I came to law school wanting to do prisoners’ rights law but, for a few reasons, ultimately decided I wanted to go in a different direction. Fortunately, I found a new path when I learned more about public defense, thanks to MDefenders, the Public Defender Training Institute, and Professor Eve Brensike Primus.
My public interest classmates formed a social and educational circle that was so magnetic, it became my home in law school. In addition, I had robust experiential learning opportunities that complemented my doctrinal classes, starting with the 1L Advocacy Clinic, which gave me my first taste of direct representation. Working with the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative and externing at the Neighborhood Defender Service as a 2L aligned closely with my professional goals. Additionally, like all my experiential learning opportunities, it validated my choice to pursue public interest and, specifically, public defense work.
I currently work where I interned during my 2L summer. It’s a holistic public defense practice where I practice alongside immigration, housing, and family defense attorneys, as well as other non-attorney advocates who fight for clients facing intertwined, oppressive legal systems.
For anyone who wants to be a public defender, Michigan Law is an incredible school to attend because of the infrastructure that MDefenders and Professor Primus have created. Not only will you learn an enormous amount, you’ll be really well connected and set up for success in the job market.
