Travis Vernier graduated magna cum laude from Oklahoma City University School of Law as a Merit Scholar. While in law school, Travis won CALI Excellence Awards for the highest scoring grades in his class in Civil Procedure I, Legal Research and Writing II, Trial Practice, and Corporations law.

Travis was selected as a Staff Editor for the Oklahoma City Law Review and was inducted into numerous honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi and the International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi. Travis completed internships with several law firms, including a firm that focuses on medical malpractice defense and law enforcement defense liability. He also served as a judicial extern for the Chief Judge of the Oklahoma County District Court. 

Sensing a call to help others, Travis joined his local volunteer fire department in northeast Oklahoma while still in high school. He saw life on the front lines as a rural firefighter, responding to structure fires, brush fires, car crashes, and medical calls. After graduating college, Travis worked full-time as a commissioned police officer in the Oklahoma City Police Department. He served in various roles during his tenure, from patrol to investigations. As a detective, he was responsible for investigating crimes against children, including child homicides. Travis quickly learned to manage complex investigations and gained invaluable skills, which serve him well in the practice of law today. Travis earned numerous commendations from his department, including a Life-Saving Award for rescuing a man from a burning car and the Medal of Honor—the department's highest mark of distinction—for his heroic actions during an officer-involved shooting. Travis also earned the Committee of 100's H.K. "Tony" A Calvert Award for bravery. After more than a decade of service, Travis honorably retired at the rank of Detective Sergeant and joined Les Bennett to form Bennett | Vernier.