Can a Homicide Detective Dual-Designate as a Full-Time Lawyer on Weekdays and Part-Time Detective on Weekends?

Often in fiction, we witness the transition of characters from one role to another. A common narrative involves a main character who starts as a public attorney and, after a few years, transitions to a position as a homicide detective. However, the question often arises whether such a dual role is feasible in reality.

Feasibility and Legal Realities

The road to combining a full-time position as a homicide detective with a part-time role as a lawyer is riddled with practical and legal challenges. While theoretically, a lawyer could occasionally provide legal advice or write briefs while working as a detective, making court appearances would pose significant complications.

A homicide detective often requires unexpected overtime and long hours, especially when dealing with critical investigations. Even if a police agency were to permit such a dual role through a simple order, the detective's responsibilities could easily interfere with legal appearances and commitments. Therefore, the legal constraints would likely prevent such a setup from being realistic.

Alternative Roles and Transition Strategies

To explore more feasible paths, it's useful to look at existing series where characters transition between different roles over time. For instance, in the late Stuart Woods' series, the protagonist Stone Barrington transitioned from a homicide detective to a lawyer. Similarly, in Michael Connelly’s series, the protagonist Heironymous Bosch frequently transitions between being a homicide detective and a private investigator.

The Other Direction

Another approach could involve the character working as a regular 9-5 cop during the weekdays and engaging in legal work on the weekends. The feasibility of this would depend on the type of legal work being performed. Providing advice or writing briefs could be more viable than making court appearances.

If, however, the character is already a homicide detective, it would be more logical for them to shift their focus from actively working on new cases during the week to dealing with cold cases on the weekends. Cold cases, by definition, have already been investigated for a period of time, and the urgency of solving them is lower. Therefore, the detective could handle cold cases without compromising their primary role.

Part-Time Policing and Legal Roles

It's worth noting that a part-time cop is more likely to be a reservist rather than a regular officer. Only in very small jurisdictions, where the police force is minimal, might there be part-time officers who are still considered regular law enforcement. Even then, such jurisdictions would likely not have the resources to support a dedicated homicide division.

Another option is for a full-time lawyer who also serves as a reserve cop to work on cold cases on the weekends. This scenario is more plausible, as cold case investigations are not as time-sensitive as active investigations. However, it is essential for the lawyer to avoid any conflicts of interest, especially in the realm of criminal law.

Conclusion

While the idea of combining a full-time position as a homicide detective with a part-time role as a lawyer is appealing in fiction, the legal and practical constraints make it less feasible in reality. Alternative approaches, such as handling cold cases on the weekends or transitioning between roles over time as seen in established series, provide more realistic scenarios. Each option has its own set of challenges, but they offer a more viable path for the character in a compelling storyline.