as a future law enforcement essay

Essay Sample on Why I Want to Be a Police Officer

When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a police officer. As I grew older, my dream of becoming an officer never faded away; in fact, it only grew stronger. Being a police officer is more than just enforcing the law and maintaining order in society; it’s about being part of something bigger and making a difference in people’s lives. In this essay, which is an example of custom writing , I will explain why I want to be a police officer and how my passion for this job will help me become successful at it. 

Becoming a Police Officer: Exploring My Aspirations to Be a Police Officer 

The main reason why I want to become a police officer is that I have always wanted to make a difference in the world. The idea of being able to help people in need and bring justice to those who deserve it has always been appealing to me. Furthermore, as an officer, you are given the opportunity to work with different communities and build relationships with them while still doing your job effectively. 

In addition to wanting to make a difference and build relationships with the community, I am driven by the challenge that comes with policing. Police work is complex and ever-changing, so officers must stay on their toes and be prepared for anything they may encounter out on the streets. This means having quick thinking skills, being able to adapt quickly, staying calm under pressure, and having excellent problem-solving abilities. All these traits are necessary for success as an officer, which makes the job both challenging and exciting for me at the same time. 

Why Pursue Law Enforcement? 

Law enforcement requires immense dedication and commitment, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. As a police officer, I would have the opportunity to make a significant impact on people’s lives. Every day would bring new opportunities to help people in need, bring criminals to justice, and serve my community. It is an incredibly honorable profession that requires an individual with strong moral principles and courage. 

What Does It Take? 

The road to becoming a police officer is not easy – it requires dedication, discipline, hard work, and sacrifice. It involves mastering both physical tasks such as firearms training, as well as mental tasks such as understanding different laws and regulations about policing. Training does not end when you are hired; it is continuous throughout your career so that you can stay up-to-date with the latest tactics and technologies used in law enforcement today. This means putting in long hours studying law books or practicing shooting with firearms on the range regularly. 

Making Sacrifices for Others 

To my mind, being a police officer also involves making sacrifices – both physically and mentally – for the greater good of protecting others. This means sacrificing time spent with family or friends because you are working extra shifts, or going above and beyond your job duties because someone needs help urgently. It also involves sacrificing safety while responding to dangerous situations, or even putting your life on the line while apprehending criminals or rescuing victims from harm’s way. All of these require tremendous courage, which is why I am eager to pursue this path despite any potential risks associated with it.  

My Qualifications for Becoming a Police Officer 

I believe I have the qualities necessary for becoming an excellent police officer. First of all, I am physically fit – something that is essential for any law enforcement job. Moreover, my academic record speaks for itself; in college, I earned top marks in various criminal justice classes – another key requirement of becoming a police officer. Finally, my volunteer experience has helped me develop strong interpersonal skills, which will come in handy when interacting with citizens on the streets or during investigations. 

My Plan For Achieving My Goal 

Now that I have outlined my qualifications for becoming a police officer, it’s time to talk about how I plan on achieving this goal. 

First of all, I am currently enrolled in an academy program that teaches students the basics of law enforcement such as self-defense tactics and firearms safety protocols. After graduating from the academy program with honors, I hope to join a local law enforcement agency where I can gain hands-on experience as well as obtain certifications related to crime scene investigation techniques and other areas of policing work.  

Ultimately, my mission is clear: become the best possible police officer I can be so that I can serve the public with integrity and honor while protecting those who need help most!  

Becoming a police officer requires more than just desire; it demands dedication, discipline, sacrifice, courage, and skill sets related to both physical abilities like firearms training as well as mental abilities like understanding complex laws and regulations about policing. 

Despite any potential risks involved in this profession, I am confident I could make an incredible impact on my community by helping those in need while bringing criminals to justice – all while doing something that brings me great satisfaction each day! That is why I want to be a police officer!

Writing a Good Police Officer Essay 

Writing an essay about a police officer’s work can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach and some helpful tips, you can craft a college personal statement essay   that will really stand out. Let’s take a look at what it takes to write a great police officer essay.

Planning Your Essay 

Before you start writing your essay, take some time to plan out exactly what you want to say. This will help ensure that your ideas are organized and coherent. Start by making a list of key points that you want to cover in your essay. This might include topics such as why you’re interested in becoming a police officer, what qualities make you suitable for the role, and how your experience has prepared you for this position. 

Write from Your Heart 

Your essay should reflect your passion for becoming a police officer and should showcase your commitment to serving others. Talk about why you want to join the force—is it because you want to protect citizens or because you believe in justice? What have been some of your most meaningful experiences (i.e., volunteering, internships) that have made you even more determined?

Use Simple Language

When writing your police officer essay, remember that clarity is key. Avoid using overly complex language or long-winded sentences; instead, focus on succinctly conveying your ideas with clear language and precise wording.

Choosing a career in law enforcement is a challenging and rewarding decision. It is not just a job, but a calling to serve and protect your community. In this table, we will outline some of the top reasons why individuals may choose to become police officers.

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Essay on Why I Want To Be A Police Officer

Students are often asked to write an essay on Why I Want To Be A Police Officer in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Why I Want To Be A Police Officer

Protecting and serving.

I want to be a police officer to protect and serve my community. I want to help people in need, stop bad people, and save lives. I believe that police officers have a very important role in making our communities safe and livable places.

A Challenging but Rewarding Career

I want a challenging and rewarding career. I find that police work is always different and never boring. Police officers get to use a variety of skills and knowledge to solve problems and help people. I am also drawn to the camaraderie of police officers and the sense of purpose that comes with helping others.

Making a Difference

I want to make a difference in the world. I believe that being a police officer is one of the best ways to do that. I can help people every day, make my community safer, and help create a better future for everyone.

250 Words Essay on Why I Want To Be A Police Officer

Why being a police officer is my passion.

I’ve always admired police officers for their bravery and dedication to protecting our communities. Their unwavering commitment to upholding law and order inspires me to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Preserving Community Safety

Serving and protecting.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a police officer is the opportunity to serve and protect others. By enforcing laws, investigating crimes, and assisting those in need, I could make a tangible difference in people’s lives, bringing justice to victims and preventing further harm.

Upholding Justice

I believe in the importance of justice and fairness, and as a police officer, I would strive to uphold the law impartially and equally. I would treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of their background or circumstances, and work diligently to ensure that justice prevails.

Challenging and Rewarding Career

Police work is demanding and often dangerous, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Every day presents new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. The satisfaction of making a positive impact on society and helping to create safer communities is what truly drives me to pursue this career.

