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  • CAREER EXPLORATION
    • Adam Foss

    Adam Foss

    Attorney / Founder

    Prosecutor Impact

    Washington, DC USA

    “I have this privilege and power because of the letters behind my name. This [doctoral] degree is a massive sword in the fight for the communities that we care about.”

    Videos

    Videos

    By Roadtrip Nation

    Adam Foss

    Highlight
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    01:27
    Adam Foss HighlightInterview Highlight
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    06:06
    InterviewThe Interview
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    01:12
    First Generation College StudentWeb Exclusive
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    02:04
    Definition of SuccessWeb Exclusive
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    01:32
    Most Difficult ChallengeWeb Exclusive
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    01:50
    Law SchoolWeb Exclusive
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    00:29
    At The End of Every Month I Was Still ThereInterview Excerpt
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    00:56
    The Most Unjust Thing I've SeenInterview Excerpt
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    00:25
    I Went To College To Be A DoctorInterview Excerpt
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    02:03
    Taking A Risk On SomeoneInterview Excerpt
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    Milestones

    Milestones

    My road in life took a while to figure out.
    He was adopted as a baby from Columbia by an Irish-American family in Massachusetts—grew up as one of the only people of color in his small town.
    Was arrested when he was 19 for selling marijuana, but received little punishment due to the fact that his father was a white police officer—says, “That was the most unjust thing I’ve ever seen.”
    Is a first-generation college student—calls the experience “difficult, but empowering.”
    Originally went to college to be a doctor, but as an undergrad he took a class on restorative justice called “The Science of Violence”, which inspired him to change course and pursue law.
    He took an internship at a small municipal court in an impoverished neighborhood of Boston known for having a dangerous reputation; knew then that he wanted to work in the criminal justice system.
    Says that his main motivation in going to work is helping people stay out of prison, which is in contrast to the typical view people have of prosecutors.
    He is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and reinventing the role of the prosecutor in order to end mass incarceration.
    Was an Assistant District Attorney for over 10 years in Boston and is the founder of Prosecutor Impact, a nonprofit with the mission of retraining prosecutors to improve community safety.
    Keep following my journey
    Education

    Education

    highschool
    High School
    undergrad
    Bachelor
    Developmental Biology and Embryology
    University of Massachusetts Amherst
    doctorate
    Doctorate
    Law
    Suffolk University
    Career

    Career

    Attorney / Founder

    I am a former Assistant District Attorney, a Prosecutor, and advocate for criminal justice reform.

    Career Roadmap

    Roadmap
    My work combines:
    My work combines:
    Law
    Law
    Non-Profit Organizations
    Non-Profit Organizations
    Upholding a Cause and Belief
    Upholding a Cause and Belief

    Day to Day

    I work to develop new education, training, and improved access to technology for American prosecutors in order to improve community safety in the United States and improve the criminal justice system.

    Skills & Qualities Beyond School

    Find your "why". Once you find the reason why you want to be a lawyer, nothing else matters but the goal.

    Advice for Getting Started

    Here's the first step for college students

    Take intro to law or criminal justice classes in order to see if it is interesting to you.

    Recommended Education

    My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

    undergrad
    Bachelor
    Developmental Biology and Embryology
    doctorate
    Doctorate
    Law
    Hurdles

    Hurdles

    The Noise I Shed

    From Myself:

    "You're not going to be able to finish law school. "

    Watching people fail all around me and succumb to the stress was really difficult, but it was empowering to see that at the end of every month I was still there. I used that to motivate and push me through.

    Challenges I Overcame

    Legal Trouble
    Legal Trouble

    I got caught selling pot when I was in high school.

    First-Generation College Student
    First-Generation College Student

    I am the first in my immediate family to attend college/university.

    First-Generation Immigrant
    First-Generation Immigrant

    I'm an immigrant to this country. I was born in Columbia and adopted by an American family.