CWU to host more than 80 agencies for Law and Justice Career Fair

The field of law and justice extends far beyond law enforcement, requiring a broad variety of skill sets and mentalities to function.

In order to help students see the opportunities available to them, Central Washington University’s Department of Law and Justice will be hosting more than 80 agencies from across Washington and beyond for its third annual Law and Justice Career Fair on April 10

Department Chair Cody Stoddard has been involved with the event since its inception in 2022, and he has seen it transform students’ perceptions of what’s possible with their law and justice degree.

“Showing up to these kinds of events lets students find out what opportunities they have, directly from people who might be their future employers,” he said. “Talking to a recruiter and having all your questions answered is an incredibly valuable experience for those looking for a start to their career.”

The career fair has grown significantly in the past three years, from 35 participating agencies in 2022 to filling the SURC Ballroom with potential employers for interested students this year. The event and the quality of the students educated at CWU has helped the Law and Justice program earn a reputation for excellence that keeps agencies returning to recruit from the best talent pool in the Northwest.

Detective John Faircloth of the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Police Department said attending last year’s career fair gave him an appreciation for the work CWU does in preparing students for the field.

“We love coming out to CWU; it was actually one of the best trips we’ve had out to a college,” he said. “The students they produce are just amazing, and we’ve already got three of them working through our onboarding right now. Our recruiters are looking forward to heading to Ellensburg again this year.”

Secretary Supervisor for CWU Law and Justice Megan Dickinson co-created the event with Stoddard, and has continued conducting outreach to participating agencies in order to expand the options for job-seeking students. She said students are often surprised by the breadth of options on display.

“A lot of students take a look at this event and go ‘wow, that’s a lot of cops,’ but really, they’re not just here because they’re looking for more law enforcement officers,” Dickinson said. “They’re looking for administrators, they’re looking for accountants, and all sorts of other support roles that don’t require carrying a gun.”

Brenda Frias graduated from CWU Law and Justice in 2021, and will represent Central Washington Justice for our Neighbors (CWJFON) at the career fair. She conducted her own internship with CWJFON in 2020, which opened her eyes to the different paths she could take on her journey to becoming an attorney.

“Doing the internship is what opened the door for me, because I realized there was another step I could take before doing law school,” Frias said. “When I graduated, I knew I wanted to start as a paralegal or legal assistant, and that path has brought me to where I am today.”

Frias currently works with CWJFON as a paralegal, helping undocumented or mixed-status families find the resources and representation they need. Stoddard explained that experiences like Frias’ are not uncommon, noting the best way for students to get an idea of what the future might hold for them is to put themselves out there at a career fair like the one next week.

“Even if you’re still at the beginning of your college journey and you’re not necessarily looking for a job in the field right now, I’d still encourage you to go,” Stoddard said. “Seeing what opportunities you have down the road lets you prepare and plan for your future.”

The Law and Justice Career Fair will be held in the SURC Ballroom from 12-2 p.m. on April 10. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email laj@cwu.edu or call 509-963-3219.