Reviewed by: Lacey Muenstermann
How this mom of 2 + child services worker is now pursuing her dream of being an attorney
Reading time: 5 minutes
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April will soon pursue her law degree after putting her dreams on the back burner for 17 years to focus on supporting her family.
Keep reading to see why she decided now was her time to finish her degree and make her dreams a reality, plus how she is training for her new career.
Meet April Warren
April started her Criminal Justice degree 17 years ago while also working and being a mom but made the difficult decision to press pause on her college education to prioritize her daughters.
Since then, April has led an admirable career in child services in Albertville, helping investigate child abuse cases and providing resources to families in need.
April found her passion in child services and desired to deepen her impact by pursuing a law degree. Thus, the idea of finishing her degree came knocking.
Now that her kids are leaving the nest, April realized it was time to put herself first and finish her degree.
“I always put myself on the back burner as a mom, and a lot of moms do that. I was always thinking of the bigger picture—once my kids graduate, I’ll take care of me last.
So once my oldest moved out, I realized it’s time for me to do what is best for me right now. I can have something better for them, and for myself.”
April Warren, Criminal Justice student at Athens State
From child services to family law: the road to finishing her degree
Finding her passion
April has spent her career in child welfare at Marshall County Department of Human Resources, with ten years in Child Protective Services and seven in the Child Support Unit.
After spending time in the court room and working with attorneys, April discovered she wants to help families on the legal side.
“Throughout my career, I worked with families on reunification of children, investigations with ongoing foster care and and now I’m helping with child support.
I’ve always been intrigued with investigations, and working in child welfare has opened up my desire to become an attorney.”
April Warren, Criminal Justice student at Athens State
Finding the right program at Athens State
April consulted with several attorneys in her network before landing on Criminal Justice as the right path.
When she heard about Athens State’s affordable and flexible Criminal Justice program, she was ready to take the next step.
Making the most of what Athens State has to offer
Loving the flexible degree + support
April has been taking classes online from her home in Albertville but has still felt very supported.
“Every professor I’ve had so far at Athens State has been very accommodating. One of my favorite professors I had last semester, Mr. Jeff Purcell, worked in law enforcement and met with me during office hours every week.
They make themselves very available, even though we’re online.”
April Warren, Criminal Justice student at Athens State
Getting involved on campus
Being a remote student hasn’t stopped April from being involved on campus and building a strong network.
She serves as the President of both the Criminal Justice Student Association and the Pre-Law Society at Athens State. She travels to campus at least once a month for various events and still feels quite connected.
How April is learning form Athens State’s new CASELab
Swipe through for a look inside Athens State’s new training lab. (Peyton Kingsbury / Hville Blast)
About CASELab: Crime Analyzation, Simulation and Experimentation Laboratory
The CASELab opened in 2024 and is a house-turned-learning lab right next to Athens State’s campus. The space serves students studying Homeland and Corporate Security, Criminal Justice and Child Advocacy.
The CASELab replicates real-world scenarios, giving students opportunities to conduct crime scene reenactments, academic research and mock case simulations.
CASELab rooms train students for:
- Active shooter scenarios
- Case management
- Cyber criminology
- Crime scene and forensic investigations
- Crime scene documentation, photography, measurements + evidence collection techniques
- Crisis prevention
- Drug identification
- Fingerprinting analysis
- Evidence collection
- Home visits
- Initial and critical responses
The university also hosts local first responders and teachers for continuing education opportunities.
“First responders and teachers can come to the CASELab and see for themselves, ‘Oh, these are the things we need to look for.'”
April Warren, Criminal Justice student at Athens State
How April is training for her career in the CASELab
April explained training in the CASELab will prepare her for a career in the sheriff’s department, the police department or even the State Bureau of Investigations.
“One of the rooms in the CASELab is set up for child welfare workers or child advocacy centers.
We can go in and see what is in plain sight in a potential case, because you can’t go into somebody’s home and just start opening closet doors or dresser drawers looking for stuff.
We are training to observe what is in plain sight without a search warrant, which is critical in our field.”
April Warren, Criminal Justice student at Athens State
The rooms rotate with new stagings and situations, so April and fellow students can prepare for a variety of cases.
It’s never too late—finish your degree at Athens State
If you’re like April and ready to finish your degree, check out these 4 popular programs with great return on your investment.
Let this be your sign to consider investing in yourself and your future—learn more and apply to Athens State today.
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