ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE & SCHOLARSHIP

Our Jesuit and Mercy traditions inform our commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship. Through our program of legal education, we educate the complete lawyer. Students are exposed to t heory, doctrine, and experiential learning. We create a space for students to grow as individuals and prepare them for a future where they will make a difference serving clients and their community. Our expert faculty, dedicated to both excellence in teaching and scholarship, challenge students to think critically about legal issues and their impact on society and to examine and appreciate their role as future lawyers and leaders in their communities.

Introducing Our New Faculty

Aman McLeod , Associate Professor of Law

B.A. Amherst College

J.D. University of Michigan School of Law

Ph.D. University of Michigan

“I wanted to work at a law school that was focused on meeting the needs of students and that served populations of students who traditionally had not had access to an education in the law—Detroit Mercy Law does both.”

Professor Aman McLeod joins the faculty at Detroit Mercy Law after almost two decades in academia, most recently teaching at the University of Idaho in the Political Science department and at the College of Law. He has authored numerous book chapters and articles focusing on a wide range of topics, including judicial behavior and judicial selection. Professor McLeod served as a consultant for the American Bar Association and advised the West Virginia state legislature on judicial selection reform. Prior to joining academia, he worked as a contract attorney at several law firms.

• Courses: Local Government Law, Constitutional Law, Professional Responsibility, First A mendment

• Most Recent Publication : Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co.: A Ten-Year Retrospective on its Impact on Law and the Judiciary. 124 W.Va.L.Rev. 67 (2021)

Akunna Olumba , Assistant Professor of Law

B.S.E. University of Michigan

J.D. Florida A&M University College of Law

LL.M. University of Florida Levin College of Law

M.S.T Wayne State University Mike Illitch School of Business Administration

Professor Akunna Olumba is an expert in business law and taxation. She has experience as an adjunct professor at Florida A&M University College of Law. Additionally, Professor Olumba founded a business development firm and a federal tax legal practice. She has extensive experience assisting in the research and editing of books and articles focused on taxation law.

• Courses: Applied Legal Theory & Analysis, Estates & Trusts, Sales

• Upcoming Publication : Hail Mary: Can Cryptocurrency Save the Marijuana Industry’s Lost Deductions? (forthcoming)

“I am looking forward to the students, more specifically being able to shape their understanding of the law, and ultimately shape the lawyers they will become.”

“I believe a well-rounded law student graduates with practical experience. Mentoring students throughout their clinical experience in a supportive environment is my favorite part of being a law professor.”

Samantha Stiltner, Veterans Law Clinic Director & Assistant Professor of Law

B.A.S. Campbell University

J.D. University of Illinois Chicago College of Law

Professor Samantha Stiltner joins Detroit Mercy Law with many years of experience working and teaching in the area of veterans law. She was a staff attorney and program manager for The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Professor Stiltner was a staff attorney at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic. She is a VA Accredited Attorney and is admitted to practice in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

• Courses: Veterans Law Clinic, Advanced Veterans Law Clinic

Christopher Trudeau , Visiting Associate Professor of Law

B.A. Michigan State University

J.D. Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Professor Christopher Trudeau joins Detroit Mercy Law as a Visiting Associate Professor of Law from University of Arkansas, Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law where he is an Associate Professor of Law. Professor Trudeau has also taught at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where he was an Associate Professor of Medical Humanities & Bioethics. Before joining the faculty at University of Arkansas, he taught for a decade at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Professor Trudeau previously practiced labor and employment law and complex business litigation. He developed a pro bono legal program to assist patrons at the Christo Rey Community Center in Lansing, Michigan.

• Courses: Applied Legal Theory & Analysis, Property

• Most Recent Publication : Learning From the Past: A Retrospective Analysis of Informed Consent Forms on Clinicaltrials.gov Before the Revised Common Rule, 46 Law & Psychology Review 189 (2021-22)

Conley Wouters , Visiting Assistant Professor of Law

B.A. University of Illinois, Urbana

M.A. Brandeis University

Ph.D. Brandeis University

J.D. Cornell Law School

“I tell my students that we’re not going to learn how to write; our goal is to develop each of the foundational skills that are required to successfully practice law. This holistic approach to lawyering aligns with the Jesuit commitment to educating the whole person.”

“What excites me most about joining Detroit Mercy Law is the ability to connect with a diverse group of law students, many of whom are going to be future Michigan lawyers.”

Professor Conley Wouters is an expert in legal writing, research, and analysis. He has experience teaching law at Suffolk University Law School and teaching English and writing at Brandeis University. Professor Wouters additionally has experience handling complex commercial litigation, immigration and asylum applications, and Title IX complaints. He has presented multiple times on the topic of legal story telling.

• Courses: Applied Legal Theory & Analysis, Environmental Law & Literature

Read more about our faculty on pages 33 - 35