ISE graduate using degree in the courtroom

K.C. Hairston, a 1998 graduate from the Auburn University Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, is using his industrial engineering degree in the courtroom.

Hairston is a partner at Balch and Bingham LLP and a municipal court judge for the city of Mountain Brook. He was also recently elected to a two-year term as president of the Alabama Municipal Judges Association.

Hairston’s father graduated from Auburn with a degree in industrial engineering, which drew him to engineering.

“For me, I felt that the broad-based ISE engineering degree would open up a wide variety of potential opportunities across whatever industry I decided to enter,” Hairston said.

After graduating from Auburn, Hairston pursued legal studies at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.

“I thought that the engineering and law degrees would be a powerful duo, training me in critical thinking, with the ability to layer in analysis on the legal consequences,” Hairston said.

Hairston utilizes engineering principles every day in the law office and courtroom.

“Auburn’s ISE curriculum equips students for how to identify key issues, analyze the facts and draw conclusions supported by the analysis,” Hairston said. “In addition, the teachings I received on production, quality control and efficiencies not only helped me in my law school assignments, but I rely upon them continuously in my legal career. For example, when I preside over a trial, there is fact-gathering, analysis and an informed decision, just like any other engineering problem. However, in my case, someone’s freedom is at stake.”

Hairston added that he didn’t necessarily switch from engineering to law.

“I utilize engineering principles every day at the law office and in the courtroom, the same skill set that I would have utilized had I gone to work for an engineering firm,” he said. “I consider my career being in engineering and law, collectively.”