1. A criminal defense lawyer is a type of lawyer who specializes in defending individuals and companies accused of criminal activity. 2. These lawyers can be privately hired or employed by various criminal courts for the purpose of representing indigent persons, who are often called public defenders. 3. The terms and practices can vary greatly from one jurisdiction to another, both within a country and internationally. 4. In some jurisdictions, a private practice attorney or firm is appointed on a rotating basis by judges for each case. 5. The system of appointing defense lawyers for indigent persons is not universal and its existence and implementation can differ significantly among jurisdictions.