I was inspired to think differently about my career when I worked as a paralegal after undergrad. I enjoyed writing and thinking critically about varying legal issues and knew I wanted to pursue litigation. I asked myself, “If I can do this as a paralegal, then why not try it as a full-time attorney?”
As a student, my clinical work experience and serving as the editor-in-chief for the Michigan Law Review (MLR) influenced my professional direction. Through the Community Enterprise Clinic, I had the opportunity to assist small businesses and community enterprise organizations within predominantly Black areas in Michigan, like Detroit and Ypsilanti. While working in the Juvenile Justice Clinic, I gained courtroom experience and learned how to argue a case on behalf of a defendant.
I left law school with a newfound level of discipline because each experience required leadership, relationship-building, and mentoring. The skills I picked up by working in the clinics and on MLR are highly transferable—I use them daily as a clerk.
The opportunity to clerk on the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has been a privilege. For me, there is no comparable experience to a clerkship because I get to see the inner workings of the legal field from a much higher vantage point. This broader perspective will help me find my niche as I build my litigation practice in the coming years. I also get to work on complex legal issues that require me to conduct extensive research and writing; this has been invaluable to my professional growth.
I will clerk on the US District Court for the District of Columbia beginning in 2025. I am eager to see the differences between both clerkships as well as various types of lawyering firsthand. Between my two clerkships, I will return to my firm, where I previously worked as a summer associate following my 2L year..
The support from OCP’s clerkship office in guiding me through each step of the application process was instrumental. I cannot recommend enough utilizing the resources within the Law School to secure a clerkship and with overall career planning.
