SLU LAW Attorneys in Government: Paths to Public Service
06/30/2021
Five graduates of 麻豆传媒 School of Law share their insights into elected public service work across all levels of government.
They discuss their memories of law school, how their education helped prepare them for this work, and why it鈥檚 worth pursuing.
Jack Coatar (鈥12)
Alderman of the 7th Ward, City of St. Louis; Of Counsel, Spencer Fane LLP
What was your path to public service?
I was a PreLaw Scholar at SLU in my undergrad. I took a year off and worked for Barack Obama鈥檚 first presidential campaign and then worked on Mayor Francis Slay鈥檚 2009 reelection campaign. I started at SLU LAW in fall of 2009. I wasn鈥檛 a full-time day student; I went to night school and eventually did a hybrid. I was able to keep working full time in Democratic politics; I was the executive director of the St. Louis Democratic Party and was able to assist and work on campaigns.
I didn鈥檛 necessarily know I was going to go in the direction of elected office; most of my experience had been working for candidates. But after graduating I did go into a public service role in the Prosecutor鈥檚 Office as assistant circuit attorney for Jennifer Joyce. I left in December of 2014 to run for alderman. I had an opportunity to run and couldn鈥檛 pass it up. So I鈥檝e been in some form of public service since 2012, but I鈥檝e been an alderman since April of 2015 鈥 right across the street from SLU LAW.
Favorite law school memory?
I really enjoyed Joel Goldstein鈥檚 seminar classes and hearing from such interesting people in government 鈥 federal judges and U.S. senators would guest speak. And I absolutely loved Mike Wolff鈥檚 State Con Law class; that was just a blast.
My favorite memory would be law school softball. Since I went to night school, that was a way to connect with my peers. Some are still my dear friends today. I also want to say I wouldn鈥檛 have gotten out of there without help of Jon Baris, Shannon Morse, Mike Wolff and Joel Goldstein. They鈥檙e the reason I graduated.
How has your SLU LAW degree helped you in your role?
The Jesuit mission and SLU鈥檚 mission of being men and women for others 鈥 that certainly helped shape me as a lawyer and as a public servant. I spend my whole day fixing people鈥檚 problems. Most of my day is spent fielding calls, and as a lawyer in private practice I鈥檓 doing the same thing, helping individuals navigate the judicial system and solve problems. I like helping people, and I鈥檝e found a good way to do that in two ways, as a lawyer and as an alderman.
Why is it important to have lawyers in elected service roles?
Lawyers are uniquely positioned to serve, whether it鈥檚 a city council or state legislature or Congress or even just volunteering on a local board. Our ability to analyze, to help draft laws, to interpret laws and interpret their consequences is a great skill, and it鈥檚 a skill that a lot of people frankly don鈥檛 have. It鈥檚 somewhat disappointing to see there are so few lawyers in legislature on county councils, I think mainly because of the time restraints it鈥檚 difficult to have a practice and serve in these roles.
If you鈥檙e looking to get involved, the first thing to do is reach out to your local alderman or mayor鈥檚 office. There are so many needs in local commissions. If you鈥檝e got some spare time and could lend your expertise, there鈥檚 a board for you to serve your community.
Jenny Schmidt (鈥09)
Deputy Mayor and Councilwoman of Ward 3, Maplewood, MO
What was your path to public service?
I鈥檝e always been interested in working with government somehow. Growing up, community service was part of my education, and after college I served as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer and stayed in Colorado for two more years in the area of social work. I moved back and ended up going to law school.
At the end of 2016 I was overwhelmed and down with where things were in our country. Regardless of political affiliation, politicians weren鈥檛 really working for us. I remember reading something by Bernice King who said the most effective change you can make in your community is locally. Shortly thereafter a Maplewood mom sent a private message to several women stating, 鈥楾here鈥檚 an opening on city council and a woman really needs to run for it.鈥 It was the first time in about 10 years there was a vacancy; in the past no one wanted to run against a neighbor, and at the time only one woman was on the council. It was something I鈥檇 always been interested in, so I just did it! I began serving in August 2017, finishing out the previous holder鈥檚 term, and then ran again in April 2019.
How has your SLU LAW degree helped you in your role?
In law school you really do learn how to listen to all sides of an argument in order to truly understand it. My background in law helps me to point things out that other council members might not be aware of. It has also taught me to see what information is missing. Probably to the annoyance of some of my fellow councilpersons, I typically ask a lot of questions when presented with an issue. My background working with tax credit projects has helped as well. We had a tax abatement renegotiation come before us, and the main source of information was a set of financial projections, which I review often for work. I was able to ask a lot of questions that were important to our decision that I don鈥檛 believe they were able to ask in the past.
