Detroit Mercy Law Fall 2017 Docket

DOCKET

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THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY SCHOOL OF LAW MAGAZINE

THE DUAL J.D.

CROSSING BORDERS THROUGH TRANSNATIONAL LAW

CANADIAN & AMERICAN DUAL J.D. PROGRAM INSIDE

Celebration of Donors

Scholarship Stories

New Clinics

Homecoming Golf Outing

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INTRODUCING THE eDOCKET Does the annual edition of the Docket leave you wanting more?

Starting in 2018, get monthly issues of the Docket in your email inbox! Featuring alumni news, upcoming events, and fun feature stories, the eDocket will be your source for all things Detroit Mercy Law in between issues of the printed magazine.

Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. University President

Phyllis L. Crocker Dean | 313-596-0210

Denise P. Hickey (’95) Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations 313-596-0202

Amanda M. Vanover Communications Specialist Docket Editor | 313-596-9819

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Monique A. McCarthy Associate Dean for Enrollment Management and Communications 313-596-9407

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BD&E Publication Design | bdeusa.com

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Message from the Dean

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Feature Article The Dual J.D.: Crossing Borders Through Transnational Law

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Law School Team

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Faculty Briefs

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Supporting Detroit Mercy Law

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From the Firehouse: Clinic Update

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Admissions Update

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Scrapbook

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Career Services Update

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Class Notes / Remembrance

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Alumni Association President’s Message

FA LL 2017

THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY SCHOOL OF LAW MAGAZINE

THE DUAL J.D.

We welcome press releases, photos, and updates about Detroit Mercy Law alumni.

FALL 2017

IC

Linda Laderman Terry Clark and David Frechette

Contents

CROSSING BORDERS THROUGH TRANSNATIONAL LAW

CANADIAN & AMERICAN DUAL J.D. PROGRAM INSIDE

Celebration of Donors

Please send information to: Office of Alumni Relations University of Detroit Mercy School of Law 651 E. Jefferson Avenue Detroit, MI 48226-4386 hickeydp@udmercy.edu

Scholarship Stories

New Clinics

On the Cover:

Homecoming Golf Outing

The Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program gives grads unique perspectives and experiences.

BC

Save These Dates!

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 1

M E S SAGE FRO M T HE DE A N

Every day, each of us changes the world we live in by virtue of the choices we make.

A lawyer has even more impact than most, and University of Detroit Mercy School of Law is proud to change the world for the better, one lawyer at a time.

TAKE A MOMENT to consider how

many times you have provided counsel to your clients, friends, and family. Each time you weigh in on a legal matter, you exercise the ability to influence people’s lives. The effects of a single case are felt by everyone involved. Often, they are felt throughout a community, and sometimes, they resonate across the nation and the wider world. Taken over the course of a career, the impact of a single attorney can be immense.

Whether your impact as an attorney is far-reaching or close to home, you are one of thousands of lawyers who got their start at Detroit Mercy Law. Our collective impact as a school is profound, and something we take very seriously.

We pay attention to the qualities that set us apart from our peer institutions and the ways we live up to our promise to Educate the Complete Lawyer. In this issue, we examine how Detroit Mercy Law extends our impact as a force for positive change.

Our feature story focuses on the growth of the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program. Unless you are a graduate of the program, you may not be familiar with it. Dating back to 1981, this comparative program offers students the ability to earn two J.D. degrees in just three years—one American, and one Canadian (conferred by our partner school, University of Windsor Faculty of Law). In a time when international legal issues have become part of society’s daily rhetoric and routine, lawyers who are fluent in the language of transnational law are in demand. Our program is the only one of its kind in

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North America, and our Dual J.D. grads are making a mark on the world. We are proud to see them succeed, and pleased to know that through them, we are serving a global community.

We are also debuting three new legal clinics in the 2017-2018 academic year. Adding to our already robust clinical program, the Housing Law Clinic, the Trademark & Entrepreneur Clinic, and the Family Law Clinic will provide critical legal assistance for hundreds of needy clients here in Detroit. In the process, our students will learn what it means to work in service to their neighbors, and experience firsthand the challenges and rewards of legal practice.

Finally, we are excited to be part of the University’s launch of a comprehensive fundraising campaign. Through gifts from alumni and friends, we are committed to ensuring our legacy as Detroit’s law school of opportunity. This means making scholarships a top priority so that we continue to open our doors to deserving students who may not otherwise be able to afford a private legal education.

I hope this issue of the Docket makes you proud of the impact Detroit Mercy Law has both locally and globally. Our alumni and friends make us proud, too, as you demonstrate what it means to put justice, ethics, and service at the forefront of your lives.

Phyllis L. Crocker Dean and Professor of Law

THE DUAL J.D. CROSSING BORDERS THROUGH TRANSNATIONAL LAW Maha Mansour is not your typical commuter. From her home in Windsor, Ontario, she sometimes heads to University of Windsor Faculty of Law. On other days, she takes the tunnel across the Detroit River and flashes her NEXUS pass at U.S. Border Patrol. Minutes later, she arrives at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Mansour, a former banking professional, is a member of the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program Class of 2018. Like her peers in the program, she is on track to earn both a Canadian J.D. and an American J.D. in the same amount of time it takes most law students to earn one or the other.

VISIT DUALJD.COM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM

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THE DUAL J.D. | CROSSING BORDERS THROUGH TRANSNATIONAL LAW

M

ansour has always been a bit of an overachiever.

“I had been out of school for a number of years after undergrad,” Mansour says, “and I always wanted to go to law school. The Dual J.D. Program really stood out to me because it was one of a kind. Actually attending classes on both sides of the border—and the challenge of earning two degrees at the same time—really attracted me.”

SBA President of the 3L class for the Dual J.D. Program and the first recipient of Detroit Mercy Law’s Judith V. Ford (’90) Memorial Endowed Scholarship (awarded annually to an academically outstanding student pursuing a second career path in law), Mansour makes time to volunteer at the Pope Francis Warming Center at Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church. A mentor to younger law students and active in Moot Court on both sides of the border, she attended the 2017 ABA Annual Meeting in New York after finishing her summer position with the Toronto office of global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.

When it comes to making the most of the law school experience, each of the two campuses has

something unique to offer. “You see the best of both schools, and bring that with you to the other school,” Mansour says.

This collaborative spirit—coupled with the desire to capitalize on a

wealth of curricular opportunities—is core to the success of Dual J.D.

students. “The legal market has become really competitive,” Mansour

says. “This program really helps you to stand out as someone who can contribute much more.”

What Is the Dual J.D. Program?

Thanks to the longstanding partnership between University of Detroit

Mercy School of Law and University of Windsor Faculty of Law, students in the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program earn two law degrees in

three years through comparative and interactive study on both campuses.

Designed to immerse students in two legal cultures, the Dual J.D.

Program is the only one of its kind in the U.S. or Canada. Capitalizing on their unique location on each side of one of the busiest borders in North

America, the two schools developed an integrated approach that allows students to learn both Canadian and American law at the same time.

Students in the Dual J.D. program are required to complete 104

credits between the two law schools: 60 credits from Detroit Mercy Law and 44 credits from Windsor Law. By contrast, a traditional J.D. student is required to complete 90 credits at Detroit Mercy Law or 87 credits at Windsor Law.

“The Dual J.D. Program really stood out to me because it was one of a kind. Actually attending classes on both sides of the border—and the challenge of earning two degrees at the same time—really attracted me.”

Maha Mansour Dual J.D. Candidate 2018

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Why I Chose the Dual J.D. Program Each member of this year’s incoming class has a unique reason for choosing the Dual J.D. Program. Here are six of them.

Both schools require students to take comparative doctrinal courses taught by experts in U.S. and Canadian law. At Detroit Mercy Law, students complete a Law Firm Program course, an upper level writing class, and coursework in transnational law.

A clinical course has also become a requirement for all Dual students, beginning with the Class of 2019.

Electives are taken at both schools, allowing students to specialize in areas of law that interest them.

“Transnationalism is becoming so important in today’s legal education, and Dual J.D. students become bilingual in the laws of two countries,” observes Detroit Mercy Law Dean Phyllis L. Crocker.

“What they learn is transferrable to other nations’ legal systems, as well. This credential gives them instant credibility with international clients across a variety of career paths.”

Growing Demand Thirty years before it was rebranded as the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program, the first incarnation of the program debuted in 1981 as the J.D./LL.B. Program. Created primarily to serve a small contingent of Canadian students interested in practicing corporate law internationally, the program’s first graduating class—the Class of 1982—had only four graduates. Ten years later, 18 graduates represented the Class of 1992, and class size hovered steadily around the 20-student mark through 2000.

