It's that time of year when colleges and universities nationwide are producing graduates of all types, including those who are leaving armed with law degrees, to venture out into the world and utilize the education and skills they have attained. Though many with law degrees inherently know they want to practice law in some form, there are others who may stray from doing that specifically and, instead, move into other arenas. Some may become cops and then may become lawyers later in life. Others become lawyers and then decide to be cops. In either case, the combination of knowledge and skills is meld from one to the other.
Examples are plentiful, and the first that comes to mind is former U. S. Capitol Police Chief and current U. S. Senate Sergeant-At-Arms, Terrance W. Gainer. Gainer, who holds a law degree from DePaul University in Chicago, is a cop at heart but his legal skills and knowledge have also served him well. He began his career as a police officer in the Chicago Police Department in 1968. Gainer attended law school while working as a cop, and he was admitted to the Illinois Federal District Court and the U. S. Supreme Court. Gainer served as Chief Legal Officer of the Chicago Police Department and, during 1981-1984, he negotiated the city's first labor contract with the police union.
Gainer also practiced private law and worked in the specialty area of family law and adoptions. At one point, he also prosecuted police misconduct cases. Knowing both sides of the system - from a lawyer's perspective and a cop's viewpoint - has served him well to attain the level of success and the various positions he has acquired in his renowned career. "Law school helped me to be a better homicide detective and, eventually, police leader," says Gainer.
In similar fashion to other universities around the country, George Mason University Law School in Arlington, Virginia produced 224 law school graduates this May 2008. One stand-out is a young man who, at first glance, makes quite an impression. Juan Carlos Estevez, who hails from Miami, has what it takes to be a lawyer - and a cop - if he decides to go that route. For now, his sights are set on being an attorney and practicing law upon passing the Bar exam, but any law enforcement recruiter scouting for new talent would gravitate towards him immediately.
Extremely bright, engaging, and quick thinking on his feet, Estevez has a dynamic presence. His ability to astutely assess people and perceive situations realistically and effectively is an admirable trait that both lawyers and cops need to possess. An excellent communicator who is also bilingual and fluent in Spanish, Estevez can relate and interact effectively with diverse groups of people. Tall in stature with a commanding presence and mature demeanor, Estevez would make a regal cop.
For both cops and lawyers, leadership skills are essential. Estevez has already proven he has them. He served as the American Bar Association Student President from 2007-2008. He also won first place, along with his team mate, Robert May, in the Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court that was held in Buffalo, New York. During the 2008 law school graduation ceremony, Estevez was presented the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Student Advocacy Award. Already, he is beginning to soar in the criminal justice arena.
In a day and age where standards are high and competition is keen, the selection process for hiring achievers is limitless with the multitude of people seeking employment in the criminal justice system. Recruiters who visit college campuses searching for candidates for law enforcement positions that include local and state police, federal agents, and other allied positions in the criminal justice system have, for the most part, typically focused on undergraduate and graduate programs based in criminal justice, forensic science, sociology, and psychology for the bulk of their efforts. Recruiters hope to find candidates from these programs who, in addition to possessing academic education in these areas, possess a vitally needed skill set that includes critical thinking, analytical capabilities, excellent judgment, a keen ability to evaluate and "read" people and situations, outstanding human relations skills, effective oral and written communication, interviewing skills, the stamina to deal with stress and pressure, and the makeup to engage in crisis response. Additionally, they seek individuals with strong leadership abilities and those who possess a code of ethics.
Though these attributes can be acquired through the university setting in various forms, candidates from law schools should not be overlooked by the mere assumption that law school graduates would only aspire to become practicing attorneys with a tendency to shun an initial street level law enforcement position. A number of law schools provide students opportunities for practical experience enabling them to gain some premature worldly wisdom through clinical programs. George Mason University Law School, from where Estevez graduated, offers such programs in domestic relations, immigration, law and mental health, among others. Graduates, like Estevez, leave their programs with not only academic and legal knowledge that will serve them well in all areas of life, but they are able to develop refined interviewing skills and be well versed in procedures and substantive law.
Now, more than ever, law enforcement has become increasingly global in nature. Law school graduates can bring to the field a broad range of knowledge and skills that leaves them highly capable of handling international investigations through diplomatic channels in accordance with relevant laws. Undoubtedly, all these attributes are an appealing draw to the wide ranging spectrum of law enforcement agencies.
Though, historically, and generally, cops and lawyers have not shared an endearing affinity towards one another, they have worked side by side and mutually produced significant accomplishments. Though they may not realize or wish to acknowledge, they are more alike than they think. Notable professionals, such as Gainer, have proven that good cops can be good lawyers and vice versa. Recent graduates, like Estevez, illustrate the commonalities they share can command a degree of respect that is immeasurable in terms of paving the way to a future filled with unending possibilities. It is highly possible that someone, like Estevez, could follow in Gainer's footsteps and achieve similar heights of career success.