500 Words Essay on Why I Want To Be A Police Officer

My dream job.

Many children dream of becoming superheroes, wearing capes, and saving the world. As I grew older, my idea of a hero changed. I realized that real heroes don’t necessarily wear capes or have superpowers. They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a police officer. Being a police officer means more than just wearing a uniform; it’s about making a significant difference in the community.

Helping Others

One of the main reasons I want to be a police officer is to help others. Police officers are often the first ones to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Whether it’s helping someone in a car accident, finding a lost child, or stopping a crime, police officers have the chance to make a real difference in someone’s life every day. The thought of being able to help someone in their time of need is very appealing to me. It gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Keeping Communities Safe

Challenging and exciting work.

Being a police officer is not an easy job, but it is definitely an exciting one. Every day brings new challenges and situations. One day you might be helping to direct traffic, the next you could be solving a crime. This variety keeps the job interesting and engaging. I love the idea of facing new challenges and learning new things. The work of a police officer requires quick thinking, bravery, and a calm mind, qualities I admire and strive to develop.

Building Strong Relationships

Police officers also have the opportunity to build strong relationships within the community. By working closely with people, attending community events, and visiting schools, police officers can create a bond of trust and respect with the public. These relationships are essential for effective policing and creating a positive environment for everyone. I look forward to the chance to build such relationships and work together with the community to solve problems.

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Why do you want to be a police officer? 7 sample short essays & interview answers

Not everyone likes police officers, but without a doubt everyone has to agree that role of police in our life has only intensified over the last decade. Violent protests, and all sorts of crimes–though often driven by poverty and hopeless situation of people who commit them, cannot and shouldn’t be tolerated . Police is recruiting ever more officers , in almost every country of the world. In order to succeed and get the job, you’ll have to pass a couple of tests, such as a police written exam , or a physical ability test , and, of course, a face to face interview . And while they may ask you a variety of questions, one question you certainly won’t avoid: Why do you want to be a police officer? You may actually have to write a short essay on this topic before you even get a chance to interview for a job.

Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to the question. I tried to include on my list a variety of options, including both conventional and unconventional answers. Try to pick one which resonates with you, and with the message you try to convey in your police officer interview. Below the list of answers you will find some additional notes and hints on how to get it right, and convince them of your honest intention to do a good service for fellow citizens–or at least a good service for yourself…

7 sample answers to “Why do you want to be a police officer?” interview question

• I’ve always felt a calling to the service to be honest. I’ve been raised in a way to respect the rules and laws, to behave, to treat people the way I’d like them to treat me. What is more, I am physically fit , mentally tough , and I feel to have the right personality for a work of a police officer. To sum it up, considering my strengths, personality, and preferences, I find a job of a police office an excellent match .
• I just want to help restore the order in this country. Sure enough, I cannot become a politician or a law maker with my education. But I still believe I can have some impact on society , making sure that criminals do not ruin lives of other people, at least in this city. Honestly I realize how bad it is here , all the challenges you face with drug dealing, home violence, and other issues. I would love to help address them. That’s the reason no. 1 of my career choice.
• I want to be a police woman because I feel it is my duty to do something for the local community. Without a doubt, one can help in various ways–working as a nurse, case manager, social worker, or even being a good citizen, adhering to the rules, respecting the laws and fellow human beings. But with my education and skills , I feel the right role for me in the society is a role of a police officer. Being out there in the streets, helping to prevent crime, or minimize the damage once we cannot prevent it, making sure that the offenders get punished , and simply making sure that people aren’t afraid to walk on the streets. I see a meaningful purpose in the job of a police officer, and it motivates me to apply with you.

Special Tip: What if I told you that you can practice your answers to ALL interview questions you may face while trying to get a job of a police officer, getting an immediate feedback from a life-like AI interview coach ? And that you can start for free , and it is a lot of fun too? 🙂 Check out this page on our partner website , Real Mock Interviews, pick a question and start practicing for free , either with your mobile phone or your computer.

• I’ve had this dream since I was a kid . My uncle was a police officer, and I’ve always looked up to him , and wondered if I, one day, could possibly have the same job. Years have passed since then, and I’ve been through a lot in my life, but my desire to work for police hasn’t changed . On the contrary , I did what I could to get ready for the job. I got my license, practiced hard to get in shape for the physical ability test, and talked a lot to my uncle, trying to understand the ins and outs of the recruitment process , and also of the job. Glad to be here today with you, and I hope for a good outcome.
• Actually my final goal is work in intelligence . I have strong analytical skills , can read body language perfectly, and my attention to detail stands out . I believe that I can work in the service, helping to bust gangs, uncover human trafficking groups and drug dealers, and help the country to mitigate these elements which are, regretfully, ever more prevalent. Obviously I realize I have to start from somewhere , and that’s why I am here with you today. Getting into the police force is the first step on my career journey. If I manage to do so, I have no doubt I will eventually reach my final goal.
• I see a job of a police officer as a steady and safe employment , with plenty of benefits . And that’s the reason no. 1 for my application. As you for sure know, police officer belongs to the best paid professions in this country . I see no reason why I would not try my luck here, considering that I am physically and mentally strong, a team player , and overall consider myself a good candidate for the job in the service. Sure enough, I also understand the risks , especially in this country where we have so many problems, and gangs rule a big part of the capital, but I am not afraid to risk my skin for fellow team members, and for our citizens. We have to bring justice and peace back to the streets.
• Speaking honestly, everyone know how corrupt police is in the country. And I want to enjoy my fraction of the pie . Why would I pay bribes to policemen just to pass the checkpoints, or to let me go somewhere, when I can be the one who can go anywhere, with a weapon, and take bribes from the others? It is just a no brainer for me. Life isn’t fair in this country. You have a few winners and many losers. Just like everyone else, I want to stand on the right side of the barricade. There isn’t an easier way to do so here than becoming a police officer, and participating on the corruption.

Show them your strengths and what you can contribute as a police officer, especially when writing a short essay on the subject

In a very best answer to the question, you should actually refer to two things. First one is the reason why you want to work in police. It can be the meaningful purpose of the job, your desire to serve the city or country (the way in which you want to contribute to better society as a policeman or policewoman), or a desire to help end the organized crime, or anything else–even having a steady job and getting a good paycheck at the end of each month.

Second thing you should refer to is the reason why they should recruit you . Talk about your great shape, mental resilience, attention to detail, sense for order, teamwork ability, or about any other skills and personality traits that make from you a good candidate (at least in your eyes). This applies to both an interview answer and a short essay you may have to write as a part of your application process.