The program was reaccredited by the American Bar Association in 2000, and class size grew steadily for the first decade of the new millennium. To meet the increasing demand for comparative and international legal education, the two law schools worked to increase course offerings and infrastructure for the program. By 2011, Dual J.D. students represented 21% of total enrollment at Detroit Mercy Law. And the Class of 2017? For the first time ever, more graduates earned Dual J.D. degrees than American J.D. degrees (73 graduates from the Dual program, 64 from the American J.D. program, and 4 from the J.D./M.B.A. program).

Dual J.D. Program Director Stephanie Winbigler has witnessed a significant shift in its popularity. “The Duals are getting something here that they can’t get

“This program is a leader in the Intellectual Property Law field. It will allow me to obtain the best education possible related to IP law and will grant me the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. Attending two law schools with mutual interests in this specific field of study—and taking advantage of the Intellectual Property Law Clinic and its certification by USPTO and CIPO—is invaluable.”

– Kayley Leon (’20)

“My ultimate ambition in the field of law is to be able to assist international child abductees and their families through repatriation. As a dual citizen, participating in the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program will allow me to offer assistance to a significant number of victims through legal practice on both sides of the border.

This program provides an opportunity to expand my understanding of the law and make a positive impact for the people of the two countries that I call home.”

– Max Pappin (’20)

“I hope to one day be elected as a Member of Parliament and hold influence over policy decisions that may improve the quality of life for many individuals and communities. I chose the Dual J.D. Program because my interests reside in international trade policies. Not only do these policies influence countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product, but they influence individuals, such as farmers, whose livelihoods depend on exporting goods.”

– Jessica Ruo-Qi Chen (’20)

“When the Canadian government tried to crack down on users who accessed the U.S. version of Netflix, they brought issues of copyright into the spotlight. As someone interested in the media and entertainment industries, this caught my attention and inspired me to learn why Canadians are unable to enjoy the same entertainment as Americans. Through the Dual J.D. Program, I intend to gain both the American and Canadian legal perspectives on this and many similar cases.”

– Zachary Glazer (’20)

“I want to position myself for a Canadian economy that will be increasingly integrated with that of the U.S., and to be able to serve the thousands of people who cross the border every day, regardless of which side they find themselves on when they need legal representation. The Dual J.D. Program will allow me to achieve these goals.”

– Tejvir Bimb (’20)

“I am deeply interested in American politics and foreign affairs. My dream is to enter the military after law school, and I think being able to practice law in both Canada and the U.S. will be ideal for that situation.”

– Anthony Petrucci (’20)

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THE DUAL J.D. | CROSSING BORDERS THROUGH TRANSNATIONAL LAW

“It’s for people who think outside of the box—there’s a sense of adventure about these students.

They’re looking for something that will give them a competitive edge and a different experience.”

– Professor Cara Cunningham Warren (’96)

anywhere else: the ability to study comparative law and apply it to international issues that occur in their own backyard,” Winbigler says. “The added bonus is that it doesn’t just work in Detroit and Windsor—they develop an analytical framework to take with them wherever they work in the world.”

The Dual J.D. Difference Because they work so closely with students, faculty members are in a unique position to understand what sets the Dual J.D. Program apart— and why it may be right for some students more than others.

“It’s for people who think outside of the box—there’s a sense of adventure about these students,” says Professor Cara Cunningham Warren, who graduated from Detroit Mercy Law in 1996. After practicing law in metro Detroit for several years, she joined the faculty and has been teaching in the Dual J.D. Program since 2014. “They’re looking for something that will give them a competitive edge and a different experience.”

For aspiring attorneys hoping to not just learn the law, but to examine it from a comparative perspective, this program may be just the ticket.

“Aside from the cross-border dimensions of the legal education, and more profoundly perhaps, is the access to a comparative legal education,” says Windsor Law Dean Christopher Waters. “Our comparative approach invites students to consider the fundamentals of a legal order.

They instinctively gain a broadened perspective on sources of law, the possibilities of dispute resolution and styles of advocacy.”

Cunningham Warren agrees. “When studying a single legal system, you learn the law almost as a formula. What is written is the law.

However, comparative legal education forces a student to consider alternate perspectives,” she says.

For example, the United States and Canada are both common law jurisdictions. A particular law might be written the same in both countries, but when the judiciaries interpret that law, the Canadian courts and American courts often consider legal precedents in remarkably different ways. “The comparative classes allow us to peel back those layers and have incredibly nuanced discussions,” said Cunningham Warren.

And it’s not just the students who benefit from this type of education.

Professor J. Richard Broughton, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Detroit Mercy Law, has taught multiple courses on Constitutional Law to students in the Dual J.D. Program. “Teaching the American Constitution to the Dual J.D. students is a truly unique and deeply valuable experience,” Broughton says. “Canadian students seem endlessly fascinated with American politics and government. They ask terrific, probing questions. I always come away from these teaching experiences with a better appreciation for international perspectives on our constitutional system.”

Why It Matters On Friday, January 27, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13769. More commonly known as the “Travel Ban,” this order instantaneously suspended entry into 6 DOC K E T | FA L L 20 1 7

the United States for travelers and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Although she is a Canadian citizen, Maha Mansour was born in Sudan—one of the countries affected by the order.

The following Monday, Mansour went to class in Detroit, as usual.

Although she could technically cross the border, the schools recommended that she and a handful of other students remain in Canada until the dust settled.

“My stomach sank,” she recalls. “While there was a lot of reaction around the issue, I was conflicted. As a future lawyer, I respected the law, the political process, and the need to comply with it. I also felt the need to advocate for what I believe is the right thing.”

With the help of school administrators, the affected students attended classes via Skype and were back to class in Detroit within two weeks. However, the role of the legal profession—from volunteer attorneys showing up at airports, to challenges filed in federal courts—made international headlines during that time, which underscored the incredible impact a transnational attorney can make in the life of a client.

“It was certainly a sobering experience that makes me very grateful to have this opportunity to be an international student and a future attorney,” Mansour reflects. “A thorough knowledge of the law is one of the most important assets in the world.”

DUAL J.D. ALUMNI STORIES Michael and Malinda Alvaro (’14) For Malinda and Michael Alvaro, their three years together as students in the Dual J.D. Program sparked more than their careers.

“We met at the law school’s ‘Meet and Greet’ for Dual J.D. students the day before classes started,” says Malinda, who goes by Mindy.

The rest is history: the 2014 grads married in July 2016, and both work in Toronto. After securing coveted summer internship and articling* positions with Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, one of the largest business law practices in Canada, Michael was hired as a corporate attorney and associate with the firm. Mindy acts as litigation counsel in the enforcement branch of the Ontario Securities Commission.

“The Dual J.D. Program is intense,” Mindy says. “We had to put a lot of time and work into it, and it paid off in our jobs. Now, we’re used to tight timelines and handling issues that are affected by American laws.

Plus, we had fantastic professors with great credentials who worked really well with their counterparts across the border.”

Michael is quick to point out that earning a Dual J.D. required 20% more work than a single degree. “Even so,” he says, “it was great preparation for my corporate practice, where we often deal with American clients who want U.S. law applied to their transactions.”

Not only did the Dual J.D. experience help the couple quickly adjust to the fast pace of their respective law practices, it served as a marketing tool on the job hunt.

“The Dual J.D. experience fosters your ability to give guidance and comfort when it’s necessary to reach out to American legal counsel. It gave us a jump on everyone,” Michael says. “In addition, it afforded *A post-J.D. experiential learning requirement for licensure to practice law in Canada.

us great business development opportunities and the chance to expand our network on both sides of the border.”

Today, the Alvaros find themselves interviewing Dual students for summer internships and articling opportunities at their own workplaces.

“I’ve noticed during interviews that Dual J.D. students often come in with fascinating backgrounds,” Mindy says. “Their résumés are impressive, plus they have the experience of two law schools behind them.”

Looking back, the couple believes the support they were able to give each other during law school was invaluable.

“We were both very busy and studied individually,” Michael recalls. “Yet having someone close who knew what you were going through, and who was trying to achieve the same thing, was incredible.”

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THE DUAL J.D. | CROSSING BORDERS THROUGH TRANSNATIONAL LAW

John Booth (’89) As a teenager, John Booth’s concern for conservation opened the door to a high profile event that would pique his interest in environmental law.

“As a 15-year-old living in Ottawa, I was upset about the impact acid rain was having on local lakes.

So my teachers bought me a ticket to a black tie dinner where the late Senator Ted Kennedy was the guest speaker,” Booth says.

“I went alone, but ended up sitting next to the head of the Canadian Environmental Law Association. As he told me more about the profession and the practitioners, it became clear to me that few, if any, environmental lawyers understood the underlying science.”

Years later, Booth was drawn to the Dual J.D. Program because ecological issues are trans-boundary by nature, and because he found the standards of Michigan’s Environmental Protection Act to be “way ahead of its time.”

“Acid rain was a real cross-border issue,” Booth says. “But halfway through law school I realized that environmental lawyers didn’t really drive the policy or make the laws.”

