2024 News Listing
Kumar Palepu '10, currently serves as a commissioner for the State of Michigan’s Asian Pacific American Affairs Commision, whose mission is to be a vocal advocate for these communities, ensuring their fair access and active involvement in crucial sectors like government, business and education.
Ian Wendrow, 2L, worked as a freelance journalist reporting on environmental justice before deciding to pursue a law degree. “I felt like I wasn’t making as much of an impact as I could just reporting on environmental issues. Even if, in the future, I’m just representing one person, I’ll be able to see the tangible difference I’m making in people’s lives.”
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law announced that Nicholas Schroeck will serve as Interim Dean as of June 1, 2024. Dean Schroeck joined Detroit Mercy Law in 2018 as the Director of Clinical Programs and Associate Professor of Law. He was appointed Associate Dean of Experiential Education in 2019.
After nearly a decade working in human resources, Kevin Lynch made the decision to become the latest member of his family to attend law school. His University of Detroit Mercy School of Law experience and all that has come from it has been beyond his wildest dreams.
Kevin Lynch spent nearly a decade in human resources before going to law school. He graduates from Detroit Mercy Law ready to become an attorney like so many family members before him.
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law 2023 graduates achieved a 91 percent employment rate in legal and professional positions. Graduates secured employment in various positions including at top law firms, competitive judicial clerkships, and government, business, and public interest organizations.
Two UDM graduate programs were ranked in the top 20 in the nation and several other programs were included in the 2024-25 U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges edition.
Medina Elzayat (3L) serves as President of the Arab American Law Student Association (AALSA), Tina Toma (3L) serves as President of the Chaldean American Law Student Association (CALSA) and Simon Alnajjar (3L) is a Dean’s Fellow at Detroit Mercy Law. All are part of the ODEIB Student Feature for Middle Eastern, Arab, and Chaldean Heritage month.
Judge Michelle M. Rick '91 aspires to be a servant leader. “For me, this requires leading from the heart and valuing the contributions of all members of the team. It is critical to see that every person has skills that can benefit the task at hand.”
An all-woman team of Detroit Mercy Law students placed third in the 2023 National Patent Application Drafting Competition hosted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) after winning the regional competition. Across the nation, 55 teams competed in regional rounds for an invitation to advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C. to present in front of a board of USPTO patent examiners.
Jessica Holmes ’15 continues the legacy of Black, women attorneys in her family.
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law students won the Midwest Regional Patent Drafting Competition hosted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the second year in a row.
Micaela Dalrymple (3L) serves as President of the Women’s Law Caucus (WLC) at Detroit Mercy Law. The WLC empowers members to succeed in law school and in their careers, and works to improve the quality of life for women in the community through fundraising and outreach.
Rita Soka '22 remembers the day her daughter’s words inspired her to pursue law school. “Mom, you know, you can be a really good lawyer, and I can see you doing it.”
Jazmine Goode (2L) serves as the executive treasurer of the Student Bar Association (SBA)—the governing body that represents students, liaises with the school, and oversees all other student organizations. In addition to her leadership with the SBA, Goode is as an active member of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA)—the organization responsible for one of her fondest moments at Detroit Mercy Law and her very own designated parking spot.
Robbie Gaines '15 is President-Elect of the Wolverine Bar Association (WBA). When he assumes the role of President during the 2024-2025 year, he will promote and adhere to the principles the WBA has stood for since it was established in the 1930s—justice for all, diversity in the legal profession, and community leadership. Through this influential role, he will join the ranks of the many distinguished attorneys who have served as past presidents of the WBA over the years.
Christin DewBerry (3L) is a leader at Detroit Mercy Law. Her classmates elected her to serve as their executive president of the Student Bar Association (SBA)—the governing body that represents students, liaises with the school, and oversees all other student organizations.
Judge Terrance A. Keith ‘84, a distinguished alumnus and founding-president of the Association of Black Law Alumni (ABLA), is generous with his time and talent in support of Detroit Mercy Law and the legal community. In 1981, on his first day of classes at Detroit Mercy Law, he learned the value of preparation—a lesson that he still uses on the bench today.
Sydney Jackson (3L) serves as president of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). In addition to her work with BLSA, Jackson worked as a summer associate at Plunkett Cooney and as a judicial intern with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She encourages students to find a mentor at all points of their educational journey—from high school, to undergrad, to law school.
Justice Kyra Harris Bolden '14 made history when she was sworn in as a Michigan Supreme Court Justice on January 1, 2023. As the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in Michigan, she recognizes the importance of her leadership on the bench. “Representation is beyond important,” she said. “It is an honor to serve and to be an inspiration to others who look like me.”
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law community members received grants from the University of Detroit Mercy’s Titan Innovation Fund. The University invited proposals for innovations that addressed challenges and opportunities aligned with the Detroit Mercy mission and University President Donald Taylor’s institutional priorities. Steven Meerschaert, 2L, and Dr. Courtney Griffin, Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, submitted proposals that were selected for funding.