* May also interest you : Police officer interview: what are your strengths and weaknesses?

Brutal honesty can sometimes do the trick

You have for sure noticed that the last two answers on my list are rather unconventional . In the penultimate one, the applicant claims straight away that before anything else, they want to work as a police officer because of the salary , and benefits . It is not a typical answer, and probably not something many other people will say , but in some cases your best bet is to be honest and try to stand out.

The last job applicant goes even one step further (or a couple of steps actually), accusing the police of taking bribes , and claiming it as the main reason for his application. He also wants to get his fraction of the pie, and instead of having to pay the bribes to the police forces, he prefers to take them .

Needless to say, this answer may sound completely ridiculous to someone in the US . But if you apply for a job of a policeman in Sudan, Somalia, or Guatemala (just a few examples, there are many more of course), it is the daily reality of the police officers . And the leading officer (who happens to interview you) may prefer to hire someone who doesn’t want to spoil the party , and will participate on the organized corruption of the authorities. In such cases, this answer may win you the job…

* Disclaimer : Author of this article does not support any corruption in police, or other dubious activities. Our goal here is to simply show different interview answers that may help people get hired to the police force, in different interview scenarios, and across different countries of the world–including those that experience extreme instability and immense corruption in police. You should take the advice as such–nothing more, and nothing less.

Check also 7 sample answers to other tricky interview questions you may face in your police officer interview:

• Police officer interview – Why should we hire you?
• Police officer – What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Tell me about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma?
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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Law Enforcement — Why I Choose Law Enforcement

Why I Choose Law Enforcement

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Words: 531 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 531 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Making a difference, camaraderie and teamwork, diverse career opportunities, challenges and rewards.

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Current Issues in Law Enforcement: What Will Departments Face in 2022?

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By Matt Rowley Posted on February 14, 2022

An updated article on this topic is available here: Police Issues in 2024 .

In recent years, police departments across the country have been facing intense  public scrutiny . The spotlight continues to shine on the actions of law enforcement officers, and departments are reacting to demands for immediate changes at multiple levels.

Criminal justice professionals are in the difficult position of doing important work serving their communities while also considering public opinion. In this article, we explore four current issues in law enforcement and the impact they’re having on police departments across the country.

1. Police Recruitment and Retention

One of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement is retention and recruitment within police departments. In a 2021 survey by the Police Executive Research Forum, law enforcement agencies reported an 18% increase in resignations and a 45% increase in retirements compared to the previous year. Respondents reported that numerous factors contributed to officers leaving, including, but not limited to:

• Officers seeking jobs outside of law enforcement.
• Negativity surrounding law enforcement in general.
• Pandemic fatigue.
• Pressure from family to change careers.

Many of these issues started before the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests of 2020 . Consider these results from a 2019 report published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in which agencies from federal, state, local and tribal levels were surveyed:

• 78% of agencies reported having difficulty recruiting eligible candidates.
• 65% of agencies reported having too few candidates applying for positions.
• 75% of agencies reported that recruiting was more difficult than in the past.
• 50% of agencies reported having to change their policies to increase the number of qualified candidates.
• 25% of agencies reported having to reduce or eliminate services, units or positions due to staffing difficulties.

Police departments are left with many questions. What are their officers’ needs? What issues are reported at exit interviews? Do departments need to offer better compensation packages? Should they focus on recruiting candidates with more education ? Are they offering enough incentives to stay with the force? Police recruitment and retention is a complicated issue, and it’s one that leaders in criminal justice will be working on for years to come.

2. Police Accountability

Another significant concern in recent years is accountability for police departments. A common question that is raised is “Who should police the police?” New laws have been passed in numerous states across the country, addressing topics such as body cameras, use of force, no-knock warrants, disciplinary systems, civilian oversight and more.

Every law enforcement agency seeks to build trust between their officers and the community. In addition to policies enforced by state governments and other external agencies, leaders within police departments also have a large role to play. In an article published by Police1 , law enforcement leaders shared how they strive to develop cultures of accountability within their agencies, including:

• Aligning agency values with community values.
• Leading by example.
• Training first-line supervisors to hold their colleagues accountable.

3. Embracing Technological Advancements in Law Enforcement

When considering where law enforcement is headed in the next five years and beyond, embracing technology is another key challenge. Innovations can happen quickly, and some of the new technologies include:

• Biometrics: Handheld scanners and facial recognition tools that can improve the accuracy of identifying individuals.
• Gunshot Detectors: Sensors and mapping technologies that can detect gunshots within specific high-crime areas.
• Police Drones: Drones that can take photos of crime scenes and survey search areas.
• Vehicle Pursuit Darts: Foam darts that can be released by police vehicles and attach to a vehicle, allowing officers to track their movements with GPS.

For police chiefs, budgeting for these technological advances would be a significant concern, and some personnel may resist adopting new devices or software and feel stress about learning how to use the tech quickly.

4. Data-Driven Crime Prevention

The concept of using data in law enforcement is not a new one, but ongoing advancements in computing power can help this strategy become more viable for police departments. Predictive policing can use data to anticipate where and when crimes will occur, allowing agencies to strategically place their officers and potentially prevent crimes from happening. Intelligence-led policing takes the idea a step further, using data in attempts to identify potential victims and repeat offenders.

Departments do have some case studies available to review when considering predictive or intelligence-led strategies. In 2014, a study found that predictive software utilized by multiple police departments in the United States and United Kingdom reduced crime by 7.4%. Additionally, the High Point Police Department in North Carolina found that interventions with gangs were deterrents to future acts.

Using data in this way is not without its concerns. Opponents of these tactics raise points such as:

• The data used to make these decisions can be flawed due to the information originating from subjective input.
• Assigning more officers to patrol neighborhoods with high crime rates in the past can naturally lead to more arrests in that area, perpetuating the notion that such neighborhoods have more crime than others.
• Tracking individuals who are considered potential perpetrators – or potential victims – can border on an invasion of privacy.

As the power of big data and its potential applications in law enforcement grow every year, criminal justice decision-makers will continue to face the challenge of balancing citizen concerns with deploying new crime prevention strategies.

The challenges facing law enforcement leaders can change quickly. Whether it’s developing ways to retain officers or implementing crime prevention strategies without intruding upon the public’s trust, each day can come with new and complicated issues to address.

If you’re looking to move up in the ranks and stay connected with current trends in criminal justice, investing in education can be a wise decision. Police officers with college degrees are more likely to hold leadership positions, relate to their communities and identify best practices in the field.

