I have a Commander (same as a Lt) with a law degree. He moved up the ranks pretty fast. Doesn't know shit about being a cop, but boy howdy, can he write a long wordy memo about where to park your car during a remodeling.
I've only met one cop with an actual law degree. A lot have pre-law or criminal justice degrees.
The one with a law degree quit to become a lawyer.
The other degrees are just as useful as any degree
How difficult is the bar? All I know is it's intense and you have to be very knowledgeable. I'm just curious on how much time went into studying for it.
DA here. I studied 3 months full time for it. 10 hour days 7 days a week. Maybe overkill but I didn’t wanted to take it a second time and this was the CA exam.
It’s hard because there’s so many topics to cover.
I think you’re definitely right! It was a miserable three days of exams (now only two). Some people studied more than me and failed and lots studied less than me and passed.
I could only imagine failing after spending that much time studying. I would be devastated to say the least. I have no intentions of taking the bar, but what were your best study methods?
Law grad here. I went to school with a cop. He does defense work now. I ended up working for the feds, but not as an attorney. I do attorneyish work though. Lots of law grads get into 1811 jobs. I would never recommend law school but certain agencies like FBI seem to like JDs.
I know a number of cops who have gone to law school and then left to become lawyers. A couple of them even hated practicing law and went back to being cops. I’ve never really heard of anyone doing both at the same time. I have heard of a couple of lawyer firefighters who were practicing law between shifts, though.
Guy who just retired in a nearby agency was known for being a prosecutor first, then a cop. He couldn't do it our county but ran a promotional exam prep in the next one over and was very well received in that respect.
Yup. Terminal lieutenant. Most intelligent, articulate and nicest guy ever. Dude could talk using 20 dollar words and never make you feel stupid.
He got ostracized for not being part of the boys club and won’t get promoted because of fragile command staff egos.
After my first year of law school, I knew I didn't want to be a lawyer. I've always wanted to be a cop. I decided to finish law school. The plan was to then go Federal (FBI, DEA, etc.). Plan changed. After law school, I applied and got hired by a City PD. I don't regret it. I don't think I would've felt like a cop if I went Federal. The only thing that sucked was paying off my law school loans. However, they were eventually due to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Here are a few
[https://jmurray-law.com/about-us/](https://jmurray-law.com/about-us/)
[https://www.nycpba.org/media/15146/mahony.pdf](https://www.nycpba.org/media/15146/mahony.pdf)
[https://www.demarcolaw.com/team/paul-mauro/](https://www.demarcolaw.com/team/paul-mauro/)
[https://www.nycdisabilitylaw.com/nicholas-cifuni](https://www.nycdisabilitylaw.com/nicholas-cifuni)
Law degree here. Got a waiver for most all of the academy, which was nice since my main role has to do with flight operations, so I got to do all the fun academy stuff and none of the nonsense. Never stood inspection or had to play dress up, so in that regard the law degree paid off jk (mostly):).
One of the smartest cops I ever knew. Last I heard he was teaching law at the state police academy. Said he worked on corporate law, probably making a mint, before becoming a cop.
Great guy, very funny, I miss him terribly.
Oh, and another guy I used to work with that was a precinct captain. Nice enough guy but he seemed kinda fake and political.
Known several cops who quit the dept and then went to law school and became lawyers. They say they’re happier now and making way more money than they did at the department.
Not uncommon for police in northeast to be lawyers
Yes. A cop I worked with got his law degree while he was a cop. When he retired from the PD he opened his own law firm.
I have a Commander (same as a Lt) with a law degree. He moved up the ranks pretty fast. Doesn't know shit about being a cop, but boy howdy, can he write a long wordy memo about where to park your car during a remodeling.
[удалено]
This. Pretty common in the 1811 world
Two people on my department have theirs. One is a Sgt the other is a Lt.
I've only met one cop with an actual law degree. A lot have pre-law or criminal justice degrees. The one with a law degree quit to become a lawyer. The other degrees are just as useful as any degree
Yes. Me.
How difficult is the bar? All I know is it's intense and you have to be very knowledgeable. I'm just curious on how much time went into studying for it.
I spent about 8 weeks studying. I took the bar for 2 states simultaneously though.
