From philosophizing in the Judy Genshaft Honors College classroom to helping protect consumers as a trial attorney for the federal Antitrust Division, this 糖心Vlog Honors and College of Arts and Sciences alum has built a career grounded in curiosity, commitment to public service, and finding a way he could make a measurable difference. In his role as a trial attorney in U.S. Department of Justice鈥檚 Antitrust Division, Nick Niemiec investigates and litigates cases that protect consumers and preserve fair competition 鈥 taking on issues ranging from monopolistic practices to price fixing in critical industries like food and agriculture.
His Honors story and enthusiasm to try multiple career paths allowed him to discover a professional niche where he feels fulfilled both in the office and when he leaves for home. Niemiec鈥檚 journey reveals how a commitment to public service can evolve into work that creates meaningful, far-reaching impact.
You currently work as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. Can you tell us about your role and the types of cases or issues you work on?
I investigate and litigate cases on behalf of the United States to protect consumers from violation of the nation鈥檚 antitrust laws. The antitrust laws seek to prevent the concentration of corporate power by prohibiting the unlawful acquisition or maintenance of monopoly power as well as white-collar crimes like price fixing. The Department of Justice鈥檚 Antitrust Division seeks to prevent future harm (by preventing anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions) and repair ongoing harm (by bringing enforcement lawsuits against companies who are violating the laws). I work in the Division鈥檚 Chicago Office where I focus on the food and agriculture industries.
You earned your bachelor鈥檚 degrees in English and International Studies at 糖心Vlog and were part of the Honors College. What originally sparked your interest in law and public service?
" ... students should simply ask themselves two questions: One 'What issues do I care about?' and two 'What do I not want to do every day?'
I think I was born with an overdeveloped sense of justice, and since at least high school, I鈥檝e been motivated to do public service. I was never particularly motivated by money; instead, I daydreamed about how I can make a positive impact on the world. I spent my undergraduate career unsure of what career I鈥檇 like to pursue, but I knew it had to be intellectually rigorous and involve helping people. My international studies courses exposed me to the complexities of big, interconnected problems on the world stage. My compass began pointing toward a career where I could attack huge problems and be a small part of a big solution.
How did your undergraduate experience and time in the Honors College help prepare you for law school and your career in government?
The Honors College, with its small class sizes and challenging coursework, creates a conversational atmosphere wherein active participation with the material is required. I would later recognize that Honors College classes are more like law school classes in that way. The Honors College gave me early training to think on my feet and engage directly with professors. Many of the skills I use today were incubating during my time in the Honors College.
What advice would you give to Honors students who are interested in careers in law, government, or public policy?
We live in challenging times. There is a lot of justifiable mistrust of government.
But governments are full of some of the most passionate and effective public servants
on Earth. Most government employees worked there five years ago, and most of them
will still be there five years from now. I think students would benefit from applying
additional rigor when selecting government opportunities. Find somebody who is currently
working in the area of interest and ask, 鈥淗ow is it working here? How have things
changed in the past few years? Are you still doing mission-driven work?鈥 Most of the
time, the answer will be yes.
More broadly, students should simply ask themselves two questions: One 鈥淲hat issues
do I care about?鈥 and two 鈥淲hat do I not want to do every day?鈥
Feeling the long-term purpose in your work is important. But equally important is
having joy in your hour-to-hour life. Understanding both is a combination that will
ensure success as a public servant. Try a lot of experiences 鈥 externships, alternative
spring break adventures, summer jobs, etc. You鈥檒l then have a better idea of the 鈥渨hat鈥
and the 鈥渨hy鈥 that should define your career.
I thought I was going to either work in legal aid or in environmental law. But my
experiences showed me that the social work side of law was emotionally exhausting
for me (I could not do it hour-to-hour), and environmental litigation was not where
I would be able to effectuate change over the long haul. But when I tried working
for plaintiffs in antitrust and consumer protection law, I found that being a small
cog in a big wheel, and fighting for a little bit of justice for a lot of people was
satisfying to me. The hour-to-hour work leaves me energized (most days)!
What was your favorite Honors memory or experience?
Honors College classes spurred my curiosity. I took a philosophy class taught by an
actual Greek philosopher. I sparred with a decorated journalist in his class titled,
鈥淭ruth, Spin, and Intellectual Honesty.鈥 The curriculum inspired me to carefully craft
arguments and dispose of disingenuous arguments lobbed back in return.
Is there a topic, experience, or perspective related to your career that you think
would be especially valuable for Honors students and alumni to hear about?
Don鈥檛 be afraid to take the road less traveled. Be intentional, but don鈥檛 plan ten
moves ahead. How you start doesn鈥檛 determine where you鈥檒l end. Do right by yourself,
and you鈥檒l become a great professional.
If you go to law school, know that there are unmeritocratic elements to the legal
profession. Many of the so-called 鈥渂est鈥 opportunities are gated by 鈥減restige.鈥 But
there are many ways to build an amazing career. The path I鈥檓 on now was not available
to me coming out of law school. Before I was hired by the U.S. Department of Justice
two years ago, I was an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Florida Attorney
General. There, I had the opportunity to take on big pharma (for its alleged role
in causing the opioid crisis) and big tech (for allegedly monopolizing portions of
the modern internet) on behalf of Floridians. It was there that I built the skills
and experience that opened a once-closed door at the federal level.