As police departments across the country increasingly come under federal pressure amid accusations of racially biased practices, law firms are vying for the job of enforcing the U.S. Department of Justice’s prescription for change. These roles bring some prestige, a high degree of scrutiny and relatively limited fees. But the money isn’t the point, firms say.
Squire Patton Boggs stepped into the fray when partner Clark Ervin was appointed an independent monitor of the Ferguson Police Department in July. Ervin acknowledged that the monitorship in Ferguson, Missouri, may garner particular attention given the iconic role that the St. Louis suburb now plays in the public’s consciousness.
