Derek Tisler, ’19, Shares Advice for Making a Meaningful Difference Through Public Service
Editor’s Note: This spotlight is part of a Q&A series focusing on UChicago Law alumni whose career paths have taken them into public service.
As counsel with the Brennan Center for Justice’s Elections & Government Program in New York City, Derek Tisler, ’19, focuses on issues related to election administration, security, and governance. His role requires him to research, develop, and advocate for solutions to make elections more resilient to local, national, and global challenges, guaranteeing that all eligible voters have an opportunity to cast a ballot and have their vote counted. Tisler is a coauthor of several Brennan Center reports; his work has been featured in media outlets including Foreign Affairs, FiveThirtyEight, NPR, CBS News, and the Hill.
Tisler began his career at the Brennan Center as a legal fellow in 2018, through the Law School’s Postgraduate Public Service Fellowship. Before that, he was an intern in the Brennan Center’s Washington, DC office. Tisler is a recipient of the Law School’s James C. Hormel Public Interest Scholarship.
What inspired you to get into public service and how has "your why" evolved over time?
Simply put, I wanted to improve people’s lives and opportunities. I always saw my legal education and the skills I learned as tools to advocate for people and advance reforms that would further these goals. While this has remained my “why,” my “how” has evolved over time, as I’ve come to appreciate different ways to contribute to public service and learn how best to apply my knowledge and passion to make a meaningful difference.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I have the opportunity to work collaboratively alongside local officials to help them solve problems and better serve their community. Because election administration is so often viewed through a political lens, people forget that it’s a government service at its core. The people who manage this function are public servants, performing tedious work for long hours and little pay, all to ensure their neighbors can exercise their right to vote. And it’s an extraordinarily complicated task.
It’s been incredibly rewarding to amplify the work of these individuals, share best practices, and help put in place reforms to improve the democratic process and make it easier for everyone to have their voice heard.
Can you share an experience that had a major impact on the way you approach your work?
Less than a year after I started working in election administration, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and completely upended the process of running elections. In the earliest days, many people were uncertain about whether we would be able to hold traditional elections at all. While election officials were able to conduct a free and fair election in the end—an extraordinary feat—the experience nonetheless revealed a lot about the limits of law and the need for flexibility to prepare for unexpected challenges.
It taught me to be more open-minded in pushing for legal reforms, and to respect uncertainty brought on by challenges outside of our control. It also highlighted that at the end of the day, our legal and political systems—and the rights they protect—are only as strong as the people who must carry out these laws.
In what ways do you think the Law School prepares students to make a meaningful impact in the realm of public service?
UChicago Law School’s interdisciplinary approach forces students to take a step back and examine common themes and frameworks across the law rather than being overly focused on a narrow issue. This way of critical thinking helped me better understand the impact that law has on people, and the way law interacts with other social and behavioral forces that affect people’s lives. Well-meaning reforms too often fail to live up to their promise because leaders failed to contemplate unintended consequences, and the Law School has helped me better understand these potential outcomes.
What has been one of the more surprising insights you've gained from your work?
One thing I’ve come to appreciate is how many ways there are to make a positive impact, and the importance of valuing and considering all of these options. Coverage of law and policy, as well as resources put into public advocacy, too often focus only on big efforts like major lawsuits and sweeping new bills. But law and policy changes happen through a huge variety of sources, at every level of government and all the way down from judges and legislators to the workers in your town hall. And these lower levels often have the most direct impact on people’s lives. Even the smallest reforms can make a meaningful difference for someone.
What do you see as the biggest misconception about public service work within the legal field?
Many law students, lawyers, and those interested in law school take a narrow view of how lawyers can make an impact in public service, thinking their contributions are limited to traditional legal tasks. While these roles are crucial, the skills lawyers develop during and after law school are transferable to a much broader range of public work.
The ability to think critically, conduct thorough research, and communicate effectively are valuable assets in many institutions that serve the public good. And lawyers can play key roles in helping the public to understand and shape policies across every issue.
By broadening their perspective, lawyers can see that public service isn't confined to the courtroom or legal aid office but extends to a variety of impactful areas where their unique skill set can make a real difference.
What advice can you share with a student or fellow alum interested in doing public service work?
First, I would encourage students and fellow lawyers to proactively look for opportunities to advance issues you care about. Some of the organizations or institutions that could most benefit from the assistance of passionate lawyers also lack the capacity or know-how to acquire such help. Do your research and come with ideas on how you can make a difference.
Second, be humble and flexible, especially when starting out. Public institutions and non-profit organizations do not have the resources and support that law firms or large corporations have. To get things done, they rely on everyone being willing to pitch in where necessary, even if the work seems tedious or small. It’s all important to achieving a larger mission.
Finally, for law students looking to do public service work after graduating, focus now on skills over issues. Internships, volunteer work, and research can all be helpful ways of demonstrating to a prospective employer that you care about their work. But at the end of the day, public service organizations don’t need entry-level attorneys to be subject-matter experts – they understand that they can (and will) teach the issues. They need people with skill sets that will allow them to contribute right away where most needed.