It’s not often that someone is both a nurse and a public defender, however, Junction City is now home to one.

Crystal French of Junction City began her nursing career in 2001 and worked at Geary Community Hospital before going back to school to earn her law degree. “My husband and I were taking our puppy out for a walk and I looked at him and said how about law school,” French said.

Last December she graduated from Washburn University in Topeka with her law degree and just this past April passed the bar exam. She already has one trial under her belt and said that in some aspects went better than she thought,”We did get a verdict of not guilty which I was very happy with.”

She explained that it was a learning experience for her. “I learned an awful lot and I’m already putting things I’ve learned into practice getting ready for my next trial,” which she already has a couple lined up.

French works through out the week at the public defenders office but still works one shift a month at the hospital in order to,”keep up my skills and because I enjoy it.”

The fact that she likes the things she’s doing is what continues to motivate her to take on both challenging careers,” I do things I like. If I don’t like it I’m not going to do it.”

She said it makes her sad seeing people who don’t like their job,”To me it’s like, well, okay then do something else and that’s it. As long as I’m interested and as long as I’m liking what I’m doing, that’s why I keep doing it.”