NEW DOWNTOWN FACILITY FOR RENOWNED LEGAL AID CLINICS

In the Heart of Detroit. No Better Place to Learn Law.

Real people, real learning experiences, with federal, state, and municipal courts and the region's largest law firms just blocks away.

No Better Place to Learn Law and Make Connections

Students find a welcoming, supportive and diverse campus to learn, grow and connect with their fellow students, mentors and other legal professionals.

No Better Place to Learn Law and Gain Experience

The Law Firm Program bridges the gap between legal theory and legal practice. Students learn how a law firm works and gain valuable experience.

National Moot Court Competition

National Competition judges and boardDF2 2528 e Small
On November 10-11, 2012, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law had the privilege of hosting a regional round for the 63rd annual New York City Bar Association National Moot Court Competition. The National Moot Court Competition is the oldest appellate law moot court tournament in the country, and the regional rounds showcase the oral and written appellate advocacy skills of law students from across the Midwest region. There were a total of sixteen teams competing this year from the University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio State University, Thomas M. Cooley, Capital University, Cleveland Marshall, University of Toledo, and the University of Detroit Mercy. UDM Law was honored to have been chosen to host the tournament this year and enjoyed a successful competition.

We are proud to announce that our team of Laura Gibson, Christopher Kwiecien, and Dan Bonucci advanced to the Semi-Final Rounds but were narrowly defeated by Ohio State. The Champion of the entire Regional Round was Ohio State University and the Runner-Up was Case Western.

Most importantly, both of our UDM teams performed very well in brief writing, with the Gibson/Kwiecien/Bonucci team receiving a Runner-Up Best Brief award (only one point below the Best Brief), and the other UDM team of Erin Stafford, Javon Hindo, and Brian Smith finishing 6^th out of 16 teams. Also, Chris Kwiecien received a Top Ten Oralist award for his performance in the Preliminary Rounds. Congratulations to both teams and to Professors Richard Broughton, Julia Belian, and Karen Henning for coaching these students to their successful finishes.

Professor Michelle Streicher as tournament director for UDM Law did a spectacular job with the Moot Court Board of Advocates Competition Committee of Joshua Latzman, Sara Lowry, Deanna Kossaras, Anna Valk, and Ellisse Rutkofske Thompson. And many thanks to Dean Lloyd Semple and Assistant Deans Denise Hickey and Amy Smith for their support along with the housekeeping, building, IT, and catering crews. This was certainly a team effort, and that showed in the wonderful outcome.

Please take a moment to check out the Photo Gallery of the weekend.

EVENTS

OCI Re-Orientation - Room 335

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

If you missed the OCI Demystified sessions in April, join the CSO for an abridged encore presentation designed to prepare you for the on-campus interview process. Advance registration on Career Connect is appreciated.

6.6.13 - Prospective Student Open House - UDM Law Campus

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Find out why men and women have been choosing UDM Law for the past 100 years for their legal education. Learn how a UDM legal education can distinguish you as a market leader. During this event, you will get an in-depth look at how the School of Law’s unique curriculum prepares students for the realities of practice.

Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the campus and speak with admissions representatives, faculty and current students. Come see why there is No Better Place to Learn Law.

NEWS

American Constitution Society Presentation on Infamous Highers Brothers Wrongful Conviction Case

The Michigan Lawyers Chapter of the American Constitution Society presented a powerful program on wrongful convictions to UDM Law students.

Thomas Highers, who with his brother, Raymond, spent 25 years in prison for a murder they did not commit, appeared with his attorney, Valerie Newman, to tell the story of their case. The brothers were released last summer when a Wayne County Circuit Court judge granted them a new trial due to overwhelming evidence of their innocence and mistaken witness identifications.

The presentation was powerfully poignant in showing the human side of lawyering. Mr. Highers showed profound gratitude for his lawyer's efforts and did not appear bitter about the painful experience. The students were rapt in attention throughout his compelling story. Event Photo >>
SYMPOSIUM DRAWS A CAPACITY CROWD OF GUESTS AND MEDIA TO LEARN HOW IMMIGRATION ENHANCES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Relevant, timely, unique, insightful, visionary. This is some of the reaction to UDM's recent Law Review symposium entitled, Global Michigan: Immigration and Economic Growth, which featured Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R-MI) as the keynote speaker. U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI) also provided his singular perspective as the son of an immigrant, and leading policymakers and distinguished academics drawn from across the U.S. and Canada discussed how Detroit and Michigan could best use immigration as a tool of economic development.

Read More about the Symposium
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UDM IS PROUD OF ITS MOOT COURT NATIONAL TEAMS

February was a busy month for the upperclass students who are members of the Moot Court Board of Advocates and who are participating in national moot court competitions. The students and their faculty coaches spend a great deal of time preparing for these national competitions.
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Career Ladder

The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Wayne Region held a career panel discussion at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Jan. 30.

Read More from The Detroit Legal News
Immigration reform: Will 'amnesty' produce more illegal immigration?

Supporters of immigration reform that includes of a path to citizenship say that the US is not as attractive a destination as it once was for illegal immigration.

Read More from The Christian Science Monitor
Effective immigration policy helps U.S. keep global edge, UDM Law professor believes

Prior to law school, Aimee Guthat had no idea there was such a thing as "immigration law," despite hearing references to green cards and immigration papers.
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