On April 14, the Highlanders for Criminal Justice club hosted a panel of lawyers to discuss various careers in law, aspects of their specific jobs and how they reached their current position. The club was founded in October 2025 to promote advocacy for criminal justice issues.
The event helped students to learn more about future pathways in law, and gave them the opportunity to ask questions.
“[The career exploration] was beneficial for my career growth because now I have connections and more information on what I could potentially do in the future,” sophomore Rebecca Sarmiento said. “Now I know a little more about going into law, the LSAT and law school.”
Former federal prosecutor Lawrence Leiser and trademark attorney Erik Pelton gave insight into each of their respective jobs.
“[Going into law] gives you an opportunity to do such a diversity of things, from being a prosecutor to a corporate lawyer,” Leiser said.
Leiser worked as a prosecutor for 43 years. Within the Department of Justice, he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He retired from this position and currently teaches at George Mason University.
“Being a prosecutor is a unique job,” Leiser said. “Especially as an Assistant United States Attorney, you’re really the gatekeeper of justice. So you really have a high duty and responsibility to make sure that the rights of that putative defendant are being upheld, even though he or she may have committed a crime.”
Pelton is a trademark attorney at his own firm. In his role, he represents clients in trademark disputes and helps entrepreneurs protect their brand. During the panel, Pelton talked about how his career diverges from other forms of law careers.
Despite the difference in the types of law they practice, both Leiser and Pelton agreed and recommended that developing analytical skills and learning how to advocate is necessary to become a lawyer.
“Critical thinking is very important to [be a successful] lawyer,” Pelton said. “[For] anybody thinking about eventually applying to law school or becoming a lawyer, really focusing on critical thinking and reading and writing as core skills would be well served.”
Additionally, the panelists gave guidance for students interested in pursuing law in the future.
“Lawyers are an important part of our system of justice and rules and laws,” Pelton said. “We can always use more lawyers from different backgrounds, skill sets, and diversity.”
