Dustin Loosbrock, 1L, Union Laborer, U.S. Navy Vet
Dustin Loosbrock, 1L, comes from a family of union laborers, taking his first job as a construction worker when he was 13. His prior life experiences include a stint in the U.S. Navy and working as a contractor on an oil pipeline in Nigeria. He hails from Champlin, Minnesota, and is a graduate of Metropolitan State University.
Your family has a long history with/connection to labor unions. Could you discuss a bit about that?
I come from a family of union construction workers. I had my first construction job at the age of 13. As a 16-year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), I’ve come to believe that just as our country’s founding fathers implemented checks and balances to prevent tyrannical rule, unions bring similar checks and balances to the workplace.
I was an independent contractor in a mid-level supervisory/consulting role for a company specializing in the construction of oil pipelines. One day the workforce in my charge seemed exasperated. I discovered the local payroll contractor was a couple of weeks late paying them. I exercised my position of authority to rectify the situation.
You also spent some time in the U.S Navy. Can you discuss the impact of that experience?
I had a very narrow perspective of the world growing up. I had never left Minnesota until I joined the U.S. Navy. My time in the armed forces helped me develop a more worldly perspective, opening my mind to a myriad of possibilities.
You are a first-generation graduate student. What will your becoming a lawyer mean to you and your family?
As a first-generation graduate student, this is unchartered territory for me and my family. As far as my formal educational, this is the culmination of a peripatetic journey. In obtaining a law degree, I will be empowered to make an impact in a way otherwise not possible.
What do you hope/plan to do with your legal education (realizing, of course, that may change during the course of your studies)?
I plan to use my legal education to represent workers’ interests and expand their rights.
Why did you select Minnesota Law?
I chose Minnesota Law because I have grown up in Minnesota, I have helped construct Minnesota, and have advocated for Minnesota’s workers. So, it is only befitting that I obtain my professional degree from one of Minnesota’s most respected educational institutions.
Can you discuss a bit the importance of diverse perspectives in the classroom and what you hope to add to the mix?
Individual identity is made up of beliefs, ritual, allegiances, and meaningful life experiences. Interaction with perspectives of individuals whose identity differs from our own gives us a deeper understanding of the world. I hope my fellow students will benefit from my unique perspective as much as I expect to benefit from theirs.
Minnesota Law as an institution emphasizes leadership. What does leadership mean to you?
“Leadership is accepting responsibility to create conditions that enable others to achieve shared purpose in the face of uncertainty.” —Marshall Ganz
Law School can be stressful at times. What do you like to do for wellness or to de-stress?
I meditate, exercise, and communicate with my friends and family.
Do you have any interesting hobbies or leisure activities you’d like to share?
I enjoy traveling, time at the lake, hiking, and DIY projects.