I feel like I got an excellent education there; SLU LAW does a great job getting teachers who are experts in what they do.
What accomplishments in public service are you most proud of?
One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is working with my colleagues on council to improve transparency and accessibility. We had our first town hall in a long time in February 2020. Three of us went and watched a town hall in a neighboring community and brought the idea back to the council. Our first town hall was very successful with over 50 people attending. We made it more accessible by offering dinner and creating a space for kids to hang out in. I brought my kids to help monitor the kids鈥 room so parents could participate freely. We also began recording our meetings in the fall of 2019 and posting the videos the next day.
In addition, we expanded the use of our Community Development Block Grant funds to include using a portion of the funds for utility assistance. Previously a large portion of the funds were set aside for programs beneficial to homeowners, and with over 50% of Maplewood housing consisting of rental property, it was important to me to utilize the funds for programs renters could access as well. I am especially proud of the work we have done since the pandemic began. In the last year, we have passed an ordinance allowing mini food pantries on city-owned property, passed an ordinance decriminalizing marijuana, made our Board and Commission application and nomination process more transparent and accessible to all members of the community, and are now in the beginning stages of a complete overhaul of our ordinances for which we will utilize several forms of community engagement to create a set of community values that will guide the changes we make to our ordinances.
Favorite law school memory?
A specific memory [and one] that I often think about, especially as a city councilperson: My last semester I took Disability Discrimination with Prof. Pendo and she assigned us the task of going to a public place and determining whether it was accessible. My classmate and friend Jayme Major and I along with my then 6-month-old daughter, Lucy, went to the Brentwood Target (before it was updated to its current layout). We had gotten through measuring most of the store and were in the bathroom when an employee came in and asked what we were doing. We explained, she left, and then a few minutes later a supervisor came in and kicked us out!
I learned a lot that day. At that time the Brentwood Target wasn't very accessible (for example, the tables in the cafe were bolted to the floor and were too close together for any wheelchair to be able to pass through), and I had never noticed that because it had never been an issue for me personally. Through that exercise, I realized that in analyzing certain issues I was failing to take into account the perspective of an entire group of individuals living in my community. I was grateful for that lesson and continue to apply it when confronted with an issue or making a decision as a councilperson by always trying to identify who is missing from the conversation and making sure we incorporate their voices and needs when coming to a solution.
Francisco 鈥淨uico鈥 R. Canseco (鈥75)
Former U.S. Representative for Texas鈥 23rd Congressional District; Director, Election Protection Project, Texas Public Policy Foundation
What was your path to public service?
In my years of law practice, I dedicated a lot of time to helping people who can鈥檛 afford certain things, whether it鈥檚 an eviction or someone swiped their paycheck. I鈥檝e practiced law mainly in the financial sector. When you represent institutions and you鈥檝e got people who didn鈥檛 pay their bills because something happened in life, you have to inject into the deal a lot of sympathy.
In 2003 I got tired of listening to the news and thinking I could do things better, and I tried to get into politics. I got my name out there through south Texas and managed to get into a runoff in the Republican primary. I lost, but I stayed very active politically. I did a program for the State of Texas called 鈥楢dopt a Judge,鈥 which encouraged people to invite judicial candidates into their social groups, into their rotaries and Kiwanis, so they can know who judicial candidates are. I was encouraged to run in 2007 for an open seat in U.S. Congress [Texas鈥 23rd congressional district] that went from San Antonio all the way to El Paso 鈥 it covers a fourth of whole state. I got beat [in the primary], and the next go-round [in 2010] I won.
Winning is one thing 鈥 now what鈥檙e you going to do? It was an eye-opening thing because you have a huge amount 鈥 800 miles, ranches, military bases, small businesses, big businesses, oil and gas issues, water issues, issues of urbanization, and a lot of San Antonio is very different from rural areas, very different from El Paso.
What you do on floor of the House is very different than what you鈥檙e doing as a representative of your constituents and making sure that their government is working for them on the ground. As a servant of the people, you get a lot of audiences with your constituents who have all sorts of needs 鈥 Social Security, benefits, education. You try to move mountains for them. Because you鈥檙e a member of Congress, you can call the head of the department and pull some strings, of course judiciously. And if it鈥檚 a donor, you pass that up. I鈥檒l never forget having a telecom company ask me for some legitimate help for their rural communications and the next day I get this huge donation and I had to send it back. You鈥檝e got to be able to keep things straight.
Since I鈥檝e left office [2013] I鈥檝e been practicing law again. In 2019 I was approached by a conservative think tank called the Texas Public Policy Foundation to join their ranks. I said yes, although I lament not continuing the practice of law. I鈥檓 the director of a project on voting.
How has your SLU LAW degree helped you in your role?