Casting any disillusionment aside, Booth parlayed his interest in international issues into the London

Law Programme, a study abroad curriculum formerly offered by Detroit Mercy Law. “The professors were absolutely brilliant. It was the highlight of my law school experience,” Booth recalls. “My first job offer was to work with one of my London professors at Merrill Lynch in the U.K., which I did while I earned my Masters of Law from King’s College. Those were opportunities I would never have been able to access if it hadn’t been for Detroit Mercy Law.” Booth adopted a pragmatic approach to his concerns about the environment by developing global business strategies that could give him a seat at the policy table. In 1998, he co-founded Midpoint Holdings, the world’s first peer to peer foreign exchange (currency) matching service, taking it public on the Toronto Stock Exchange Venture Index in 2013.

He describes himself now as an entrepreneur with an environmental ethos.

“Globally, biodiversity is the biggest issue because human actions are wiping out important parts of our ecosystem,” Booth says. “The economy is a subset of the environment, not vice versa. Many people lose sight of this in our economic model, but we are making incremental progress.”

“People need to realize the advantage of this program when they are in the job market. A potential employee can say to a business with interests in Canada and the U.S., ‘Don’t hire two people when you can hire one with expertise in both systems.’”

Christina Nassar (’10) With the world’s economy in a tailspin, Christina Nassar developed a pre-law school strategy to create a skill set that would be nearly impossible for potential employers to ignore.

“Between the recession and the substantial number of law school graduates each year, I had to ensure I would do something that would distinguish me from my peers,” Nassar says. “What better way to do that then to get a Dual J.D.? The program recognizes what 8 DOC K E T | FA L L 20 1 7

employers look for and prepares its students for the workforce while instilling a strong foundation to succeed.”

One of only a handful of American citizens in her class, Nassar seized the opportunity to sit for bar exams in both countries, a move that helped her land her first job at Bell Temple in Toronto, one of Canada’s top insurance defense firms.

In 2015, she joined Butzel Long in Detroit.

“I was not only given the opportunity to maintain my insurance defense practice, but also expand my knowledge to work on matters involving automotive litigation and intellectual property and technology,” she says.

Nassar then received an offer to work for a former client, Meridian Lightweight Technologies, a supplier of innovative lightweight cast metal solutions for the transportation industry.

With the blessing of Butzel Long, Nassar joined Meridian’s in-house legal team last year.

“It’s been nice to settle into a position where I can use my fullest potential,” says Nassar, adding that having a Dual J.D. greatly contributed to her marketability for a company like Meridian.

“People need to realize the advantage of this program when they are in the job market.

A potential employee can say to a business with interests in Canada and the U.S., ‘Don’t hire two people when you can hire one with expertise in both systems,’” says Nassar.

As an alumna, Nassar gives back to Detroit Mercy Law by serving as a member of the Board of Directors of its Alumni Association.

She and her classmates continue the bond they established as Dual J.D. students.

“We are a community. We reach out to each other and share experiences,” Nassar says of her classmates. “Overall, I believe everyone who completed the program with me is pleased to have found good positions. It’s very promising to see how well we’ve done.”

“Even now, the skills I gained from the Dual Program are critical.”

Cyndee Todgham Cherniak (’92) International trade lawyer, BBC commentator, and founder of the LexSage Law Firm in Toronto, Cyndee Todgham Cherniak never had any doubt as to how she would apply her two law degrees.

“I made a conscious decision to go to law school during the period in which the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was on the table for discussion,” Cherniak recalls. “I planned to become an international trade lawyer, and I was fortunate to get a position to work in my preferred area right from the start. At the time, there were not many women who had a combination of experience in international trade and sales tax law.”

With clients throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Cherniak finds that the benefits of her joint degrees are as robust today as they were 25 years ago.

“Even now, the skills I gained from the Dual Program are critical.

I understand U.S. case law and how those laws are passed. I can put them into context. I learned the most about NAFTA when I was in the U.S.,” Cherniak says. “And there is nothing offered in Canada like the professional ethics course that I had to take in the U.S. It gave me a very strong foundation. It’s the most important course I’ve ever taken.”

Looking back, Cherniak says that while she knew the time was right for her to pursue the two law degrees, future trade attorneys will also find them valuable.

“With NAFTA renegotiations looming on the horizon, sanctions against Iran and Russia, and President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), this time is better than any other to get a Dual J.D.,” Cherniak says. “The trade rules are changing and with the retirement of many trade lawyers, there will be a need for people coming out of law school to pursue international trade law.”

Cherniak is a member of the Dual J.D. Program’s Advisory Board.

She also spends one day a week this semester teaching a trade-related class to students at Windsor Law. Her advice to students: “Ask yourself what it is that you want to do. Don’t look at what others do, choose an area that touches your soul, that makes you happy.”

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L AW SCHOOL T E AM

New Employees, New Positions Faculty Promotions

New Administrators

Karen McDonald Henning Associate Professor of Law B.A. with Honors, Trinity College; J.D., magna cum laude, University of Pennsylvania Prof. Henning joined the faculty in 2007, and was recently granted tenure. She teaches Applied Legal Theory and Analysis, Advanced Advocacy, Federal Jurisdiction, and a Judicial Clerkship seminar.

Patrick Meyer Director, Kresge Law Library & Associate Professor of Law B.S., Southwest Minnesota State University; M.S., Kansas State University; M.L.S., Syracuse University; J.D., Washburn University School of Law Patrick Meyer joined the faculty as Director of the Kresge Law Library in 2012, and was recently granted tenure. He teaches Advanced Legal Research.

Deborah Paruch (CLAE ’74; Business ’77; Law ’92) Professor of Law B.A., M.B.A. & J.D., summa cum laude, University of Detroit Mercy Deborah Paruch joined the faculty in 2000, and was recently promoted to Professor of Law. She teaches Applied Legal Theory and Analysis, Evidence, Children and the Law, and a Seminar in Family Law. Michelle Richards (’94) Assistant Professor of Law B.A., Michigan State University; J.D., University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Michelle Richards joined the faculty in 2002, and was recently promoted to the tenure-track. She teaches Torts, Civil Procedure, Applied Legal Theory & Analysis, Advanced Advocacy, and Pre-Trial Litigation.

Retirements

Krisciunas (L) and Morgan (R) celebrate their retirement with family, friends, former students, and colleagues in the Detroit Mercy Law Atrium on June 9, 2017.

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Adjunct Professors Richard T. Krisciunas (CLAE ’72; Law ’75) and Michael V. Morgan (CLAE ’69; Law ’72) are retiring after co-teaching the Criminal Trial Clinic since 2008. Krisciunas was previously the Director of Externships, and is currently teaching Trial Practice, a course he has taught since 1982. Both have been honored with Detroit Mercy Law’s Time and Talent Award (Morgan in 2009, Krisciunas in 2015). Detroit Mercy Law has established the Richard T. Krisciunas and Michael V. Morgan Scholarship Fund to commemorate the collective impact of these two outstanding educators.

Christina Loebach (’15) Associate Director, Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program Honours B.A., University of Windsor; J.D., Detroit Mercy Law and University of Windsor Faculty of Law A graduate of the Dual J.D. Program herself, Ms. Loebach previously worked at Windsor Law, and now divides her time between the two schools to ensure successful administration of the program.

Amanda Vanover Communications Specialist B.A., DePaul University Honors Program Ms. Vanover joined Detroit Mercy Law’s Office of Alumni Relations after managing the direct mail program for Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

New Positions Alicia Dyer (’01) was promoted from Reference Librarian to Head of Public Services for the Kresge Law Library. Ms. Dyer administers the first year Legal Research module program, and has been with the School of Law for seven years.

Shamaila Khan was promoted to Director, Student Affairs. Ms. Khan joined Detroit Mercy Law in 2009 as an Admissions Counselor, and became Assistant Director for Student Affairs in 2015.

Barbara White was promoted from Office Assistant to Administrative Assistant. A mainstay in the Student Services Center, Ms. White has been a resource for students, staff, faculty and administrators for 17 years.

Stephanie Winbigler (CLAE ’99) was promoted to Director, Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program after serving as Interim Director for several months. Formerly an Associate Director on the Admissions team, Ms. Winbigler has been with the School of Law since 2003.

FAC ULTY BRI E F S

Published Faculty Howard Abrams

J. Richard Broughton

Cristina Lockwood

The Law Of Copyright (2016 update)

Hate Crimes, the Death Penalty, and Criminal Justice Reform, 31 Hamline J. Pub. Law & Pol’y 185 (2017)

Michigan Legal Research (3d ed.

