From Criminal Justice Major to Prosecutor, Bradley Deckel ’19 is Enjoying His Trajectory
By Judith Kelliher
When Bradley Deckel ’19 was a Criminal Justice major in his junior year, he took a course called Civil Liberties. He found the class exciting as they read case law and engaged in discussions about big legal ideas. It was Deckel’s first dip into the legal profession, and his interest was piqued.
“I enjoyed the challenge of addressing big and complex questions that have numerous answers to them. From there, I wanted to see what being a lawyer was all about,” he said.
During Deckel’s studies at Springfield College, another event brought him closer to a potential legal career. He learned about an internship opportunity at the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office in Springfield after Steve Breslow, assistant U.S. attorney, gave a lecture on campus in the fall of 2017. Deckel applied and interned at the United States Attorney’s Office in the spring of 2018.
“It was an incredible experience where I got to see what the practice of law was truly like and what it was like to be a prosecutor. I saw trials, sentencings, oral arguments, etc.” he said. “My internship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office was instrumental in my decision to go to law school because I got to see what practicing law was all about and not just read about it.”
Fast forward, and Deckel has been working as an assistant district attorney in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in Norristown, Pa., since October 2022.
Deckel finds his job exciting because of the variety of tasks he handles on any given day. One day he may have a desk day where he is reviewing evidence in a case, writing motions, or preparing for a hearing. Another day, he may be in court handling various types of motions. Other days, Deckel could be handling a jury trial and presenting his case to prove a defendant’s guilt. And some days he’s meeting witnesses to prepare for trial.
For his first two-and-a-half years, Deckel was assigned to the Special Victim’s Unit. He handled special victim cases from investigation through trial and sentencing for a variety of crimes. Typically, he handled cases involving child sexual or physical abuse, adult sex crimes, or domestic violence. He has also worked on multiple homicide cases involving murder, vehicular homicide, and numerous non-fatal shootings.
Despite the seriousness of the work, and often difficult case matter, Deckel says the job has its rewards.
“The part I like most about my job is that I get to help victims and do what is right. A prosecutor is uniquely positioned in the law to do what is right,” he said. “It is a special privilege to go into work every day and have the opportunity to fight for victims and do the right thing for the right reasons.”
Looking back at this time on Alden Street, Deckel fondly recalls the memories and friendships made as a four-year player on the Springfield College soccer team.
“We all loved playing soccer and it was even better to do it with your best friends. Then, after practice, it was amazing to go home and still be able to see your best friends at night and laugh and joke about the day or a game,” he said. “I also loved how everyone of us worked as a team towards a common goal. I didn’t realize how important of a skill it is to be able to work as a team until I started working. It is a valuable skill people bring to the table that makes an organization better to work at.”
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