Spartan Lawyer Winter 2018

KNOW WHERE YOU’RE MEANT TO BE.

LAWRENCE OLIVER, ’91

CHIEF COUNSEL OF INVESTIGATIONS, BOEING
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

At the earliest possible moment where you can steal away for some time off and reflect, do that. You might not be able to do it right at that moment when you realize ‘Wow, I’m burned out.’ Maybe you’ve got a trial or a hearing coming up in a few weeks and you just can’t get away, but as soon as you see a glimmer, you might have to plan it.

After nearly five years with General Motors as a first-line plant supervisor, Lawrence Oliver realized that he wanted to do more with his career. His GM experiences with labor relations and collective bargaining agreements spurred his interest in law school. When an Achilles injury kept him off the plant floor, he had time to seriously consider the idea, and decided to go for it.

“Studying law was like a new lease on life. It was the first time I ever enjoyed studying,” he said. “When I studied engineering, it was not enjoyable. There’s nothing enjoyable about thermal dynamics and physics and chemistry.”

Lawrence currently works for The Boeing Company, and previously served as a federal prosecutor for the US Attorney’s Office. He admired that the mission of the job was to see justice served.

“Going into court and stating my appearance, ‘Lawrence Oliver for the United States,’ always sent chills – even after four years on the job. It was always a special moment that I never took for granted,” he said.

As a husband and father of three, Lawrence has worked hard to maintain a balance between his job and family. “My family always knew that as busy as I could be, they were always a higher priority than work. Even if work was all-consuming, which it can be, they understood my heart. It made the times when I was around special,” he said.

Lawrence attributes his endless enthusiasm for his work in part to having worked before he pursued a legal career. He said it helped him recognize what he really wanted to do, and he’s happier for it.

One of his tricks to workplace and personal happiness: knowing when to take time off. “I always take some time whenever I can get it,” he said. “I was never one of those people whose vacation time piles up. I take it, even when I have to squeeze some work in while on vacation.”