Photo courtesy of Peter Lochbiler
By Sheila Pursglove
While Peter Lochbiler initially had little interest in business, he landed in business school at Northwood University in Midland after being offered an athletic scholarship to play football—and discovered a particular passion for economics.
“I loved studying the history and development of economic thought, as well as comparing different schools of thought in the field of economics,” he says.
Lochbiler then turned his sights to law school. He had always enjoyed debate, and his favorite part of high school honors and AP English courses was in writing persuasive essays.
“Given my passion for debate, law—a field where I could argue for a living—seemed like a great fit for me,” he says.
Now a 3L at Detroit Mercy Law School headed towards graduation, Lochbiler continues his passion for debate, serving as executive director on the Moot Court Board of Advocates, and relishes being in a competitive environment and arguing against fellow classmates.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to become a lawyer is because I love debate—I like to ponder all sides of an issue and to even play devil’s advocate against my own points of view,” he says. “Moot Court allows me to develop my rhetorical skills, which are critical for anyone considering a career as a litigator.”
Primarily interested in criminal law—and in particular, finding the 4th Amendment law very interesting—Lochbiler hopes to eventually earn a position as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
His 2L internship in the Major Crimes Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, mainly involving child exploitation cases, was by far his most memorable law school experience.
“It not only gave me a fantastic opportunity to refine my legal skillset, but it also allowed me to play a small role in work that is vital to protect the safety of our entire community,” he says. “This was an extremely fulfilling experience, and has motivated me to pursue a career in prosecution.”
He worked last fall at the law school’s Criminal Trial Clinic, representing indigent, misdemeanor defendants.
“This was a great opportunity to help out the less fortunate,” he says. “It was also a good learning experience which taught me some of the more practical, everyday aspects of practicing criminal law, such as court room etiquette, conducting client interviews, and reviewing discovery materials.”
Serving as a Title Editor on Law Review has exposed him to interesting articles and writers he might not otherwise have come across.
“I truly enjoy having the opportunity to regularly read, and edit, thought-provoking articles on a plethora of topics from authors with a wide-variety of backgrounds,” he says.
According to Lochbiler, the members of the Detroit Mercy Law community make it special.
“The professors, faculty, students, and alumni are all extremely supportive of each other, and having such a close, supportive community makes law school much easier,” he says.
During this pandemic, staying in contact with his peers and staying physically active have been crucial parts of coping with remote studies.
“Law school is difficult, and no one can get through it alone, so it’s very important for me to stay in regular contact with my classmates, even if I can’t see them face-to-face,” he says. “I also take every opportunity to get out of my house and go on walks or bike rides.”
A lifelong resident of Macomb County, Lochbiler is a fan of the Motor City and enjoys the law school’s downtown location.
“I think Detroit is in many ways the cultural heart of Michigan,” he says. “The city has such a rich history, and I feel like I’m constantly learning new things about Detroit.”
Away from his studies, cooking and reading are Lochbiler’s two main hobbies.
“I love finding new and challenging recipes to try out in the kitchen—this hobby gives me a much-needed break from law, and also provides a great creative outlet,” he says.
“I also have started reading a lot of fiction since the beginning of the pandemic. Over winter break, I read George Orwell’s ‘1984,’ and I’m now starting to read George R. R. Martin’s ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series.”
He also enjoys spending time with his family: his father is a retired police officer for Madison Heights and his mother is a chemist for Akzo Nobel. His younger siblings are exceptional athletes: Ella, 17, will be playing Division 1 volleyball at Charleston Southern University this fall; and Josh, 13, shares his older brother’s passion for the gridiron. “I’ve coached Josh in football for the last three years, which has been a great bonding experience,” Lochbiler says.
For the last three years, he has worked as an assistant football coach at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Macomb—two years coaching 5th and 6th grade and one year coaching 7th and 8th grade.
“Football provides the boys I coach with an opportunity to learn self-confidence, discipline, and teamwork,” he says. “I’ve worked with the same group of kids for my entire career as a coach and it’s been a remarkable experience to watch them grow over the years. Football was a central part of my childhood, and I’m grateful to be able to pay forward the skills and knowledge I’ve acquired over the years.”
He notes that the most useful skill he gained from college football that has helped him in law school is the ability to take constructive criticism.
“Being able to look at oneself critically and honestly is imperative for success in law school. I too often see very intelligent classmates cripple their potential because they are too proud, or simply too uncomfortable, to acknowledge their own weaknesses,” he says.
“Collegiate football is extremely competitive, and only the best players see the field on game days. I wasn’t always the strongest or fastest player in my position, but I quickly learned that if I were to be successful at football, I had to put my ego aside and take any criticism I received to heart. This is a mindset I’ve brought with me to law school. I openly welcome criticism, especially in classes involving research and writing, and I believe this has allowed me to grow significantly over the last three years.”
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