Name: Erick Marte
Hometown: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Degree: Criminology, Law, and Society
Plans after graduation: Take the LSAT and apply to law schools
Most impactful George Mason course: I'm split on this answer. Criminal Law and Introduction to Internship were very important courses for me as (adjunct faculty) John Murphy and associate professor Catherine Moses Dobson have done a lot for me. I learned a lot in these courses from the material and the mentors who taught them.
Describe your internship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. How impactful was that for you and your future plans? Working as an intern with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) was an incredible experience. During my time there I was surrounded by incredible, intelligent people, and the best trial attorneys in the country. I was given the opportunity to contribute to important cases in meaningful ways and watching the attorneys who supervised me argue those cases in court was a special experience. Working in that office not only affirmed my desire of wanting to go to law school, but it also established a desire to return to USAO-DC as an Assistant United States Attorney one day in the future.
What was your time like working as a George Mason University Police cadet? Working as a George Mason Police cadet has been one of the most important and meaningful experiences I have had at George Mason. During my first semester I was an intern with Superior Court Division Homicide. During my time there I conducted evidentiary review, transcriptions of interrogations, and help with case preparation for trial. During my second semester I was an intern with Criminal Division Federal Major Crimes. I conducted similar evidentiary review, redacted witness and information from files, reviewed FBI/MPD investigation materials, assisted in the creation of trial exhibits, and conducted legal research to assist with the creation of pretrial motions and sentencing. I also was able to spectate court proceedings and internal moot court preparations for trial.
I was trained by a group of people who are all successfully making their way in the law enforcement world, and I have worked with people who have become some of my closest friends at George Mason. My peers and I have been able to interact with the public in ways that I do not believe most people would reasonably expect. Working as a cadet taught me a lot about professionalism and gave me a work ethic that allowed me to improve as a person.
Advice for future Patriots: My advice to those enrolling at George Mason and the underclassmen is to take advantage of the opportunities around them. There are so many ways to learn or to gain experience that are not immediately apparent to those who are not actively looking for them. Find mentors in your professors and your peers, and work hard now so that you can reap the benefits in four years.