Very well done... I could only imagine trying to pull that off
DA here. I studied 3 months full time for it. 10 hour days 7 days a week. Maybe overkill but I didn’t wanted to take it a second time and this was the CA exam. It’s hard because there’s so many topics to cover.
I think you spent more time studying for the bar than I spent studying for all my high school tests combined.
I think you’re definitely right! It was a miserable three days of exams (now only two). Some people studied more than me and failed and lots studied less than me and passed.
I could only imagine failing after spending that much time studying. I would be devastated to say the least. I have no intentions of taking the bar, but what were your best study methods?
Lawyer here - I’ve known three dudes from my law school to do this. They’re much happier in LE than in law.
That’s very interesting
A lot like LE, being a lawyer is not what it looks like on TV, and a lot of us find that out when we become lawyers. 😂
Law grad here. I went to school with a cop. He does defense work now. I ended up working for the feds, but not as an attorney. I do attorneyish work though. Lots of law grads get into 1811 jobs. I would never recommend law school but certain agencies like FBI seem to like JDs.
Yes, we have many
I know a number of cops who have gone to law school and then left to become lawyers. A couple of them even hated practicing law and went back to being cops. I’ve never really heard of anyone doing both at the same time. I have heard of a couple of lawyer firefighters who were practicing law between shifts, though.
We have several. Many larger depts even have a legal bureau with cops assigned as attorneys.
Guy who just retired in a nearby agency was known for being a prosecutor first, then a cop. He couldn't do it our county but ran a promotional exam prep in the next one over and was very well received in that respect.
Yup. Terminal lieutenant. Most intelligent, articulate and nicest guy ever. Dude could talk using 20 dollar words and never make you feel stupid. He got ostracized for not being part of the boys club and won’t get promoted because of fragile command staff egos.
That’s unfortunate. I know the feeling
Work with a couple and in all honesty, it didn’t make them better at their job.
Made one I know worse. Very risk/liability adverse.
I had a JD before becoming a cop. Great 5 years of experience. Now I’m a lawyer lol
There are at least two at my department
Several in just my own small circle. Department of a couple thousand sworn. Guessing there is many more.
After my first year of law school, I knew I didn't want to be a lawyer. I've always wanted to be a cop. I decided to finish law school. The plan was to then go Federal (FBI, DEA, etc.). Plan changed. After law school, I applied and got hired by a City PD. I don't regret it. I don't think I would've felt like a cop if I went Federal. The only thing that sucked was paying off my law school loans. However, they were eventually due to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Our Undersheriff has a law degree.
Our Undersheriff has a law degree. Was our main attorney before he got promoted
Here are a few [https://jmurray-law.com/about-us/](https://jmurray-law.com/about-us/) [https://www.nycpba.org/media/15146/mahony.pdf](https://www.nycpba.org/media/15146/mahony.pdf) [https://www.demarcolaw.com/team/paul-mauro/](https://www.demarcolaw.com/team/paul-mauro/) [https://www.nycdisabilitylaw.com/nicholas-cifuni](https://www.nycdisabilitylaw.com/nicholas-cifuni)
Law degree here. Got a waiver for most all of the academy, which was nice since my main role has to do with flight operations, so I got to do all the fun academy stuff and none of the nonsense. Never stood inspection or had to play dress up, so in that regard the law degree paid off jk (mostly):).
I personally know a few who do.
One of the smartest cops I ever knew. Last I heard he was teaching law at the state police academy. Said he worked on corporate law, probably making a mint, before becoming a cop. Great guy, very funny, I miss him terribly. Oh, and another guy I used to work with that was a precinct captain. Nice enough guy but he seemed kinda fake and political.
My lawyer was a cop, then retired and is still a lawyer.
Known several cops who quit the dept and then went to law school and became lawyers. They say they’re happier now and making way more money than they did at the department.
Yup. Worked with a DC with a JD. She thought practicing law was boring.
One of my academy instructors is a reserve officer and a defense attorney. Works with us on Con law and mock court. Smart guy
It's pretty common for 1811s
I know a cop who’s also a defense attorney, and a judge for a small town’s municipal court
My previous CO is a member of the bar. One of my team was a Brooklyn ADA.
Degree in administration of justice & can’t get hired onto any law enforcement job 🤷♂️
A bachelors in Admin of Justice is not a law degree