A lot of the Jesuit ideal sort of goes into your bloodstream and becomes part of you and how you think and how you carry out your duties to your family and to your community. It鈥檚 hard to put a finger on it, but when you compare yourself to someone who was educated in a different system, it鈥檚 obvious that the imprimatur is Jesuit, and I鈥檝e always been proud of that. There seems to be a certain brotherhood that surpasses politics in that you know who you are in the actions that you take and how you take them.
Even though I disagree on a secular level with some of the positions the Jesuits take, I give them their due and respect them for why they鈥檙e doing it. I鈥檓 conservative philosophically, constitutionally, I鈥檓 a Republican through and through, and it鈥檚 all based on the values I got from the Jesuits.
Favorite law school memory?
I鈥檓 going to use Prof. Vince Immel鈥檚 words 鈥 that guy was just terrific; I think of him all the time and I wish he were still around. We were quizzing him and one guy said, 鈥榃hat can we do with this? We鈥檙e graduating tomorrow.鈥 He says, 鈥榃hat you don鈥檛 realize is that in your hands you have the power to do brain surgery,鈥 鈥 meaning that you have tools that can allow you to do many things, call it law or whatever. It is a system of thought, a system of logic that you use. It is a problem-solving tool that I thank SLU for giving me the privilege of being exposed to because it has been useful to me all my life.
And I will tell you, I was on the board of a hospital for a while and was elected chairman. On the board you have credentials. 鈥 I told them the story of Prof. Immel and I said, 鈥楢s a lawyer I can perform brain surgery if I wanted to. Don鈥檛 worry, Doctor, I won鈥檛 ask to be credentialed to perform!鈥
I think a lot about SLU, about both my undergrad and law experience there, and I carry it with me everywhere I go.
Raumesh Akbari (鈥09)
Member of the Tennessee State Senate from the 29th District; Director of Legal Affairs and Human Resources, Akbari Corp.
What was your path to public service?
I always knew I wanted to do it. When I was in third grade I saw Bill Clinton鈥檚 inauguration, and I remember telling my mom, 鈥業 want to go to that.鈥 I watched the world news with my dad every day.
I graduated from law school, and I wanted to be more involved. I started being mentored by one of our [family business] clients who was a state representative. We went to Nashville to get approved for our cosmetology school, and went by her office in the Capitol and she said, 鈥楴ext session you can shadow me.鈥 That was June 2013. In July, my predecessor passed away of pancreatic cancer.
It ended up being seven of us running in a special election from August to October. My family just jumped in, my mom was my campaign manager 鈥 I called her my momager 鈥 and my mentor connected us with some folks who helped with mailers and canvassing, so we were knocking on doors. One of the people we ran against was the daughter of one of the Fords, and the papers said it was the Ford lady鈥檚 race to lose. I threw them all for a loop. The Democratic establishment was like 鈥榃ho is this girl?鈥 and the press couldn鈥檛 believe it. I鈥檇 spent a lot of my summers and childhood there and I think that resonated with folks, as well.
We stayed positive, we worked as hard as we could, and I won. Because it was a special election, 1,800 people voted and of that I got 500, and I ended up beating my nearest opponent by 100 votes. Every vote counts! I remember talking to someone who said she wasn鈥檛 voting because it was a waste of time. I said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e in school, so you鈥檙e getting some kind of [financial] aid; politicians in Nashville and D.C. control all of that!鈥 She ended up registering to vote and working on my campaign.
How has your SLU LAW degree helped you in your role?
Being able to help other people when they don鈥檛 have anywhere else to go to me is invaluable. There鈥檚 a lady in west Tennessee who is legally blind, and her Section 8 housing was not renewed. I called the state office 鈥 to be able to stop that type of situation, that makes me feel good. It鈥檚 truly the pursuit of helping others; sometimes it鈥檚 frustrating, and it鈥檚 frustrating as hell being in the minority party, but surprisingly about 90 percent of things we agree on.
You just have to take those disappointing days and reset and remember why you鈥檙e there. I鈥檓 going to keep doing it. My district is in Memphis but the Capitol is in Nashville, so I travel 210 miles each way every week away from my family. If I鈥檓 not being effective, I don鈥檛 need to be there.
What accomplishments in public service are you most proud of?
I鈥檓 big on criminal justice reform, economic development, and strengthening public schools. We had the third highest expunction fee in the country, $450. I worked and worked; we had to get in the governor鈥檚 budget since he has to agree it鈥檚 good policy, too. We reduced it to $280. Our new governor came in and proposed eliminating the fee altogether. I and the majority leader of the House at the time 鈥 we don鈥檛 agree on most things, but we agree on this 鈥 we eliminated the fee completely except for the clerk鈥檚 fee. When you don鈥檛 have any money, it could feel like a million dollars. So now you have people who can get back to work and get their lives back.
