Grant Dickinson is a man who is always happy to tell someone about himself. As he says, "Any honest attorney will tell you that they are their favorite topic." Currently, Dickinson is an attorney who practices criminal defense, juvenile law and family law. He received his J.D. from Willamette University in Salem, Ore. Before that, he worked as a court clerk and a deputy probation officer with the Juvenile Court in Provo, Utah. Receiving his undergraduate degree in criminal justice, Dickinson frequently works with juvenile and adult probation officers and probationers. He maintains Utah Family BLAWG and is quick to make sure that all readers understand that its content is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Dickinson plans to continue to practice in criminal defense, juvenile law and family law in Utah for as long as he can.

Why did you decide to pursue this career field?
I always knew I wanted to be involved with the law. I took several law and government related classes in high school and I knew I wanted to do something to affect the lives of others. I completed my undergrad and began to work with the courts and that solidified my decision to be an attorney.

What type of preparation did you do to get into this field?
High school diploma; undergraduate degree in criminal justice; employed with both juvenile and adult courts; took LSAT [Law School Admission Test]; enrolled in law school; took several family law and criminal law related classes in law school; was employed for a family law firm and worked at the legal clinic at Willamette University while a student.

If your education was directly related to your career, what types of classes and projects did you have to do?
I took several family law classes including: family law, Oregon family law and community property law, and I worked at the legal clinic focusing mostly on family law cases. I also took classes in criminal law, criminal procedure and Oregon criminal procedure. I participated in several moot court competitions while in school trying both civil and criminal cases.

How did your education help you in your career?
Without it I could not be where I am today. My practical classes, work at the clinic and moot court were by far the most helpful portions of my education that relate to my career.

What was your career path like in this field? For example, did you begin in one position and advance through others to reach where you are now?
I have only been an attorney since October of 2010. However, I have worked as a deputy court clerk and a law clerk prior to passing the bar.

What types of skills is someone required to have to work in your position?
Imagination, creativity, work ethic, critical reading and thinking skills, public speaking, competitive nature and ambition.

What do you do on a typical workday?
Arrive at work, review my calendar, appear at and present argument at hearings. Return to my office, return emails and phone calls, and send out requests for whatever information I need to prepare for those cases. Meet with new clients. Attend mediations and prepare for the next day. Obviously, one cannot do all these activities every day, but you fit in as much as you can.

Do you plan to advance to another position within your career field? If so, to what position and why?
Advancing for me would be to just become a better attorney. I really like the company where I am now— I don't have any strong desire to become a judge or anything beyond a good and respected attorney.

What type of person do you think is best suited for a job in your field?
Really there is no cookie cutter or stereotypical probation officer. We come from all walks of life and backgrounds.

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to launch a career in your field?
Make sure you know you want to do it and that you are absolutely committed. The job search can be brutal and the competition is never ending. Talk to probation officers and make sure you know what you are getting into.