":[{"id":"accusation-and-case-assessment","name":"Accusation and case assessment","description":"Links the lawyer's preparation to the actual allegations and the applicable legal questions.","findings":[{"id":"defense-assessment-responsibility","name":"Defense assessment responsibility","description":"Record responsibility for reviewing alleged conduct, offense elements, prosecution assertions, and potentially relevant defenses while separating allegations from established facts.","questions":[{"text":"Which allegations, offense elements, and potential defenses must counsel assess under the applicable law?","id":"defense-assessment-responsibility-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which material gaps require further client instructions, legal research, or investigation?","id":"defense-assessment-responsibility-q02","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"evidence-access-and-investigation","name":"Evidence access and investigation","description":"Tracks counsel's evidence-related work and dependencies on investigators, experts, disclosure, and lawful access.","findings":[{"id":"evidence-review-and-preservation","name":"Evidence review and preservation","description":"Record outstanding evidence access, preservation, authenticity, admissibility, and expert-review tasks by reference to the separate case record.","questions":[{"text":"Which relevant materials have been obtained and reviewed, and what source records support that status?","id":"evidence-review-and-preservation-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What lawful preservation, disclosure, investigation, or expert-review action needs counsel's attention?","id":"evidence-review-and-preservation-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"procedural-representation-and-decisions","name":"Procedural representation and decisions","description":"Connects the lawyer's work to criminal procedure, immediate client needs, and the authority required for consequential choices.","layers":[{"id":"stage-and-procedural-obligations","name":"Stage and procedural obligations","description":"Identifies current responsibilities, deadlines, appearances, and urgent access or custody issues.","findings":[{"id":"current-defense-actions","name":"Current defense actions","description":"Record stage-specific tasks, their governing basis, responsible counsel, and due dates without inventing universal procedural entitlements.","questions":[{"text":"What is the current procedural stage, and which recorded events trigger counsel's next obligations?","id":"current-defense-actions-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which custody, interview, release, filing, hearing, or review issue requires action, by whom, and by when?","id":"current-defense-actions-q02","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"advice-and-decision-authority","name":"Advice and decision authority","description":"Separates legal advice, client instructions, tactical responsibility, and decisions requiring external approval.","findings":[{"id":"consequential-defense-choices","name":"Consequential defense choices","description":"Record options communicated, relevant consequences, client understanding, and applicable decision authority for choices such as plea, testimony, negotiation, and appeal.","questions":[{"text":"Under the applicable rules, who has authority over each proposed plea, testimony, settlement, trial, or appeal decision?","id":"consequential-defense-choices-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What advice, accessible communication, and documented instructions are needed before implementing the decision?","id":"consequential-defense-choices-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"defense-ethics-and-working-conditions","name":"Defense ethics and working conditions","description":"Assesses confidentiality, conflicting interests, independence, and practical capacity to carry out representation.","layers":[{"id":"confidentiality-and-conflicts","name":"Confidentiality and conflicts","description":"Records applicable information protections and interests that may restrict representation.","findings":[{"id":"protected-information-and-adverse-interests","name":"Protected information and adverse interests","description":"Distinguish professional confidentiality from evidentiary privilege and record conflict checks involving clients, former clients, co-defendants, witnesses, and payers as applicable.","questions":[{"text":"Which confidentiality or privilege rules govern this communication, record, recipient, and proposed use?","id":"protected-information-and-adverse-interests-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What conflict checks and applicable resolution requirements must be satisfied before accepting, sharing information, or continuing representation?","id":"protected-information-and-adverse-interests-q02","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"independence-and-capacity","name":"Independence and capacity","description":"Assesses whether funding, employment, workload, resources, or access conditions impede the defense mandate.","findings":[{"id":"ability-to-deliver-representation","name":"Ability to deliver representation","description":"Record material constraints on independent judgment, client access, preparation time, and necessary support, together with proposed responses.","questions":[{"text":"What workload, time, funding, client-access, or support constraints affect this lawyer's ability to perform the assigned defense work?","id":"ability-to-deliver-representation-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What additional resources, reassignment, or professional review is needed to address those constraints?","id":"ability-to-deliver-representation-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"evidence-and-external-alignment","name":"Evidence and external alignment","description":"What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.","layers":[{"id":"reported-evidence","name":"Reported evidence","description":"Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.","findings":[{"id":"evidence-confidence-notes","name":"Check these first","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these check these first hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-confidence-notes-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-kinds","name":"Kinds and varieties","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-kinds-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-identifiers","name":"Identifiers and schemes","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-identifiers-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation","name":"Standards