I鈥檓 working on a piece of legislation we鈥檝e been in the struggle for for four years now to reduce sentences of juveniles convicted of first-degree murder. [Tennessee] had a person who was incarcerated, Cyntoia Brown [who received a life sentence as a teenager despite the tragic circumstances] 鈥 she kind of went viral. I went to the governor鈥檚 office and he really listened, and of course everyone was reaching out to him. I was able to be at the press conference when it was announced [that Gov. Haslam granted her full clemency]; it was really special. And she鈥檚 a part of this legislation now, so she testified in committee. It鈥檚 bipartisan, and we have a bunch of people signed on. That is probably my most exciting project.
I would encourage lawyers to get involved if they can. We鈥檙e missing y鈥檃ll in the public service sector.
Grant Mabie (鈥08)
Mayor, City of Crestwood, MO; Attorney, Hein Schneider and Bond P.C.
What was your path to public service?
I鈥檝e always been fascinated with it. In high school, in addition to roller hockey I did speech and debate, with an emphasis on public policy, debating the pros and cons of politics. I鈥檝e always followed political issues and tried to be an informed citizen. Certainly going to law school prepares you for that.
Before I was elected mayor, I was elected two terms to Crestwood鈥檚 Board of Aldermen. I was elected mayor in 2018 when the previous mayor resigned for health reasons. I filed for reelection and no one filed to run against me. I do expect to serve a full term, which in Crestwood is three years.
How do you use your SLU LAW degree in your role?
I feel like it鈥檇 be challenging to do my job not being a lawyer. Every aspect of local government, it seems there is some tie to legal issues, certainly the powers of cities are derived from the Constitution and statutes. What we鈥檙e able to do and not do is governed by the charter and ordinances. We touch on constitutional law issues, employment law issues, criminal law issues, real estate, contract law, zoning issues. It enables me to talk intelligently with the city attorney on everything we鈥檝e got going on.
I鈥檓 also an attorney at Hein Schneider and Bond P.C. That鈥檚 my day job, with most of my focus being in real estate litigation. The major鈥檚 job is a part-time position; there are only a couple of cities in the region where it is a full-time job.
The mission of SLU and the Jesuit mission, I always thought there was an emphasis on helping the little guy, so to speak, certainly in the clinics. Especially in local government, it鈥檚 always helpful to keep in mind that you represent everyone in the city and consider all views and make sure you鈥檙e not hurting the little guy, respecting everyone鈥檚 rights.
What has surprised you or what have you learned in your role?
I try to make a habit of not being too surprised. If I ever get completely flat-footed by something, that means I wasn鈥檛 prepared. But I would say the breadth of things you鈥檙e expected to deal with as mayor. You鈥檙e certainly expected to deal with the major crisis of the day. Obviously COVID-19 is an emergency that no one鈥檚 dealt with in 100 years. We had a flooding issue that flooded our city hall. People contact the mayor with everything from the very small to the very major 鈥 someone鈥檚 speeding on their street, their sidewalk needs to be fixed, their neighbor鈥檚 dog is barking. Obviously a significant portion of that is proper delegation, and we have an extremely qualified city staff. But I think especially in a smaller city, people like to talk to their elected officials. Even if they could call City Hall, they like to call the mayor鈥檚 office, and that鈥檚 fine, that鈥檚 the beauty of it.
What accomplishments in public service are you most proud of?
We worked hard to approve the redevelopment project for the former Crestwood Mall site [now under contract with grocery store chain Dierbergs Markets and residential homebuilder McBride Homes]. That mall鈥檚 been closed for years, and it鈥檚 been a desire of city to get it reopened. Some of the difficulties in dealing with that site were some of the reasons I first got involved. Getting that project on the cusp of happening has been fulfilling, and I am hoping to land the plane and help bring that project to fruition.
For the first time in over 13 years, we were able to fund a sidewalk repair program. We try to be a pedestrian-friendly city, so we made that a priority.
It鈥檚 been a lot of little things. We built a new public works building, we brought back the city newsletter, we created a comprehensive plan to guide development and land use in the City of Crestwood. We鈥檝e done a ton of code updates. It was a frustrating thing to me as a lawyer to look at our code and see a lot of outdated codes.
From a local government perspective, I鈥檝e appreciated that you can see the outcomes of your decisions, things move quicker, you鈥檙e closer to the people in government. The nonpartisan nature of local government for the most part in the cities where people are running on their platforms 鈥 you don鈥檛 get bogged down in different camps. People are just looking for solutions.
One to Watch: Rachel Jag ('17)
鈥 Edited by Maria Tsikalas