2016) (with Pamela Lysaght)

Wissam Aoun Canadian Patent Agent Reform Regulation (Part I): (In)Validity Issues Surrounding the Canadian Patent Agent Exam, 99 J. Pat. & Trademark Off. Soc’y 151 (2017) Canadian Patent Agent Reform Regulation (Part II): Governance, Self-Regulation, and Canada’s Patent Professional Identity Crisis, 99 J. Pat. & Trademark Off. Soc’y (forthcoming 2017) Constructivism, Embedded Liberalism, and Anti-Dumping— Canadian Public Interest Inquiry as a Case Study of Embedded Liberalism, 41 Can.-U.S. L.J. (forthcoming 2017) Catherine Archibald Transgender Bathroom Rights PostObama, 6 Tenn. J. Race, Gender & Soc. Just. (forthcoming 2017)

Julia Belian & Karen Henning If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: Increasing Assessments and Individualized Feedback in Law School Classes, 94 U. Det. Mercy L. Rev. (forthcoming 2017) Khaled Beydoun Acting Muslim, 52 Harv. Civ. Rts.-Civ. Liberties L. Rev. (forthcoming 2017)

Margaret Costello

Successful Legal Analysis and Writing (4th ed. forthcoming 2017) (with Christopher D. Soper et al.)

The Evolution of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association: Surviving and Adapting for 180 Years, Mich.

B.J., Feb. 2016, at 16.

Lawrence Dubin Michigan Evidence Courtroom Manual (2017 ed.) (with Glen Weissenberger & A.J. Stephani) Jaqueline Hand The Detroit Frontier: Urban Agriculture in a Legal Faction, 92 Chi.-Kent L. Rev. (forthcoming 2017) (with Amanda Gregory) Kyle Langvardt A Model of First Amendment Decision Making at a Divided Court, 84 Tenn. L. Rev. (forthcoming 2017)

Andrew Moore The Immigrant Paradox: Protecting Immigrants Through Improved Health Care, 81 Alb. L. Rev. (forthcoming 2017) Deborah Paruch Testimonial Statements, Reliability, and the Sole or Decisive Evidence Rule: A Comparative Look at the Right of Confrontation in the United States, Canada, and Europe, 67 Catholic U. L. Rev. (forthcoming 2017) James Stevens (Adjunct Professor) Cases and Materials on Patent Law Including Trade Secrets (7th ed. 2017) (with William H. Francis et al.)

Symposium, Remarks on 3D Printing, Free Speech, and Lochner, 17 Minn. J.L., Sci. & Tech. 779 (2016)

Executive Disorder, 23 Michigan J. Race & L. (forthcoming 2017) (with Abed Ayoub) America, Islam, and Constitutionalism: Muslim American Poverty and the Mounting Police State, 31 J.L. & Religion 279 (2016) Divesting from Sectarianism: Reimagining Relations Between Iran and the Arab Gulf States, J. Int’l Aff., Spring/Summer 2016, at 47 (with Hamada Zahawi) DE TROIT MERCY LAW 11

SU P P ORT ING D E T RO IT M E RCY LAW

Scholarship Stories What feels as wonderful as receiving a law school scholarship?

Giving one. To the donors below, and many more who support our students: Thank You!

Nancy and I received a tremendous amount of help and support throughout our educational years. Some of that help came from scholarships made possible by others. We would not have been able to complete our education or succeed without the assistance. It is important to give back and support students who may face barriers or not have educational opportunities without financial assistance. It is extremely gratifying to see students thrive when given a hand up.

The Robert A. Warchuck Memorial Scholarship was an unexpected honor and source of inspiration for me. I received notification of this scholarship during one of the most intense periods of my 1L year: preparation for first semester exams. The timing was a poignant reminder about finding inspiration from the strength of others.

As a veteran, I recognized that the tours of duty Robert performed while serving in the Marine Corps were under the most difficult of conditions. Robert’s strength and perseverance during his service helped me to continue working hard, but also to keep my studies in perspective.

I was equally inspired by Robert’s ability to re-renter civilian life and become an esteemed student and friend within the Detroit Mercy Law community. I am grateful to Robert’s family for making this award possible and respect their commitment to honor Robert’s memory by assisting student veterans at Detroit Mercy Law.

– Ralph McDowell (’86) and Nancy Glen (’86)

As the first person in my family to attend law school, Mr. McDowell and Ms. Glen’s scholarship helped relieve some financial obligations of attending law school and allowed me to focus on my dream of becoming an attorney. I look forward to the day when I will be able to similarly give back. Mr. McDowell and Ms. Glen, thank you for your kindness.

– William Ma (’17) Left: William Ma (’17, L) receives Detroit Mercy Law’s Vivere ex Missione Award from University President Antoine M. Garibaldi (R).

As a 1986 Detroit Mercy Law graduate, I recognized then the lack of diversity in our class. 31 years later, especially in the area of Personal Injury law, we still have a long way to go. It is my honor and privilege to give back to the school that made my career possible, in the hopes that my gift will help provide increased opportunities to minority or nontraditional students with a love for the law. Now more than ever, a diverse perspective is needed in our field.

– Christopher Stone (’19), full-time day student

The Robert A. Warchuck Memorial Scholarship, established by the Warchuck family, honors the legacy of Robert Warchuck (’15), who passed away unexpectedly shortly after graduation. Robert, a Marine, proudly served in Bahrain and Fallujah before attending Detroit Mercy Law.

– Ven Johnson (’86)

Build a Boundless Future Campaign Priorities:

$8,000,000

•

$6,000,000

•

Increase scholarships for our students Increase funding for programmatic support, including our clinical program

To learn more about the Build a Boundless Future Campaign, contact Interim Executive Director of Major Gifts Dennis Carlesso (Business ’90, ’97) at 313-993-3360 or carlesdm@udmercy.edu.

$7,000,000

$5,000,000 $4,000,000

$7,500,000 $6,000,000

$3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000

Raised

Goal

0

Funds raised include cash, pledges and future expectancies through August 31, 2017.

12 DOCK E T | FA L L 2 0 1 7

FROM THE FIREHOUS E : C LINIC UPDATE

Three New Clinics Expand Community Outreach The Clinical Program at Detroit Mercy Law first opened its doors in 1965, serving thousands of clients over fifty-plus years. All students take clinical coursework, including Dual J.D. students. This academic year will offer three new clinics to serve additional interests within the student body and important needs in the community. They will be offered alongside established clinics in Immigration Law, Veterans Law, Veterans Appeals, Criminal Trial, State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) Criminal Advocacy, Juvenile Appeals, and International Intellectual Property.

Housing Law Clinic (Summer 2017) The Housing Law Clinic ran for the first time this summer, placing students in an existing walk-in clinic operated by the United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC). Students represented indigent and lowincome individuals facing eviction proceedings in the 36th District Court (Detroit). The director of UCHC, Ted Phillips, served as supervising attorney and adjunct professor.

Trademark & Entrepreneur Clinic (Fall 2017) The Trademark & Entrepreneur Clinic focuses on small business development and trademark registration. This clinic acts as a companion to the International Intellectual Property Law Clinic, and serves indigent and low-income students and entrepreneurs. Experienced trademark and intellectual property law attorney Timothy Kroninger (’85) of Varnum LLP serves as adjunct professor and director for this clinic.

Family Law Clinic (Winter 2018) The Family Law Clinic will begin as a three-semester pilot in partnership with the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic (WBLAC). The clinic will operate on the premises of WBLAC and will utilize the services of Detroit Mercy Law students to work on family law cases dealing with divorce, child support, child custody, parenting time, and related family law issues. William Booth is a 1962 graduate of Detroit Mercy Law.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Two students who completed the first Housing Law Clinic speak about their experiences.

“The experience I gained is priceless and the clients I met along the way will always have a special place in my heart.

Being able to help people stay in their homes and prevent homelessness was such a rewarding experience.

However, although it was rewarding, it was also very emotional. Many of the clients I worked with faced eviction and possible homelessness due to unfortunate circumstances that were out of their control. Being able to lend a helping hand in one of the most stressful times of their lives was truly humbling.”

– Melanie Hesano (’18) “My most memorable client had been paying rent for 18 months but had missed her last two payments. However, during her entire tenancy the home was infested with mice, roaches, and bed bugs. The house was falling apart, the bath tub was moldy, the place was a disaster. I thought to myself, wow, people actually live like this? For this client, these disgusting conditions were a reality. We ended up getting the two months’ rent that was owed waived for the client, and got her another 30 days to leave the house in exchange for waiving abatement defenses. However, that case stuck with me because of the harsh reality of this city: many fellow citizens are struggling through basic parts of human life. I enjoyed being able to help people that needed help.”

– Fahed Makki (’18)

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 13

A D M I S SIONS U P DAT E

It Takes a Village to Enroll a Law School Class “IT TAKES A VILLAGE to raise a child” is an old

African proverb made popular by Hillary Clinton in 1996. At Detroit Mercy Law, our mantra is similar: “it takes a village to enroll a class.” While the School of Law’s Admissions and Financial Aid team bears the primary responsibility for recruiting and enrolling each entering class, we are delighted that our “village” has enthusiastically participated in all of our recruitment and yield efforts. Our village includes the Dean and other members of the law school administration, faculty, staff, current students, and alumni, and each group plays a vital role in the recruitment process.

