Hunter Strauss, ’29, brings a wide-ranging background to UChicago Law. A Georgia Tech graduate with degrees in biomedical and aerospace engineering, Strauss has served in the Army and Air Force and is currently a combat search and rescue pilot in the California Air National Guard. We spoke with him about his path from military aviation to law school, his interest in making a broader impact through law and policy, and what drew him to UChicago Law.

Tell us a little about your background and the path that led you to law school.

After college, I wanted to do so many different things that I was paralyzed with indecision. I took a job at a management consulting firm because I knew it would give me the opportunity to see a variety of organizations within a variety of industries. What it really gave me was the time and space to reflect about what I wanted to do with my career (or more accurately, what I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss out on). I eventually decided to become an officer in the Army, leading to a series of opportunities across both the Army and Air Force and ultimately leading me to my current role as a combat search and rescue pilot in the California Air National Guard. As I transition away from full-time military service, I want to find a way to continue to contribute in a meaningful way to an increasing number of people. 

What are one or two professional, academic, or personal experiences that have most shaped who you are, and why?

One of the most formative experiences of my career came as I was transitioning into my role as an Air Force helicopter pilot. For the first several weeks of my initial flight training course, the basic skills required to fly a helicopter eluded me — a point that was emphasized to me in no uncertain terms by my Vietnam-war-era instructor pilot. With much effort, I managed to avoid being dropped from the course and eventually earned the approval of my instructor. That experience taught me that it was possible to become good at something despite what can feel like a lack of aptitude — a lesson that played a significant role in my decision to apply to law school.

What inspired you to pursue a legal education?

There were two main factors that led me to pursue a legal education. The first was a desire for a broader impact. The world of search and rescue can be extremely gratifying, but the impact that we have is almost always on an individual scale. I hope to use my legal education to expand that impact, playing a role in shaping law and policy that can affect people across the country. The second factor is somewhat more external: witnessing recent changes that have taken place across all branches of government has led me to realize that I don’t want to be a passive observer to the judicial and legislative processes. I believe that pursuing a legal education is one of the best ways to take a more active role while also pursuing my goal of broader impact.

What areas of law or legal issues are you most interested in exploring?

One of my biggest concerns about starting law school is narrowing down all of my interests to an amount that is reasonable to pursue in a three-year degree. I would love to learn more about health law, environmental law, and constitutional law, among many other areas. I am perhaps most excited to take advantage of UChicago’s unique expertise in appellate litigation, a field in which I hope I can make a broad impact while also immersing myself in a wide range of interesting legal topics.

Why did you choose the University of Chicago Law School?

When I came to Admitted Student’s Weekend, I admittedly believed that I was just “checking the box” and would likely be attending another school. By the end of the weekend, I had all but decided that I would be choosing UChicago. Aside from some of the more obvious metrics like career outcomes and clerkship statistics, I was impressed by what I can only describe as a fully articulated school culture. I love that UChicago has a clear set of guiding principles – close student-professor relationships, the free exchange of ideas, meritocracy – and actually shapes their policies around these principles. 

What are you most excited to experience as a UChicago Law student?

Meeting a group of people who are similarly inspired to make an impact on the world but who also want to explore Chicago’s best restaurants and go out on Lake Michigan.

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of school and work?

I’ve been described as a collector of hobbies, but I think it is more accurate to say that I curate my hobbies based on where I’m living at the moment. When I lived in Washington state, I learned skiing and mountaineering. In Alabama, I went sailing. In New Mexico, I flew small airplanes and learned how to fly-fish. Regardless of where I live, I love making fancy food and drinks for my family and friends. 

What are a few fun facts about you that your classmates might be surprised to learn?

I have spent almost three years training to make the U.S. Men’s National Bobsled Team. On a related note, I have refused to watch the movie “Cool Runnings” until I have competed for Team USA.