Here at Columbia Southern University, we offer online criminal justice degrees at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels, as well as multiple continuing education options. To learn more about our online education options in criminal justice, visit our website .

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Future Issues for Law Enforcement Essay

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With the rapid changes in society as well as the rise of new threats such as cybercrime, the law enforcement is faced with some major challenges as to the adaptation to the modern environment and facilitation of security practices that will protect the population from the emerging threats. Similar to the way the law enforcement had to employ new practices to comply with the technological advancements of DNA and fingerprint recognition in the 1980’s, the modern enforcement forces should go through extensive training to understand the existing trends and learn to use them to their advantage. Therefore, the first challenge is a technological one.

To better serve and protect the communities, law enforcement organizations should be in tune with the unfolding of new technologies, make amendments in existing policies with regards to the use of technology, and be prepared for change. What is the most challenging is the abandonment of the old and ineffective practices that many agencies still use because of their resistance to change. It is crucial to understand that the innovation will only facilitate successful enforcement interactions and provide security to the community.

The problem of adaptation to the technological progress and the incorporation of new advancements into the law enforcement practice can be resolved through extensive training of the personnel. While physical training is important, educating law enforcement officers about how they can use technologies in their operations will lift the existing barriers and provide agencies with room for growth. Surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles, DNA recognition technologies, crime prediction software, mapping, and lie detection are all innovative technologies that law enforcement can use to achieve better crime clearance outcomes.

While technology is considered the primary challenge that would affect law enforcement in the nearest future, it is also worth to mention the problem of the public’s distrust in law enforcement agencies. The recent cases of police misconduct, like, for example, the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, fueled the distrust of the public to the law enforcement in the form of street protests that were covered by the national and global news outlets. Such a situation is particularly challenging for the law enforcement since the provision of safety on the streets implies the cooperation with the community, but distrust in the police may undermine the practices of collaboration and peaceful relationships. Police misconduct is an issue that particularly affected the citizens of color; therefore, apart from being accused of beating and killing peaceful members of the community, now the law enforcement has to deal with the accusations of racism.

Resolving such an issue will not be possible without the reestablishment of the present law enforcement practices targeted at defeating the suspect instead of establishing peace and then arresting. Law enforcement agencies should invest time, efforts, and funds into training officers on how to deal with potential suspects, conducting a screening to filter away officers with mental health problems (anger management issues), and promoting a culture of responsibility and transparency. Moreover, the problem of mistrust to the police can also be resolved by educating the community about their actual rights and the procedures of behavior in critical situations when interacting with the police. To establish peace and trust in the community, the efforts of the law enforcement and the citizens should be combined and directed towards achieving a beneficial outcome.

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IvyPanda. (2020, September 12). Future Issues for Law Enforcement. https://ivypanda.com/essays/future-issues-for-law-enforcement/

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4 critical elements of professional growth and development in law enforcement

Preparing for the future is an ongoing process that begins the first day on the job.

There are four critical elements for growth and development in law enforcement: Reputation, education, networking and training.

Photo/PoliceOne

I regularly receive guidance requests from law enforcement professionals who are transitioning from one phase of their careers to the next . I’m frequently asked the same question: “How do I make myself viable for the next level?”

Whether the person is vying for a promotion /specialized position, or considering a career after retirement , the answer is generally the same. Simply stated, if you waited until the eleventh hour to prepare, you are behind the curve. This does not necessarily mean you will be unsuccessful. This simply means that those who recognized the importance of professional growth and development early on in their careers will have a distinct advantage over those who have not.

Preparing for the future is an ongoing process that begins the first day on the job, but it’s never too late to start. With this in mind, let us examine the four critical elements for growth and development: Reputation, Education, Networking and Training (RENT).

Developing and maintaining a good professional reputation is paramount to success. High ethical standards , being reliable, trustworthy, dependable and selfless are among the strongest indicators of a positive reputation. This conduct must transcend both professional and personal lives. All too often we see good law enforcement officers who do a stellar job while on duty, yet their personal lives are a disaster.

Consistency is essential. Once a reputation is damaged, it is extremely difficult to rebuild. Law enforcement is a profession of dignity, honor and commitment in concert with high ethical standards. Strive for excellence from day one and maintain it forever. Always make good first impressions and remember that there is never a second opportunity to make a first impression.

Over the years I worked with many law enforcement officers who complained about attending school. Some were fortunate enough to have obtained a college degree before entering the profession, where others did not. Going to school while working in law enforcement is not an easy task, however continuing with higher education is essential to advancement. The excuses and rationale for not attending college during the working years are many.

Once again, the absence of a college degree may not necessarily mean that opportunities will not be available. It does mean that those who have made the commitment and sacrifice for higher education may have strategic advantages. Regardless, almost all the higher-level command and chief executive positions require a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree to even be considered. There is no substitution for a college degree – you either have a college degree or you don’t. It is very difficult to attend school while maintaining a balance between rotating shifts, family commitments, and other responsibilities but it can be done. Find a mentor who has done it and seek counsel and support.

In the early stages of a law enforcement officer’s career, the network of professional colleagues generally does not extend beyond the walls of one’s department. There is, however, a vast universe waiting to be explored beyond the smaller sphere. Recognizing the value of building and maintaining a wide professional network is extremely valuable for growth and development.

Consider joining professional associations on a regional, statewide or national level. These associations provide vast opportunities for networking and mentoring. Along the way, you can meet other professionals and expand your outreach.

Exchanging business cards has always been the common way of establishing a relationship with somebody, and technology should be used to maximize the encounter. Most often, a business card gets placed in your pocket and eventually in the hands of the local dry cleaners. Try using a card scanner smart phone app. When the business card is handed to you, scan it into your phone and it’s immediately in your contacts file. Once it is in your contacts file, send the new contact a follow-up email acknowledging your acquaintance and encouraging a future dialogue. This sets the stage for collaboration with the new contact. These types of power-networking habits separate the good from the great.

Anyone can attend required mandated training, but exceptional candidates recognize the value of specialized courses . It is a good idea to develop expertise in a certain area and pursue training opportunities that will separate your qualifications from others. A word of caution in this regard: Don’t become so focused upon one specific area that expertise in other areas becomes dormant. Develop the specialty, but simultaneously be a well-informed generalist.

In addition to all the aforementioned, here are a few other anecdotal suggestions:

• Understand, use and embrace technology;
• Be accessible and return phone messages/emails promptly;
• Pay it forward;
• Follow news and current trends;
• Be a mentor, leader and inspiration to others;
• Be part of the solution, not the problem;
• Always strive to be the best at whatever you do.

