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Why may a defense lawyer defend a client even when the lawyer believes the client is guilty?

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illustration from Charles Dickens's Bleak House — Legal ethics Illustration by Hablot Knight Browne for Charles Dickens's *Bleak House*. Here Lady Dedlock is visited by her cunning old lawyer, who discovers her deepest secret and threatens to reveal it to her husband.

Under Anglo-American law, a defense lawyer is ethically obligated to provide a vigorous defense regardless of their personal belief regarding their client's guilt. This practice is rooted in the fundamental principle that an accused person has the right to compel the state to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.1

The determination of guilt is the exclusive responsibility of the tribunal, not the defense attorney. By requiring the state to meet its burden of proof, the defense counsel serves as an essential check within the legal system, ensuring that the rights of the accused are protected and that the administration of justice remains fair.12

While the lawyer must advocate zealously, they are ethically prohibited from deliberately using perjured or false testimony. The role of the attorney is to ensure the state adheres to the law, thereby upholding the integrity of the legal process for all citizens.12