Incoming students enjoy a cruise on the Detroit River during Orientation 2017.

As part of our mission to Educate the Complete Lawyer, we ensure that every Admissions event highlights an important aspect of the Detroit Mercy Law experience. Each Prospective Student Open House features either a mock class taught by one of our faculty members, a faculty or alumni panel, a moot court observation, or a simulated clinical exercise.

Once admitted, future students receive many opportunities to connect with the School before classes even begin. Every admitted student receives a welcome phone call from Dean Crocker, as well as a letter from a faculty member whose expertise aligns with the educational goals and interests of the student. Through our Outreach campaigns, a faculty member, an alumnus, and a student ambassador contact our admitted students via phone or email.

14 DOCK E T | FA L L 2 0 1 7

We also offer admitted students the opportunity to experience A Day in the Life of a Detroit Mercy Law Student, during which they attend a real law school class and have lunch or dinner with current students and faculty.

Alumni partner with faculty and staff to interview candidates nominated for the prestigious Detroit Mercy Law Fellows program, and attend our Jump Start Your Legal Education workshops for incoming students during the summer. The Kitch Law Firm, led by Mark Wisniewski (’90), graciously hosted our 2017 Reception for Detroit Mercy Law Scholars.

We also take the Detroit Mercy Law experience on the road, recruiting from coast to coast. Last year, our faculty members taught 15 mock classes at our top feeder schools in Michigan, and at select institutions in Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario. These experiences were so well received that they led to additional engagement opportunities for the Law School and our faculty members.

Young people in our own backyard are also invited to experience our School. In February, we hosted the inaugural Aspiring Attorneys workshop to introduce Detroit area youth to the study and practice of law.

For the past three summers, we have welcomed Detroit area high school students through Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization’s Summer Legal Institute, a weeklong seminar focusing on legal education and practice, college readiness, and networking. We would be thrilled to see many of these impressive young leaders at our Admissions events in the years to come!

We are pleased to welcome the next generation of Detroit Mercy lawyers who will enhance the Law School and the legal profession in meaningful ways. On behalf of a grateful enrollment management Monique A. McCarthy team, I extend our sincere thanks to Associate Dean for Enrollment all the members of our village who Management and Communications help to make this possible.

Alumni: Volunteer to be part of our Admissions village!

Contact our office at 313-596-0264 or udmlawao@udmercy.edu

S C RAPB O O K

GOLF

OUTING

Bernie Fuhs (Business ’03; Law ’06) and Mark Boehms celebrate an eagle as Avis Choulagh (’06) looks on. The three, along with Richard Ballentine (’06), had the best team score for the day.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 INN AT ST. JOHN’S, PLYMOUTH, MI DET ROIT MERCY LAW hosted its second

annual Golf Outing and Awards Dinner, raising $33,000 to benefit student scholarships.

One-hundred golfers enjoyed reconnecting on the course and over dinner.

2Ls Aleksandar Popov, Evon Pervan-Keller, Akeem Pack, and Mustapha Hawily were among the 27 students who hit the links for a great cause.

Ellisse Thompson (’13) and Tony Agosta (’97) high-five after a job well done.

Judge Denise Langford Morris (’82) receives the Time and Talent Award from Alumni Association President Edward G. Lennon (’88).

Dean Phyllis L. Crocker presents Mikyia S. Aaron (’15) with the Rising Star Award.

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 15

SC R A P B OOK

Erin Go Law: March 16, 2017

More than 100 judges and attorneys mingled with Detroit Mercy Law students and Dean Phyllis L. Crocker (center) at the Alumni Association Board’s Erin Go Law Networking Reception on March 16, 2017. Judge Michael J. Riordan (’90) (back row, third from right) was committee chair for the event, assisted primarily by co-chairs Bernard J. Fuhs (Business ’03, Law ’06) (back row, second from left), Kyle R. Dufrane (’98) (back row, far right), and several other alumni who served as committee members. 2016-17 State Bar of Michigan President Lawrence P. Nolan also was in attendance (front row, far right).

Women in the Law Luncheon

Director of Career Services and Outreach Tanya Lundberg (left) and alumna Julianne Cassin Sharp (’01) show off their awards at the “Women in the Law” Luncheon on September 7, 2017. Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (’84) and Mary Kucharek (’92) were also named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2017 Class of Women in the Law.

LawMeet

Joseph K. Tung (Dual JD ’17), Adjunct Prof. David D. Joswick, and Adam P. Fucile (Dual JD ’17) at the National Transactional LawMeet competition in New York City. Fucile and Tung took second place of 84 teams competing nationally. Coached by Joswick (Miller Canfield), the team engaged in legal exercises such as interviewing a corporate client, drafting a transaction, conducting due diligence, and negotiating with lawyers (in this case, fellow law school students) representing the opposing party.

Commencement 2017

Left: Chief Judge Denise Page Hood of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan delivered the keynote address.

Right: Aaron Jackson (’17, C) is hooded by his mentor, Judge Shalina D. Kumar (’96, R) and Prof. Kyle T. Langvardt (L).

Solar Eclipse 2017 Thanks to the

Urban Agriculture

The new summer immersion class in Urban Agriculture tours one of the greenhouses at RecoveryPark in Detroit. L-R: Prof. Jacqueline P. Hand, Emina Alic (’19), Matt Grove (’19), Michael Delehant (’19), Esther Harris (’19), Adjunct Prof. Amanda Gregory, Alicia Schomaker (’19), Jenna Swartzmiller (’19).

16 DOCK E T | FA L L 2 0 1 7

total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017—and eclipse glasses provided by the Student Bar Association—the incoming class at Detroit Mercy Law will never forget their first day on campus!

Dean Phyllis L. Crocker is front and center with more than 100 new students on their first day of orientation.

S C RAPB O O K

A LETTER FROM INDIA

Stephanie Fong is a 3L Dual J.D. student who had the exciting opportunity to work in India this summer with the world’s largest anti-slavery organization, International Justice Mission (IJM), on human trafficking casework. Fong is a recipient of Detroit Mercy Law’s Voice for Justice Fellowship and the Social Justice Fellowship Award from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.

July 16, 2017

Dear Detroit Mercy Law Community, This weekend, International Justice Mission (IJM)’s field office aided police and government officials in a rescue operation, freeing three bonded labourers from a brick kiln. They, along with another escaped labourer, were trapped for four months and forced to work 13-hour days under violent conditions.

These four survivors are now undergoing rehabilitation, restoration, and transition into their native village with the assistance of IJM’s aftercare team. Police have charged the perpetrator of violating Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code, regarding the trafficking of persons, and committing offences under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act. The story was featured this morning in leading newspapers, including the Times of India and The Hindu. While we celebrate the freedom of these four survivors, this is a stark reminder that slavery exists today and there remain millions who await their day of rescue.

I am very grateful that Detroit Mercy Law has supported my aspirations to be a voice for the oppressed through the Voice for Justice Fellowship. I hope to see more lives freed during my time here.

Voice for Justice Fellow Stephanie Fong (Dual JD ’18) on “saree day” in her office in India.

Sincerely, Stephanie Fong Voice for Justice Fellow

RED MASS Detroit Mercy Law celebrated its 105th annual Red Mass on September 26, 2017. Red Mass is an occasion for judges, attorneys, and community members of all faiths to pray together for guidance at the beginning of a new judicial term. The Hon. Gershwin A. Drain, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, led the Renewal of the Lawyer’s Oath of Commitment, and the Rev. Monsignor John P. Zenz officiated the Mass.

(L-R) Prof. Pamela Zarkowski, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi, President; Rev. Monsignor John P. Zenz; Hon. Gershwin A. Drain; and Phyllis L. Crocker, Dean.

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 17

C A R E E R SE RV ICE S U P DAT E

Class of 2016 Employment Outcomes The Career Services Office (CSO) collects and reports graduate employment outcomes to the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). These organizations receive employment data from all law schools and track national trends.

The entry-level legal employment market is improving. The employment rate is trending up and the unemployed-seeking rate is trending down.

Overall Employment* National

Class of 2016

Detroit Mercy Law

Employed

UnemployedSeeking

Employed

UnemployedSeeking

88%

9%

88%

9%

Class of 2015

86%

10%

81%

17%

Class of 2014

86%

10%

80%

15%

Where Are Our 2016 Grads?

The majority of graduates choose to practice law in Michigan or Ontario.

Spotlight: French Scholar Program Each year, Detroit Mercy Law sends a recent graduate to teach American law coursework at the Université d’Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand, France. In turn, the Université d’Auvergne sends a French Scholar to our campus to teach European Union Law and Introduction to French Law each Winter term.