Reject mediocrity, embrace excellence and know that it’s never too late to pay the RENT.

This article, originally published 7/07/16, has been updated.

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Police reform in the spotlight

Colleen Walsh

Harvard Staff Writer

Harvard panel examines the history of policing in the U.S., and ways to move forward

In the weeks since George Floyd was killed by a white police officer, police reform has become a rallying cry, with many activists demanding states, cities, and towns defund their police departments and divert money spent to social supports and community resources instead. Some have called for the police to be abolished. Some lawmakers on Capitol Hill have responded to the call to overhaul the criminal justice system, but a lack of bipartisan consensus and competing reform bills has stalled any meaningful legislation.

In that framework, several scholars addressed the question of police reform last week during an online talk sponsored by Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study , exploring the nation’s history of policing, what it will take to overhaul a system seen as rife with misconduct and racism, and how America is failing to live up to its democratic beliefs.

“I think the best statement of the movement for Black Lives Matter ideals right now are that the fundamental structure of society itself needs to be rethought, and that policing is just the prism to do this work,” said Harvard’s Brandon Terry , assistant professor of African and African American studies and social studies.

Terry said steep economic inequality and low social mobility have brought the U.S. to a “crisis of legitimacy,” and the systems supporting those must be overhauled to help those in the “worst-off neighborhoods,” who are “really experiencing a kind of spectacular and mutually reinforcing tangle of structural and community violence.”

“If you look at redlining, lead poisoning, incarceration, and unemployment, all of these things map rather neatly onto violent crime,” said Terry. “And amidst this crisis of legitimacy, we have set police off on a self-undermining task of using state-sanctioned violence, arrest, and confinement to enforce property law and criminal law against the most marginal and disadvantaged members of society.”

Brandon Terry, assistant professor of African and African American studies and social studies.

Kris Snibbe/Harvard file photo

Terry said the cost of fixing these deep structural problems, a policing system that operates against a backdrop of distrust, “an adversarial approach to conflict fueled by litigation, and the most firearms of any society in the world,” and the use of race as a “proxy by police and citizens to justify surveillance, harassment, and other symbolic forms of violence against Blacks” are the most immediate problems to address.

Princeton anthropologist Laurence Ralph took up the question of how law enforcement is funded. “Public funding is the lifeblood of the police system as we know it,” he said. “Yet it remains debatable as to whether or not that funding has made our society safer, especially for a person of color at the receiving end of the police officers’ command or the police officers’ violence.”

Ralph, whose work and research has largely focused on Chicago, said that city paid $662 million to settle police misconduct claims between 2004 and 2016, and such settlements are a line item in a budget that typically allocates $1.46 billion dollars a year to policing. While calls to defund the police have been heard in Chicago for more than two decades, he said the current urgency is an opportunity to think strategically about what comes next.

“It’s not merely a call for extracting resources. It’s also a call for reprioritizing resources, and thinking anew about what priorities and what society values … The question then becomes, how do we think in a holistic way that yes, provides community resources, but also strips away some of the power that enabled these forms of violence to happen in the first place?”

During the panel discussion, Yale law professor and sociologist Monica Bell, Ph.D. ’18, said the process of significant police reform requires a “deep interrogation” of why communities of color have long distrusted the police.

“The starting point, analytically and from a legal estrangement framework, is to say, ‘We’re not going to presume that there’s some something wrong and that something needs to be fixed within communities that distrust the police,’” said Bell, whose area of expertise includes criminal justice, welfare law, housing, and race and the law. “The starting point is to examine the institution and to examine specific processes of exclusion of racialized subordination, etc., that are flowing from that institution.”

“It remains debatable as to whether or not that [public] funding has made our society safer, especially for a person of color at the receiving end of … the police officers’ violence.” Laurence Ralph, Princeton

Changing the police also requires examining the country’s founding vision of democracy and asking difficult questions such as “What has been democratic about our country after all?” and “What can a new vision of democracy look like?” said Ralph, who co-directs Princeton’s Center on Transnational Policing. He called the number of guns and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. “unprecedented,” and major barriers to change. Envisioning police reform is difficult when so many officers worry they might have to “outgun this imaginary criminal that could sprout up at any moment,” he said, and reliable oversight of more than 18,000 police departments, each with its own distinct policies and procedures — a reflection of the nation’s history of states’ rights — is almost impossible. But Ralph suggested that one way forward is to begin the reform process at the “hyperlocal” level, with city councils, in the hopes that such efforts might spark a bigger wave of reform.

Citing his research of more than 100 police torture cases from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, Ralph said another major challenge to police reform is the tendency to dismiss claims of police abuse when the victim has a criminal record. But efforts like those used during the Civil Rights era to focus attention on a “pristine victim” — someone like Rosa Parks, for instance — to highlight abuses suffered by Black Americans creates another problem. Putting forth only unimpeachable victims can lead to the “subtle and implicit argument” that those who “aren’t pristine” deserve to be brutalized, Ralph said.

Addressing both history and the current moment, Terry, who recently taught the General Education course “Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Question of Conscientious Citizenship,” said the Black Lives Matter movement has pushed back against the “politics of respectability” by acknowledging that following societal expectations is neither “a reliable safeguard against mistreatment” nor “a reliable standard by how we should evaluate moral worth and the kind of civic standing that people should have.”

During a Q&A session, many online viewers wondered whether changing the makeup of police departments to include more officers of color could make a difference. Bell called that “better than doing nothing,” but added that it’s “certainly not a pathway toward justice,” in large part due to police culture in the U.S.

“Even if people kind of head into policing to do public service, to do justice … the culture around violence, around being dismissive of certain communities and certain types of people, often remains and even infects the people who do the work on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

Virtual viewers were also eager to know how allies can best partner with communities victimized by police violence. In addition to donating money and demanding national leaders support police reform and reparations bills, said Terry, allies can help by “reliably showing up, putting their bodies on the line in protest. Because even the visual spectacle of you being there is doing important work.”

Earlier in the day, Radcliffe Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin , who introduced the virtual talk, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties about First Amendment violations during recent protests against the killing of Floyd and other African Americans.

Radcliffe Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin.

Rose Lincoln/Harvard file photo

During her testimony, Brown-Nagin, a historian of the Civil Rights Movement, recalled authorities’ brutal attacks on the peaceful protests organized by Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and the message King delivered in his final address.

“If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe I could understand some of these illegal injunctions. Maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they hadn’t committed themselves to that over there,” Brown-Nagin said, quoting King. “But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.”

