Odds of Hanging On
If you work hard and prove your competency, they'll bump you up from misdemeanors to felonies in a jiffy (yum, peanut butter). From there, your opportunity to advance will grow like ivy on the walls of Wrigley Field. You can become an advocate for the poor, for children, or for any groups of people you feel are in jeopardy of not receiving just treatment (maybe you want to represent people who get too many parking tickets…it's your call).
Who knows, maybe you'll open your own practice, represent rich people, and get that yacht you always wanted. Success as a public defender will set you on the path for prowess among litigators from coast-to-coast like jelly on toast.