Recent American Law Lecturers

*Employment data for each class reported as of March 15 following graduation.

Employment in Bar Passage Required and J.D. Advantage Positions Class of 2016

National

Detroit Mercy Law

79%

80%

Class of 2015

76%

73%

Class of 2014

79%

70%

Lindsay Masters (Dual JD ’17) 2017-2018 academic year

Benjamin Stoltman (’16) 2016-2017 academic year

Ravynne Gilmore (’15) 2015-2016 academic year

Spotlight: Judicial Clerks

Individuals pursue legal education for diverse reasons and the best employment outcome for each graduate varies. Generally, however, it is assumed that Bar Passage Required and J.D. Advantage* outcomes are the best outcomes for law school graduates.

Judicial clerkships are extremely competitive. Several alumni from the Class of 2016 secured judicial clerkships, including:

A note about Dual J.D. graduates: Graduates who pursue legal careers in Ontario are required to complete a 10-month experiential learning requirement called articling to obtain their license to practice law. These employment outcomes are categorized as short-term, per ABA and NALP definitions. The short-term classification of these positions is frequently misunderstood as an inferior employment result, despite being a requirement for licensure and therefore the best post-graduation result for these students’ career goals. *J.D. Advantage is a position for which a J.D. provides a demonstrable advantage in obtaining or performing the job, but which does not itself require bar passage or an active law license, or involve practicing law.

Steven Eatherly (’16) Michigan Supreme Court

Meriam Choulagh (’16) Michigan Court of Appeals

Constance Budaci (Dual JD ’16) Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Class of 2016: Types of Employment Law Firm (2 - 50)

47%

Business & Industry 22%

18 DOCK E T | FA L L 2 0 1 7

Law Firm (51 +)

12%

Judicial Clerkship

6%

Government

6%

Public Interest

4%

Law Firm (Solo)

2%

Education

1%

WANT TO HIRE A 2017 GRADUATE? Direct career opportunities to the CSO at 313.596.0223 or cso@udmercy.edu.

C LAS S NOTES

Charles R. Rutherford, Sr. (Engineering ’53; Law ’57)

Golden Jubilee Class of 1967

O

n April 28, University of Detroit Mercy honored Charles R. Rutherford, Sr., as the Law School recipient of its 2017 Spirit Award.

The seven award recipients—one from each school and college—reflect the University’s mission of excellence and service, and bring pride to Detroit Mercy. During his acceptance speech, Rutherford fondly remembered his activities as an engineering and law student, attending the dedication of the Memorial Building (now Calihan Hall), and helping raise $50,000 to construct the Student Center in which he would, decades later, accept his Spirit Award. “Sight unseen, I enrolled at the University of Detroit after I completed my U.S. Army enlistment,” Rutherford said. “I arrived by bus in September of 1948, and have remained committed since then to U of D Mercy.” Known to his family, friends, and the Detroit Mercy community as “Charlie,” Rutherford rarely misses a university function. A retired senior partner at Dykema Gossett, PLLC, Rutherford is a former president of the University of Detroit Mercy Alumni Association and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Alumni Board.

O

n July 14, members of the Class of 1967 celebrated their 50th Law School Reunion at the Detroit Athletic Club. Alumni, friends, and family members traveled from near and far to mark this special anniversary. The event was organized by classmates Jeffrey Leib and Michael Cavanaugh. Leib, along with fellow ’67 grads John Ciesliga, Joseph Golden, and Hon. Lois Smith led the procession as guests of honor at the Law School’s 104th annual Commencement ceremony in May. “I drove a beer truck for three years to get through law school,” Leib recalls. “When I finally walked across that stage, I could hardly believe it.”

REMEMBRANCE Mr. John C. Berry (’52) Mr. Daniel J. Brennan (’75) Mr. Harry F. Brinsden (’73) The Hon. Warren C. Burk (’59) Mr. Alan A. Byrd (’95) Mr. Harold B. Clark (’55) Mrs. Lynne M. Cooper (’81) Mr. Norman E. Dilworth (’54) Ms. Lolita Dimovski (’96) Mr. David S. Dixon (’77) Mrs. Suzanne E. Dreifus (’86)

Mr. Aloysius F. Gazdecki (’63) Mr. Warren P. Geiger (’59) Mr. John F. Goetz, Jr. (’68) Mr. Gerold W. Haas (’88) Mr. Robert A. Hackathorn, Jr. (’67) Mr. Douglas Hamel (’77) Ms. Marguerite A. Hanes (’92) Mr. Donald L. Hunt, Jr. (’78) Ms. Sarah E. Hunter (’83) Mr. Charles B. Judson (’80) The Hon. John R. Kirwan (’51)

Top: Members of the Class of 1967 at their Reunion Celebration. Standing, left to right: Gordon Snavely, William McIntyre, Timothy Sullivan, Allen Meyers, Alvin Rutledge, L. Brooks Patterson, Jeffrey Leib, Michael Cavanaugh (partially blocked), Martin Clements, Daniel Sawicki, Joseph Golden. Front Row: Peter Abbo, Patrick McTigue, Eugene Gargaro, Jr., L. Gene DeAgostino. Not pictured: Peter Deegan (’66) and Henry Mistele (’66).

Bottom: Golden Jubilee graduates Joseph Golden, John Ciesliga, Hon. Lois Smith, and Jeffrey Leib were guests of honor at the 2017 Commencement ceremony.

With deepest sympathy to the family and friends of alumni who passed away between October 15, 2016 and September 15, 2017.

Mr. Kraag C. Lieberman (’77) Mr. Richard B. Lutz, Jr. (’63) Mr. James H. McCormick (’57) Mr. Michael J. McNamee (’73) Mr. Kenneth J. Mixter (’53) Mr. William J. O’Halloran (’55) Ms. Catherine J. Reindel (’75) Mr. Thomas W. Ricard (’59) The Hon. Ellen G. Ritteman (’75) Mr. Thomas N. Robinson, Jr. (’49) Mr. Robert J. Sayfie (’91)

Mr. Andrew J. Serdiuk (’14) The Hon. M. John Shamo (’64) The Hon. Louis F. Simmons, Jr. (’56) Mr. Eugene B. Strzalka (’83) Mr. David K. Tate (’73) Mr. Gerald J. Van Wambeke (’81) Mr. Robert D. Vanderlaan (’77) Mrs. Paula S. Weberman (’85) Mr. James L. Wolfe (’92) Mr. Richard F. Zapala (’73)

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 19

C L ASS NOT E S

1970s

William E. Pilchak (’78)

Vincent Candiello (’78) Vincent Candiello joined international law firm Cozen O’Connor as a member of its labor and employment department in its Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, office.

Candiello represents clients in labor and employmentrelated lawsuits, administrative claims, arbitration, and unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Donald G. Rockwell (’76)

Vincent Candiello (’78)

1980s Donald G. Rockwell (’76)

After more than a decade of State Bar service, Donald Rockwell (’76) was sworn in as President of the State Bar of Michigan on September 28, 2017. Rockwell is also Commissioner for SBM’s District B, and practices with Nill Rockwell, PC in Flint.

Charles Lusby (’73)

William E. Pilchak (’78)

A

t age 81, solo practitioner Charles Lusby still has the curiosity of a law student, auditing classes at Detroit Mercy Law to update his knowledge in areas that interest him. “On occasion I go back,” Lusby says. “I was interested in constitutional and immigration law and wanted to know more so I sat in on those courses. It was great. I didn’t have the same pressure I had as a law student when I was working and going to school.” The route to law school was a nontraditional one for this lifelong Detroiter. “I was 37 years old when I started law school and a fulltime employee for the Michigan Department of Transportation,” Lusby recalls. “Going to law school was something I’d considered for a long time, and after dealing with attorneys in my job, I thought, ‘If these guys’—because back then it was almost all men—‘can be lawyers, I know I can.’” Lusby says he is happy to see an increase in diversity in the legal profession. “Back when I started to practice, there were only a handful of African American lawyers. I knew them all.

Now I don’t even know the number of Black attorneys in Detroit. It’s refreshing to see.”

20 DOCK E T | FA L L 2 0 1 7

Bill Pilchak joined Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC as a shareholder in the firm’s Detroit office. Pilchak has more than three decades of labor and employment law experience and joins Ogletree Deakins from Pilchak & Cohen, a boutique labor and employment law firm he co-owned.

Robin D. Ferriby (’87) Robin Ferriby was selected as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence in the Center on Community Philanthropy at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. He visited the Center for one week and presented his work as part of the Clinton School Speaker Series. Ferriby is Vice President of Philanthropic Services for the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (’84)

Robin D. Ferriby (’87)

Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey is one of three Detroit Mercy Law alumnae named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of 30 “2017 Women in the Law.” A member of Bodman PLC’s Detroit office, Hickey represents lenders in loan originations.

Her practice encompasses secured transactions, loan workouts, and counseling lenders on lender liability and loan structure issues.