Building on King’s argument, Brown-Nagin said the Constitutional rights of every person must be protected. “It is crucial that the individuals entrusted with upholding and enforcing the law do more than observe this bedrock principle of our democracy,” she said. “They must protect it.”

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Planning for the Future: A Primer for Police Leaders on Futures Thinking

Publication Date

October 2019

Joseph Schafer, Thomas Cowper, Carl Jensen, John Jackson, Bernard Levin, and Richard W. Myers

This essay introduces futures thinking and discusses how it can be a valuable tool for contemporary police leaders. It starts with an overview of the emergence of futures thinking and a description of how one long-term police chief was able to effectively use this tool during his career. The essay next explains what futures thinking entails and how it can be integrated into strategic planning and decision making. A key tenet of futures perspectives for policing is to identify possible futures, examine the most probable futures, and then provide leadership that moves toward the most preferred future that will provide and maintain optimal police services in a community. Finally, several prominent trends of relevance to policing are considered. The document intends to orient the reader to what futures thinking entails and how it can be integrated into the work habits and routines of a police leader to increase her or his efficacy. While futures thinking might initially seem an abstract and complex process, in reality, it is an accessible and understandable way a police leader can improve their effect and influence.

Recommended Citation

Schafer, J., Cowper, T., Jensen, C., Jackson, J., Levin, B., & Myers, R. W. (2019). Planning for the future: A primer for police leaders on futures thinking . National Policing Institute. https://www.policinginstitute.org/publication/planning-for-the-future-a-primer-for-police-leaders-on-futures-thinking/

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Thank you for your time, click to close this page, why enroll in cdi college’s law enforcement foundations program.

September 3, 2024

Do you want to learn Law Enforcement Foundations from a real former police officer? Enrol at CDI College and learn by taking a practicum in a real-world setting with authentic scenarios. If you're seeking a career that makes a positive impact on your community, CDI College’s program stands out as an excellent choice. It provides the essential knowledge, skills, and practical experience to prepare you for a successful career in law enforcement.  

Law Enforcement Foundations Program Offers Comprehensive Curriculum  

The Law Enforcement Foundations program is designed to equip students with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of law enforcement. Through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on training, and real-world simulations, you'll gain a deep understanding of key concepts such as:  

• Criminal law and procedure: Learn about the Canadian legal system, criminal offences, and the investigative process.
• Police powers and ethics: Develop a strong understanding of law enforcement officers' rights and responsibilities and the ethical principles that guide their actions.
• Crime scene investigation: Acquire the skills to process crime scenes, collect evidence, and document findings.
• Report writing and communication: Learn effective communication techniques, including report writing and public relations.
• Physical fitness and self-defence: Develop the physical and mental attributes necessary for a successful career in law enforcement.

In summary, the Law Enforcement Foundations program's key strengths are its emphasis on theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This dual focus equips graduates with the ability to apply their knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios, making them valuable assets to potential employers.  

Expert Instruction and Practical Experience  

CDI College employs experienced law enforcement professionals who bring real-world knowledge and expertise to the classroom. They are dedicated to helping students succeed and providing guidance throughout the program.  

Hands-On Training and Practical Experience  

The emphasis on hands-on training—crucial for developing the practical skills needed in law enforcement—could not be stronger in CDI College’s Law Enforcement Foundations Program. Students may participate in simulations where they can practice and refine their skills in a controlled environment. This practical approach ensures that graduates are not only knowledgeable but also adept at handling real-life situations that they may encounter in their careers. Most importantly, the Law Enforcement Foundations program includes practicums in real-world settings. This allows students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, gain valuable insights into the daily operations of law enforcement agencies, and build professional networks. This hands-on experience is invaluable for developing the skills and confidence needed to excel in a law enforcement career.

Career Opportunities and Advancement  

The Law Enforcement Foundations program prepares students for higher education and diverse careers in law enforcement by providing essential knowledge, critical thinking, and leadership skills, making it an ideal foundation for advanced studies and various specialized roles.   Upon completion of the Law Enforcement Foundations program, graduates are well-prepared to pursue a variety of career paths within the law enforcement field. Some common career options include:  

• Police officer: Work as a frontline officer, responding to calls, investigating crimes, and maintaining public safety.
• Correctional officer: Work in prisons or jails, supervising inmates and ensuring security.
• Private security: Protect people, property, and assets for private companies or organizations.
• Investigator: Conduct investigations for law enforcement agencies, private companies, or insurance firms.

Conclusion  

Enrolling in CDI College's Law Enforcement Foundations program offers many benefits for those aspiring to enter law enforcement. The program’s comprehensive curriculum, experienced faculty, hands-on training, and strong focus on ethics and professionalism provide a solid foundation for a successful career. Additionally, the career support services and positive student outcomes further enhance the program’s appeal. 

Home > Journals > ELJ-COLLECTION > ELJ Online > 51

Emory Law Journal Online

From Publius to Santos: Congressional Expulsion and the Enforcement of Legislative Virtue

Matthew A. Edwards

Document Type

Publication title.

On December 1, 2023, in a historic decision, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to expel Congressperson George Santos. Prior to Santos’s expulsion, only two members of the House had been expelled since the Civil War. In fact, although he was under indictment, Santos was the first member to be expelled from the House without first being convicted of a federal crime or supporting the Confederacy. Santos presented an unusual case, however. By the time that he was expelled, Santos was nationally reviled for fabricating nearly every aspect of his personal biography. Although it is difficult to know what the Founders would have made of George Santos, a major theme of James Madison’s work in The Federalist Papers was how the Constitution would ensure that lawmakers possess the character traits and intellectual capabilities necessary to govern in a republic. The threat of expulsion from Congress is a seldom used, though vital, constitutional tool for enforcing congressional virtue. This Essay delves into the text, drafting, and infrequent historical application of Article I’s Expulsion Clause. Using examples such as the “electoral pardon,” under which voters excuse a member’s known wrongdoing, this Essay explores the constitutional limits of Congress’s expulsion power. In the future, Congress may face a case where the interests of the nation conflict with the expressed electoral will of a single congressional district. In such situations, we must be mindful of the crucial distinction between arguments grounded in constitutional limits of Congress’s power, and claims based on institutional precedents or policy.

Publication Date

Recommended citation.

