Austin Moore, 2L
Before coming to Michigan Law, Austin Moore was a police officer in his home state of Indiana for six years. His dream was to go to law school, and his experience in law enforcement helped confirm that for him. “It’s a rare career path, but one I would encourage—I came to the Law School with some experience reading statutes and court decisions and applying them to the real world,” he says.
Moore was told that working for a federal agency is a great way to get substantive experience, so he interned at the Securities and Exchange Commission before his 2L year. He was doing legal research, digging into facts, weighing evidence, and applying the law, and he saw similarities to his time as a police officer. He was exposed to a variety of cases: domestic and foreign corruption, investor fraud, executive misstatements, and insider trading. “It’s a broad area of law because it applies to so many industries, and every day was different because there are myriad ways to commit fraud,” he says.
At Michigan Law, you’re surrounded by great people who care about you and want you to succeed.”
Moore matriculated at Michigan Law because it provided a balance between opportunity and financial support, and the scholarship he received was a big part of his decision. “At Michigan Law, you’re surrounded by great people who care about you and want you to succeed,” he says. “You feel lucky just to get in.”
The admissions office prioritizes bringing in people with diverse backgrounds, which contributes to rich classroom discussions that are facilitated by these different experiences. “My time as a police officer informs how I contribute to the class discussion, and others bring their own perspectives,” he says. “It’s a great environment to learn in.”