Denise D. Ilitch (’80) Kathleen O’Callaghan Hickey (’84)

Denise Ilitch was re-elected to the University of Michigan Board of Regents, serving a second eight-year term. Last summer, she was appointed co-chair of the Board of Directors for Horizon Global Corporation.

Mark S. Kopson (CLAE ’81; Law ’85) Denise D. Ilitch (’80)

Mark S. Kopson (CLAE ’81; Law ’85)

Mark S. Kopson, a partner at Plunkett Cooney and chair of its Health Care Industry Group, has been elected to the American Health Lawyers Association’s Board of Directors. Kopson also serves on the Board of Directors for Plunkett Cooney.

C LAS S NOTES

Scott K. Lites (’85) Scott Lites, a partner at Plunkett Cooney, was named leader of the firm’s Business Law Department. Chair of Plunkett Cooney’s finance committee and a longtime member of the firm’s board of directors, Lites focuses his practice in the areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and finance.

Beth Gotthelf (’85) Scott K. Lites (’85)

Prof. Gary M. Maveal (’81) Gary Maveal received University of Detroit Mercy’s 2016 Agere ex Missione Award, which is presented annually to one faculty member and one staff member. Recipients contribute to an excellent student-centered experience, demonstrate engagement in meaningful activities that enhance Detroit Mercy’s mission, and exhibit leadership and service in the community.

James G. Sloan (Dual JD ’88) James Sloan was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada by Governor General David Johnston. Before relocating to Toronto, Canada, to join the Board, Sloan was a law professor at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, United Kingdom.

Mark L. Teicher (’82) Mark Teicher was honored in September with the State Bar of Michigan’s Michael Franck Award.

The Michael Franck Award is given annually to an attorney who has made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of the profession. Mark’s wife, Julie B. Teicher, is also a graduate of the Class of 1982.

Prof. Gary M. Maveal (’81)

James G. Sloan (Dual JD ’88)

Mark L. Teicher (’82)

David C. Anderson (’98)

1990s David C. Anderson (’98) David Anderson was elected to the Board of Commissioners of the State Bar of Michigan, representing District I (Oakland County). He provides oversight to the various operations of the State Bar, such as finance, public policy, professional standards, and member services and communications.

Anderson is a partner with Collins Einhorn Farrell PC specializing in defense litigation.

John D. Jolley (’95)

Mary M. Kucharek (Nursing ’88; Law ’92)

sense of “A huge commitment” to

the Detroit community and the community at large drives Butzel Long partner Beth Gotthelf to extend her advocacy beyond the confines of her practice. As president of the Michigan Israel Business Bridge (MIBB), Gotthelf worked for a year and a half to bring an Israeli trade mission to Michigan. “That was totally amazing,” she says of the threeday defense trade mission, which took place in April. When Gotthelf discovered that the trade mission was going to happen—but not in Michigan—she worked overtime to convince the trade delegation to include the Wolverine State. Not only was Michigan was the only state the delegation visited but, according to Gotthelf, the mission reaped immediate benefits. “At the end of a mission like this you usually expect to form relationships, but we had commitments for two projects. It was an instant success,” says Gotthelf. “Whatever I touch you see the same theme: I’m a big booster for Michigan.”

John D. Jolley (’95) John Jolley joined Isaac Wiles Burkholder & Teetor, LLC as a partner specializing in corporate, transactional, and commercial real estate law. Jolley is a certified specialist in Ohio for business, commercial, and industrial real property law, a distinction earned by only 20 attorneys in the state.

Mary M. Kucharek (Nursing ’88; Law ’92) Mary Kucharek is one of three Detroit Mercy Law alumnae named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of 30 “2017 Women in the Law.” A partner with Beier Howlett, PC in Troy, she represents clients in prosecuting both criminal and civil matters. She is also the City Attorney for the City of Orchard Lake Village, The Village of Lake Orion, and holds the position of Assistant City Attorney for the City of Birmingham.

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 21

C L ASS NOT E S

Stewart A. Sandweiss (’99)

Michelle Johnson Tidjani (’98)

Stewart Sandweiss was appointed to the Board of Directors for Protect Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Since 2000, he has operated Sandweiss Law Center PC, representing clients in a wide variety of civil and criminal cases.

A

fter more than a decade away from her home town, Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) Senior Vice President and General Counsel Michelle Johnson Tidjani says living and working in the Detroit area holds tremendous potential for her, her husband, and their two children, ages 13 and 10. “The draw to come back to Detroit was significant because I still have family here,” Tidjani says. “I joined HFHS because I wanted to continue to be part of an organization that was aligned with my personal values.

I have a strong belief that most people are good and deserve an opportunity to thrive.” Before returning to Detroit, Tidjani was Deputy Chief Legal Officer at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She began work at HFHS’s downtown location this past June, a move that she says will also give her the chance to connect with Detroit Mercy Law’s aspiring attorneys.

“Coming back is an opportunity to make a difference in the city I love. Having been part of the community in my earlier years, I know what it’s like for kids who are like me, who want to do the right things,” Tidjani says. “And with my office in Midtown, I would love to share my experiences with Detroit Mercy Law’s students. I have nothing but fond memories of the Law School.”

Stewart A. Sandweiss (’99)

Mary Ann Victor (’94)

Mary Ann Victor (’94) Mary Ann Victor was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to the Michigan Board of Pharmacy. Victor is president of MAV Associates, LLC, and previously served in the roles of vice president, chief administrative officer, and general counsel for Somanetics Corporation. She will represent the general public on the board, which is responsible for regulating and inspecting the practice of pharmacy and drugs manufactured and distributed in Michigan.

Hon. Latrice A. Westbrooks (’97)

Hon. Latrice A. Westbrooks (’97)

Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Latrice Westbrooks was honored as Outstanding Woman Lawyer of 2017 by the Mississippi Women Lawyers’ Association. A municipal judge prior to her election to the Court of Appeals, she spent many years in private practice and also held several civic positions, including with the Attorney’s and Mayor’s Offices in Jackson, Mississippi.

2000s Eric P. Conn (’03)

Eric P. Conn (’03)

After nine years with the firm, Eric Conn was elected shareholder at Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney’s Detroit office. He primarily concentrates his practice in premises liability, negligence, and products liability.

Blake K. Harden (’06)

Blake K. Harden (’06)

22 DOCK E T | FA L L 2 0 1 7

Blake Harden joined the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways & Means, Subcommittee on Trade. As Trade Counsel, she advises House Members on a variety of trade matters, including negotiations and implementation of bilateral and regional free trade agreements, the operation of trade laws, trade promotion authority, antidumping and countervailing duty issues, bilateral relationships with U.S. trading partners, and World Trade Organization negotiations and dispute settlement. She serves as the primary counsel for the customs portfolio.

C LAS S NOTES

Keith D. Marlowe (Dual JD ’08)

Ashley Coneff (’08)

A

s a lobbyist for Dunkin’ Brands (parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins), Ashley Coneff relishes the opportunity to represent the business owners who comprise Dunkin’s franchisee network to federal and state lawmakers, along with the occasional chance to sample some delicious coffee, donuts, and ice cream. “I look at lobbying as an educational tool,” Coneff says.

“I love helping lawmakers understand who we are and what we do, and how the laws they are considering will impact businesses in their communities.” Coneff, who was Manager of Legislative Affairs for Domino’s Pizza before joining Dunkin’ Brands in 2016 as its Director of Governmental Affairs, says representing Dunkin’s franchise owners allows her to work on an array of interesting areas of the law, including labor, tax, health care, immigration, environmental, nutrition, and ADA compliance. Her favorite thing about lobbying, Coneff explained, is the strategy that it involves. “To effectively promote your position, you must understand the process, know the personalities involved, recognize the stakeholders, and always think several steps ahead.” Because Dunkin’ Brands restaurants are 100% franchiseowned, “there are so many American dream stories among our franchisees,” Coneff says.

“I have the awesome responsibility of giving a voice to these hardworking small business owners who employ tens of thousands of people around the country. It’s nice to be able to work for people you really believe in and who work so hard.”

Keith D. Marlowe (Dual JD ’08)

Keith Marlowe was promoted to partner at the Calgary office of international law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon, LLP. Marlowe practices corporate/ commercial litigation with a special focus on all aspects of insurance coverage and defense, energy (oil and gas), product liability, intellectual property, and class action litigation.

Kari L. Melkonian (’08) Kari Melkonian was elected to the Board of Directors for the Oakland County Bar Association. A partner with Collins Einhorn Farrell, PC in the general and automotive liability group, her practice focuses on the defense of general and automotive liability claims.

Kari L. Melkonian (’08)

Beth A. Norrow (’05)

Beth A. Norrow (’05) Beth Norrow, an associate in the Orlando office of international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP, was appointed to the Consumer Protection Law Committee of the Florida Bar Association. Her practice focuses on creditor’s rights and lender liability, representing financial institutions and secured creditors in protecting assets, and enforcing property rights and obligations.