Matthew A. Edwards, From Publius to Santos: Congressional Expulsion and the Enforcement of Legislative Virtue , 74 Emory L. J. Online 23 (2024). Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.emory.edu/elj-online/51

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What research says about preventing school shootings

Cory Turner

Jeffrey Pierre

Students and residents mourn those who lost their lives near the scene of the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

Wednesday's violence at a Georgia high school and the arrest of a 14-year-old suspect follow a familiar pattern of previous school shootings. After every one, there's been a tendency to ask, "How do we prevent the next one?"

For years, school safety experts, and even the U.S. Secret Service, have rallied around some very clear answers. Here's what they say.

It's not a good idea to arm teachers

There's broad consensus that arming teachers is not  a good policy. That's according to Matthew Mayer, a professor at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. He's been studying school violence since before Columbine, and he's part of a group of researchers who have published several position papers about why school shootings happen.

Law enforcement had prior warning about suspect in fatal Georgia high school shooting

Mayer says arming teachers is a bad idea "because it invites numerous disasters and problems, and the chances of it actually helping are so minuscule."

In 2018, a Gallup poll  also found that most teachers do not want to carry guns in school, and overwhelmingly favor gun control measures over security steps meant to "harden" schools. When asked which specific measures would be "most effective" at preventing school shootings, 57% of teachers favored universal background checks, and the same number, 57%, also favored banning the sale of semiautomatic weapons such as the one used in the Parkland attack.

Raise age limits for gun ownership

School safety researchers support tightening age limits for gun ownership, from 18 to 21. They say 18 years old is too young to be able to buy a gun; the teenage brain is just too impulsive. And they point out that the school shooters in Parkland, Santa Fe, Newtown, Columbine and Uvalde were all under 21.

School safety researchers also support universal background checks and banning assault-style weapons . But it's not just about how shooters legally acquire firearms. A 2019 report  from the Secret Service found that in half the school shootings they studied, the gun used was either readily accessible at home or not meaningfully secured.

Of course, schools don't have control over age limits and gun storage. But there's a lot they can still do.

Schools can support the social and emotional needs of students

A lot of the conversation around making schools safer has centered on hardening schools by adding police officers and metal detectors. But experts say schools should actually focus on softening  to support the social and emotional needs of students .

"Our first preventative strategy should be to make sure kids are respected, that they feel connected and belong in schools," says Odis Johnson Jr., of Johns Hopkins University's Center for Safe and Healthy Schools.

That means building kids' skills around conflict resolution, stress management and empathy for their fellow classmates — skills that can help reduce all sorts of unwanted behaviors, including fighting and bullying.

In its report, the Secret Service found most of the school attackers they studied had been bullied.

The School Shootings That Weren't

Jackie Nowicki has led multiple school safety investigations at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. She and her team have identified some of things schools can do to make their classrooms and hallways feel safer, including "anti-bullying training for staff and teachers, adult supervision, things like hall monitors, and mechanisms to anonymously report hostile behaviors."

The Secret Service recommends schools implement what they call a threat assessment model, where trained staff — including an administrator, a school counselor or psychologist, as well as a law enforcement representative — work together to identify and support students in crisis before they hurt others.

Earlier this year, the National Association of Secondary School Principals released new guidance for preventing school violence.

It noted that ensuring that educators, parents and students have access to mental health services is a "critical component" in preventing violence and increasing school safety. And the organization called for congressional action to provide support for those services.

This story has been updated from an earlier version published on May 26, 2022.

• gun violence
• mass shootings

The University of Chicago The Law School

Innovation clinic—significant achievements for 2023-24.

The Innovation Clinic continued its track record of success during the 2023-2024 school year, facing unprecedented demand for our pro bono services as our reputation for providing high caliber transactional and regulatory representation spread. The overwhelming number of assistance requests we received from the University of Chicago, City of Chicago, and even national startup and venture capital communities enabled our students to cherry-pick the most interesting, pedagogically valuable assignments offered to them. Our focus on serving startups, rather than all small- to medium-sized businesses, and our specialization in the needs and considerations that these companies have, which differ substantially from the needs of more traditional small businesses, has proven to be a strong differentiator for the program both in terms of business development and prospective and current student interest, as has our further focus on tackling idiosyncratic, complex regulatory challenges for first-of-their kind startups. We are also beginning to enjoy more long-term relationships with clients who repeatedly engage us for multiple projects over the course of a year or more as their legal needs develop.

This year’s twelve students completed over twenty projects and represented clients in a very broad range of industries: mental health and wellbeing, content creation, medical education, biotech and drug discovery, chemistry, food and beverage, art, personal finance, renewable energy, fintech, consumer products and services, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and others. The matters that the students handled gave them an unparalleled view into the emerging companies and venture capital space, at a level of complexity and agency that most junior lawyers will not experience until several years into their careers.

Representative Engagements

While the Innovation Clinic’s engagements are highly confidential and cannot be described in detail, a high-level description of a representative sample of projects undertaken by the Innovation Clinic this year includes:

Transactional/Commercial Work

• A previous client developing a symptom-tracking wellness app for chronic disease sufferers engaged the Innovation Clinic again, this time to restructure its cap table by moving one founder’s interest in the company to a foreign holding company and subjecting the holding company to appropriate protections in favor of the startup.
• Another client with whom the Innovation Clinic had already worked several times engaged us for several new projects, including (1) restructuring their cap table and issuing equity to an additional, new founder, (2) drafting several different forms of license agreements that the company could use when generating content for the platform, covering situations in which the company would license existing content from other providers, jointly develop new content together with contractors or specialists that would then be jointly owned by all creators, or commission contractors to make content solely owned by the company, (3) drafting simple agreements for future equity (“Safes”) for the company to use in its seed stage fundraising round, and (4) drafting terms of service and a privacy policy for the platform.
• Yet another repeat client, an internet platform that supports independent artists by creating short films featuring the artists to promote their work and facilitates sales of the artists’ art through its platform, retained us this year to draft a form of independent contractor agreement that could be used when the company hires artists to be featured in content that the company’s Fortune 500 brand partners commission from the company, and to create capsule art collections that could be sold by these Fortune 500 brand partners in conjunction with the content promotion.
• We worked with a platform using AI to accelerate the Investigational New Drug (IND) approval and application process to draft a form of license agreement for use with its customers and an NDA for prospective investors.
• A novel personal finance platform for young, high-earning individuals engaged the Innovation Clinic to form an entity for the platform, including helping the founders to negotiate a deal among them with respect to roles and equity, terms that the equity would be subject to, and other post-incorporation matters, as well as to draft terms of service and a privacy policy for the platform.
• Students also formed an entity for a biotech therapeutics company founded by University of Chicago faculty members and an AI-powered legal billing management platform founded by University of Chicago students.
• A founder the Innovation Clinic had represented in connection with one venture engaged us on behalf of his other venture team to draft an equity incentive plan for the company as well as other required implementing documentation. His venture with which we previously worked also engaged us this year to draft Safes to be used with over twenty investors in a seed financing round.

