--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did criminal defense work part-time…" description: "\"I did criminal defense work part-time, and that paid the bills for representing abused and neglected children... and for defending in juvenile court th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/andrew-vachss-8127_abuse_i-did-criminal-defense-work-part-time-an_715563.png" --- # I did criminal defense work part-time, and that paid the… ![“I did criminal defense work part-time, and that paid the bills for representing abused and neglected children... and for defending in juvenile court those kids the 'child protective system' had missed when it had the chance.” quote by Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/andrew-vachss-8127_abuse_i-did-criminal-defense-work-part-time-an_715563.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/andrew-vachss-8127_abuse_i-did-criminal-defense-work-part-time-an_715563.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/andrew-vachss-8127_abuse_i-did-criminal-defense-work-part-time-an_715563.png) > “I did criminal defense work part-time, and that paid the bills for representing abused and neglected children... and for defending in juvenile court those kids the 'child protective system' had missed when it had the chance.” [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vachss describes defending vulnerable children in court, highlighting the moral duty to protect those missed by protective services. **In simple terms:** Defending children is a moral responsibility. Key Takeaway Advocate for the overlooked. Themes justice child welfare advocacy Mood reflective determined Type personal advocacy When to use this quote - courtrooms - social services - nonprofit advocacy Key Concepts legal ethics systemic failure protective services Questions to Reflect On - How can society better support neglected children? - What personal boundaries are needed for such work? A Different Perspective Legal work can be emotionally draining and limited by resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Criminal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal/) [Criminal defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-defense/) [Juvenile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juvenile/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Part time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part-time/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [No politician is threatened by the child protective constituency, because it does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/no-politician-is-threatened-by-the-child-protective-constituency/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [It is a painful reminder that even the most well-intentioned among us sometimes act in ways that put children in danger of being abused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/it-is-a-painful-reminder-that-even-the-most-well-intentioned-among-us/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [“It was easier to scribble over memories a person didn't want to remember, so they searched for these people - the abused and neglected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delauder/it-was-easier-to-scribble-over-memories-a-person-didn-t-want-to/) [Sean DeLauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-delauder/) > [Abused And neglected children have paid the price for liberalism's tendency to sentimentalize the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-charen/abused-and-neglected-children-have-paid-the-price-for-liberalism-s/) [Mona Charen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-charen/) > [When you want a break from dogs, and you take them to the kennel to the stars, no one thinks you're a bad pet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/when-you-want-a-break-from-dogs-and-you-take-them-to-the-kennel-to/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [Child Protective Services, all over the country, need to be revamped top to bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/child-protective-services-all-over-the-country-need-to-be-revamped/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [When we don't fund Child Protective Services, there are consequences for all of us. Violence manifests itself. Mental health services in Texas are extremely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-atwood/when-we-don-t-fund-child-protective-services-there-are-consequences/) David Atwood > [To be an effective criminal defense counsel, an attorney must be prepared to be demanding, outrageous, irreverent, blasphemous, a rogue, a renegade, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/to-be-an-effective-criminal-defense-counsel-an-attorney-must-be/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I have to say that every white-collar criminal defense lawyer knows when the chief financial officer turns state's evidence, everyone in the executive suite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-have-to-say-that-every-white-collar-criminal-defense-lawyer-knows/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [One of the people that wrote a forward to my book is Gerry Spence, whom I admire. 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Michael Haller, Criminal Defense Attorney, Los Angeles, 1962.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/there-is-no-client-as-scary-as-an-innocent-man-j-michael-haller/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [Lawyers claim that their clients have been grossly mistreated, which is what criminal defense lawyers are paid to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lawyers-claim-that-their-clients-have-been-grossly-mistreated-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ask any experienced prosecutors or criminal defense attorneys, and they will all tell you the same thing: after a police officer arrests you, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/ask-any-experienced-prosecutors-or-criminal-defense-attorneys-and/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [The criminal defense attorney is misunderstood if not despised by most of society. It doesn't matter if we believe in our adversarial system and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/the-criminal-defense-attorney-is-misunderstood-if-not-despised-by/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [Now I am practicing as well as a criminal defense lawyer in handling appeals. The court of appeals appointed me to handle cases and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/now-i-am-practicing-as-well-as-a-criminal-defense-lawyer-in-handling/) [Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/) ## More by Andrew Vachss > [Max Allan Collins blends fact and fiction like no other writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/max-allan-collins-blends-fact-and-fiction-like-no-other-writer/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [People are pushing against the fabric of society all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/people-are-pushing-against-the-fabric-of-society-all-the-time/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [“He had the radio turned to some Spanish-language station at a volume that reminded me of the holding tank at Riker's Island - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/he-had-the-radio-turned-to-some-spanish-language-station-at-a-volume/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Stealing to eat ain’t criminal—stealing to be rich is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/stealing-to-eat-ain-t-criminal-stealing-to-be-rich-is/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [I believe my publisher has shown a great deal of faith in me over a lot of years but I'm not prepared to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/i-believe-my-publisher-has-shown-a-great-deal-of-faith-in-me-over-a/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [When you hunt predators, the best camouflage is weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/when-you-hunt-predators-the-best-camouflage-is-weakness/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [The idea that you're not a writer until you're published is a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/the-idea-that-you-re-not-a-writer-until-you-re-published-is-a-lie/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [A free press doesn't mean it's not a tame press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/a-free-press-doesn-t-mean-it-s-not-a-tame-press/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [“the ferret, hunting, eyes on the ground, never hears footsteps of the hawk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/the-ferret-hunting-eyes-on-the-ground-never-hears-footsteps-of-the/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [My stuff isn't for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/my-stuff-isn-t-for-everyone/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [He said when the Lord made people He made them all the same for starters. But life marks people. If you know the way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/he-said-when-the-lord-made-people-he-made-them-all-the-same-for/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [The third person narrator, instead of being omniscient, is like a constantly running surveillance tape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/the-third-person-narrator-instead-of-being-omniscient-is-like-a/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Journalism is the protection between people and any sort of totalitarian rule. That's why my hero, admittedly a flawed one, is a journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/journalism-is-the-protection-between-people-and-any-sort-of/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Victimizers of children are the enemies of any so-called society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/victimizers-of-children-are-the-enemies-of-any-so-called-society/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Ask any experienced defense lawyer: the real risks are for an accused person who is innocent. A guilty defendant has many more options available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/ask-any-experienced-defense-lawyer-the-real-risks-are-for-an-accused/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) [Explore all 84 Andrew Vachss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. 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When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. 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