Julianne M. Cassin Sharp (’01)

Julianne M. Cassin Sharp (’01)

Julianne Cassin Sharp is one of three Detroit Mercy Law alumnae named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of 30 “2017 Women in the Law.” She is a partner in the Southfield office of Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, she is a member of the firm’s Immigration and Litigation Practice Groups, specializing in both employment-based immigration and nationality law.

2010s Kyle T. Burleson (’10)

Kyle T. Burleson (’10)

Kyle Burleson, current deputy director at the Detroit/ Wayne County Port Authority, is serving as the Port Authority’s interim executive director until a permanent executive director is identified.

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 23

C L ASS NOT E S

Jordan S. Dizik (’12)

Alex M. Petrik (’14)

Jordan Dizik joined the Detroit office of Varnum LLP as an associate on the Family Law Team. He represents corporate leaders, business owners, professional athletes, entertainers, and other high net worth individuals in family law matters in Genesee, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne county circuit courts.

Alex Petrik joined Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Law Practice Group last fall. Petrik represents property and casualty insurance providers in coverage litigation involving environmental contamination, construction defect, and highexposure product liability claims.

Jordan S. Dizik (’12)

Jennifer A. Dukarski (Engineering ’96; Law ’10) Butzel Long shareholder Jennifer Dukarski co-presented a session during the National Association for Surface Finishing – Michigan Chapter’s Midwest meeting. The program was titled “Cybersecurity – Looking Beyond the Hype and Into Your Business.”

Dukarski focuses her practice at the intersection of technology and communications with an emphasis on digital media, cybersecurity, infotainment, vehicle safety, and connected and autonomous cars.

Elizabeth R. Reno (’11) Jennifer A. Dukarski (Engineering ’96; Law ’10)

Katharine E. Brink Harrison (’12)

Katharine E. Brink Harrison (’12) Katharine Brink Harrison was promoted to senior associate at land use and business law firm Dalton & Tomich, PLC. Harrison has partnered with churches, mosques and other religious institutions across the country, helping cement her firm’s reputation as a national leader in litigation involving the Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).

Joseph D. Hess (Business ’09; Law ’12)

Ashleigh M. MacMartin (’11)

Ashleigh M. MacMartin (’11) Ashleigh MacMartin became Head of Governance, Controls and Metrics for FCC CDD Advisory at HSBC Bank USA. She provides oversight for FCC CDD Advisory policy and procedure, QA controls, and reporting.

Ashley E. McBride (’16)

Ashley E. McBride (’16) Ashley McBride joined Hilf & Hilf, PLC as an associate attorney. The firm specializes in criminal defense and immigration law.

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Kimberly Ross Clayson (’06) & Peter Schneider (’11)

N

Joseph D. Hess (Business ’09; Law ’12) Joseph Hess joined the Grand Rapids office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP as an associate in the Labor and Employment Law Department. Hess counsels and defends employers and managers across all industries in a wide range of pre-litigation and litigation matters. His practice also involves handling traditional labor matters under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

Beth Reno joined the Detroit office of Gallagher Sharp LLP as an associate. A major focus of Reno’s practice involves defending no-fault auto negligence claims. She also defends businesses, insurance carriers, and insureds against premises liability, construction indemnity, personal injury, property damage and wrongful death claims.

Alex M. Petrik (’14)

Elizabeth R. Reno (’11)

ew Year’s Day 2017 marked an extra special occasion for Detroit Mercy Law alumni and colleagues Kimberly Ross Clayson and Peter Schneider.

After years working as associates with their firm, they bought out the retiring partners and became shareholders of the newly-named Clayson, Schneider & Miller, PC. “I am very excited to begin this partnership,” Schneider says. “Although the process of becoming a managing partner has been intimidating at times, it is very fulfilling. I am hopeful that providing my absolute best product to each and every client will pay dividends in the growth of our business going forward.”

Clayson is also optimistic about the future of the firm, which specializes in bankruptcy, debtor/ creditor rights, and business services for entrepreneurs. “The task of owning and operating a law firm with a skilled business partner is one of the most rewarding ways for me to celebrate 10 years of practicing law,” Clayson says. “Our clients have not only made this opportunity possible but they have also enthusiastically supported our firm’s new ownership.”

ALUMNI AS S OC IATI O N PRES IDENT’S MES S AG E

DEAN PHYLLIS L. CROCKER

has a mantra: Embrace

relentless change. She saw

The law school needs each and

this on a sign during her

every one of us to support it with

Nicaragua last year. It strikes

our time, talent, and whatever other

faceted. It is a constructive

resources we can muster.

Jesuit humanitarian trip to

me as a theme that is multiapproach to the practice

and pedagogy of law, and it encourages us as alumni to

Ed Lennon (’88), President University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Alumni Association

support our alma mater as

it adapts to meet our needs and the needs of today’s law students.

In this issue of the Docket, we learn about the expansion of the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program. When I graduated in 1988, only four of my classmates were in the program. This August, Detroit Mercy Law and Windsor Law welcomed 85 new students to the program – 40% of the first-year class of 211 students. This is not a change I could have anticipated 29 years ago, but the program has certainly had a tremendous impact on both schools and the geographic and cultural diversity of the student body.

In 2017–2018, the law school is introducing three new clinics: the Housing Law Clinic, the Trademark & Entrepreneur Clinic, and the Family Law Clinic.

When I entered law school, there was only one clinic, but today’s students will have the opportunity to choose from ten unique clinics to explore their areas of interest and make a remarkable difference

in the lives of their clients and the community as a whole.

Change is natural and often not easy, but it is most often good.

I mentioned above only two examples of the many improvements the law school has made over the past three decades. As it embarks on its 105th year, the law school needs each and every one of us to support it with our time, talent, and whatever other resources we can muster. I hope you can contribute in some way to that success.

I am looking forward to another exciting year at Detroit Mercy Law. I am honored to serve as President of our Alumni Association and welcome your feedback.

Edward G. Lennon (’88) President University of Detroit Mercy Law Alumni Association Lennon Law PLLC, Birmingham, MI elennon@lennonlawpllc.com 248-723-1276

Members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors at its inaugural meeting of the academic year. Back row (L-R): Bernard J. Fuhs (’06), Mark A. Wisniewski (’90), Hon. Michael J. Riordan, Vice President (’90), Kyle R. Dufrane, Vice President (’98), Hon. Terrance A. Keith (’84), and Edward G. Lennon, President (’88).

Middle row (L-R): A. Adam Post (’11), John F. Clark (’06), Kelly R. Houk, Secretary (’13), Mikyia S. Aaron (’15), and Scott K. Lites (’85). Front row (L-R): Justin S. Zatkoff (’14), Ponce D. Clay (’15), Denise P. Hickey, Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations (’95), Mylika L. Johnson (JD/MBA ’13), and Camilla Barkovic (’13). Not pictured: Hon. Michael J. Beale (’90), Dennis L. Dabney (’00), Kenneth H. Hemler (JD/MBA ’07), Christina I. Nassar (Dual JD ’10), Dominic A. Paluzzi (‘07), Sarah L. Simmons (’10), Gregory G. Thiess, Rep-at-large (’79), Macie D. Tuiasosopo (’13), Matthew L. Vicari (’90), and Michael A. Valenti, Recent Grad Rep (Dual JD ’17).

DE TROIT MERCY LAW 25

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Alumni Relations 651 East Jefferson Avenue Detroit, MI 48226-4349

SAVE THESE DATES! NOVEMBER 11, 13 & 14, 2017

MARCH 23, 2018

HOUSING SYMPOSIUM: HUD’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

LAW REVIEW SYMPOSIUM

Detroit Mercy Law Atrium

FEBRUARY 27 & 28, 2018

MICHIGAN BAR EXAM LUNCH IN LANSING Detroit Mercy Law will provide a complimentary lunch for alumni taking the Michigan Bar Exam in the Lansing Center (also for the July 24-25 Bar Exam, outside the Breslin Center)

MARCH 15, 2018

ERIN GO LAW NETWORKING RECEPTION Detroit Mercy Law Atrium

Detroit Mercy Law Room 226

MARCH 28, 2018

MCELROY LECTURE ON LAW AND RELIGION Dr. John Borrows of University of Victoria Law School; Detroit Mercy Law Room 226

APRIL 21, 2018

JESUIT DAY OF SERVICE Detroit Mercy Law

SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

RED MASS AND LUNCHEON Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church; Detroit Mercy Law Atrium

FOR MORE EVENT INFORMATION OR TO RSVP, VISIT LAW.UDMERCY.EDU OR CONTACT DENISE HICKEY (’95), ASSISTANT DEAN OF ALUMNI RELATIONS | HICKEYDP@UDMERCY.EDU | 313-596-0202