More information regarding other types of transactional projects that we typically take on can be found here .

Regulatory Research and Advice

• A team of Innovation Clinic students invested a substantial portion of our regulatory time this year performing highly detailed and complicated research into public utilities laws of several states to advise a groundbreaking renewable energy technology company as to how its product might be regulated in these states and its clearest path to market. This project involved a review of not only the relevant state statutes but also an analysis of the interplay between state and federal statutes as it relates to public utilities law, the administrative codes of the relevant state executive branch agencies, and binding and non-binding administrative orders, decisions and guidance from such agencies in other contexts that could shed light on how such states would regulate this never-before-seen product that their laws clearly never contemplated could exist. The highly varied approach to utilities regulation in all states examined led to a nuanced set of analysis and recommendations for the client.
• In another significant research project, a separate team of Innovation Clinic students undertook a comprehensive review of all settlement orders and court decisions related to actions brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for violations of the prohibition on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices under the Consumer Financial Protection Act, as well as selected relevant settlement orders, court decisions, and other formal and informal guidance documents related to actions brought by the Federal Trade Commission for violations of the prohibition on unfair or deceptive acts or practices under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, to assemble a playbook for a fintech company regarding compliance. This playbook, which distilled very complicated, voluminous legal decisions and concepts into a series of bullet points with clear, easy-to-follow rules and best practices, designed to be distributed to non-lawyers in many different facets of this business, covered all aspects of operations that could subject a company like this one to liability under the laws examined, including with respect to asset purchase transactions, marketing and consumer onboarding, usage of certain terms of art in advertising, disclosure requirements, fee structures, communications with customers, legal documentation requirements, customer service and support, debt collection practices, arrangements with third parties who act on the company’s behalf, and more.

Miscellaneous

• Last year’s students built upon the Innovation Clinic’s progress in shaping the rules promulgated by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) pursuant to the Corporate Transparency Act to create a client alert summarizing the final rule, its impact on startups, and what startups need to know in order to comply. When FinCEN issued additional guidance with respect to that final rule and changed portions of the final rule including timelines for compliance, this year’s students updated the alert, then distributed it to current and former clients to notify them of the need to comply. The final bulletin is available here .
• In furtherance of that work, additional Innovation Clinic students this year analyzed the impact of the final rule not just on the Innovation Clinic’s clients but also its impact on the Innovation Clinic, and how the Innovation Clinic should change its practices to ensure compliance and minimize risk to the Innovation Clinic. This also involved putting together a comprehensive filing guide for companies that are ready to file their certificates of incorporation to show them procedurally how to do so and explain the choices they must make during the filing process, so that the Innovation Clinic would not be involved in directing or controlling the filings and thus would not be considered a “company applicant” on any client’s Corporate Transparency Act filings with FinCEN.
• The Innovation Clinic also began producing thought leadership pieces regarding AI, leveraging our distinct and uniquely University of Chicago expertise in structuring early-stage companies and analyzing complex regulatory issues with a law and economics lens to add our voice to those speaking on this important topic. One student wrote about whether non-profits are really the most desirable form of entity for mitigating risks associated with AI development, and another team of students prepared an analysis of the EU’s AI Act, comparing it to the Executive Order on AI from President Biden, and recommended a path forward for an AI regulatory environment in the United States. Both pieces can be found here , with more to come!

Innovation Trek

Thanks to another generous gift from Douglas Clark, ’89, and managing partner of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, we were able to operationalize the second Innovation Trek over Spring Break 2024. The Innovation Trek provides University of Chicago Law School students with a rare opportunity to explore the innovation and venture capital ecosystem in its epicenter, Silicon Valley. The program enables participating students to learn from business and legal experts in a variety of different industries and roles within the ecosystem to see how the law and economics principles that students learn about in the classroom play out in the real world, and facilitates meaningful connections between alumni, students, and other speakers who are leaders in their fields. This year, we took twenty-three students (as opposed to twelve during the first Trek) and expanded the offering to include not just Innovation Clinic students but also interested students from our JD/MBA Program and Doctoroff Business Leadership Program. We also enjoyed four jam-packed days in Silicon Valley, expanding the trip from the two and a half days that we spent in the Bay Area during our 2022 Trek.

The substantive sessions of the Trek were varied and impactful, and enabled in no small part thanks to substantial contributions from numerous alumni of the Law School. Students were fortunate to visit Coinbase’s Mountain View headquarters to learn from legal leaders at the company on all things Coinbase, crypto, and in-house, Plug & Play Tech Center’s Sunnyvale location to learn more about its investment thesis and accelerator programming, and Google’s Moonshot Factory, X, where we heard from lawyers at a number of different Alphabet companies about their lives as in-house counsel and the varied roles that in-house lawyers can have. We were also hosted by Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati and Fenwick & West LLP where we held sessions featuring lawyers from those firms, alumni from within and outside of those firms, and non-lawyer industry experts on topics such as artificial intelligence, climate tech and renewables, intellectual property, biotech, investing in Silicon Valley, and growth stage companies, and general advice on career trajectories and strategies. We further held a young alumni roundtable, where our students got to speak with alumni who graduated in the past five years for intimate, candid discussions about life as junior associates. In total, our students heard from more than forty speakers, including over twenty University of Chicago alumni from various divisions.

The Trek didn’t stop with education, though. Throughout the week students also had the opportunity to network with speakers to learn more from them outside the confines of panel presentations and to grow their networks. We had a networking dinner with Kirkland & Ellis, a closing dinner with all Trek participants, and for the first time hosted an event for admitted students, Trek participants, and alumni to come together to share experiences and recruit the next generation of Law School students. Several speakers and students stayed in touch following the Trek, and this resulted not just in meaningful relationships but also in employment for some students who attended.

More information on the purposes of the Trek is available here , the full itinerary is available here , and one student participant’s story describing her reflections on and descriptions of her experience on the Trek is available here .

The Innovation Clinic is grateful to all of its clients for continuing to provide its students with challenging, high-quality legal work, and to the many alumni who engage with us for providing an irreplaceable client pipeline and for sharing their time and energy with our students. Our clients are breaking the mold and bringing innovations to market that will improve the lives of people around the world in numerous ways. We are glad to aid in their success in any way that we can. We look forward to another productive year in 2024-2025!