and regulation","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-real-world-use","name":"Real-world use","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-real-world-use-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards","name":"Failure modes and hazards","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-regional-variation","name":"Regional variation","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-regional-variation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-neighbours","name":"Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart","description":"Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of criminal defense lawyer this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-neighbours-q01","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Explain what a defence lawyer does and how to find one from official sources such as bar associations.","Help a person prepare questions for a meeting with their lawyer.","Assist a lawyer with research and drafting under the lawyer's control."],"mustNot":["Act as a person's lawyer or give legal advice on a specific criminal case.","Read, share or record privileged communications between a lawyer and client.","Identify a lawyer with their clients' alleged crimes.","Help anyone intimidate, harass or obstruct a defence lawyer."],"requiresHuman":["Filing anything with a court or police on a person's behalf.","Deciding whether to speak to police without a lawyer."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["The right to a defence protects everyone, including the innocent and the unpopular.","Lawyer-client confidentiality is essential to fair trials."],"affectedParties":["Accused people","Defence lawyers","Victims and the public"]},"owners":{"steward":"Each lawyer answers to their bar or law society, which admits and disciplines them.","roles":[],"masterSystems":["Bar and law society registers of admitted lawyers"]},"relations":[{"target":"Q2874441","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.criminal-defense-lawyer","Wikidata: Q512345 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q512345)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"not-applicable","items":["Jurisdiction and forum of practice: Applicable legal jurisdiction, court or tribunal, and authorising professional body","Professional authorisation: Verified authorised; authorised with restrictions; suspended; expired; unverified; jurisdiction-specific status","Representation mandate: Prospective; accepted; appointed; active; limited; withdrawal pending; ended; disputed","Criminal matter stage: Investigation; arrest or custody; charging; pretrial; trial; sentencing; appeal; post-conviction review; other jurisdiction-specific stage","Defense competence profile: Verified training and experience by offense area, procedure, forum, client needs, and specialist evidence","Employment and funding arrangement: Employer, appointing body, fee payer, and client, with their distinct relationships recorded","Conflict assessment: Not assessed; no conflict identified within recorded checks; potential conflict; confirmed conflict; resolution under review; resolved under applicable rules","Current capacity for representation: Available; capacity constrained; unavailable; unknown, with reasons and review date"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"optional","items":["In court, a lawyer seated beside the accused, sometimes in a gown as local custom requires.","Status is confirmed by the bar register, not by appearance."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["Check recorded credentials and forum authority against identified authoritative records.","Match a defense need to the lawyer's verified competence, availability, and permitted scope of practice.","Identify missing appointment, engagement, conflict, or client-authority information before assigning work.","Organise lawyer responsibilities and procedural deadlines by representation stage.","Route proposed decisions to the client, lawyer, court, or other authorised actor as applicable.","Flag matters requiring confidentiality controls, specialist support, or review before representation changes."]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Breach of confidentiality can destroy a defence.","Defence lawyers in some places face threats and harassment."]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990), United Nations.","International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 14, United Nations."]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["A criminal defense lawyer advises and represents clients during criminal investigations, charging decisions, court proceedings and appeals.","The role is encountered in private practice, public defense services and legal aid arrangements, depending on the jurisdiction.","Representation includes explaining legal options, assessing evidence and presenting a defense within the lawyer's professional authority."]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q512345: criminal defense lawyer","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q512345","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Criminal defense lawyer","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_defense_lawyer","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Which existing Vercy lawyer or legal-representation models should this role specialise or reference to avoid duplicating general professional concepts?","Which ISCO, SOC, or ESCO classifications explicitly identify criminal defense lawyers, and which classify them only within broader lawyer occupations?","Which jurisdictions and forums must the first researched version cover, and what primary sources establish their licensing, appointment, and appearance requirements?","How do the selected jurisdictions allocate defense decisions, regulate conflicts and withdrawal, and distinguish confidentiality from privilege?","Where should this registry entry draw its boundary around juvenile proceedings, military criminal defense, organisational defendants, and post-conviction representation?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q512345/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q512345/spec.json"],"providers":["Codex"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-12T08:54:27Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"not-applicable","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:31+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass","interaction.properties":"Plane SOC: no invented physical properties."},"score":1.0}}