SERVICE

Our Jesuit and Mercy traditions inform our commitment to service.

Through our program of legal education, we show students that the legal profession is a service profession and that it is a privilege to serve clients and community, especially those who are often neglected. Our alumni’s careers are rooted in service with public interest organizations, law firms, government offices, the judiciary, and businesses in the US, Canada, and beyond.

SERVING VICTIMS & SERVING OUR COUNTRY

KUMAR PALEPU JD '10 US Air Force, Judge Advocate Macomb County, Assistant Prosecutor

Kumar Palepu '10 serves the community and victims as both an officer and a civilian. His career path with the military and criminal justice system has given him the opportunity to make a career out of making a difference.

"I’m proud of the work I do on behalf of victims. I’ve never been happier."

He started his journey of service following his undergraduate education by enlisting in the United States Army. “I was stationed in Germany and deployed to Kosovo. It was an experience that gave me a perspective on the definition of hardship which made the rest of my life easier.” After four years, Palepu was honorably discharged and thought that he was done serving in the military.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Palepu began looking into law schools in 2007, when his father read an article about Detroit Mercy Law’s commitment to implementing courses that simulated real-life practice experiences. This influenced him to apply to Detroit Mercy Law, and he decided to move to Detroit for law school.

“One of the biggest advantages that Detroit Mercy Law has is its location. Living in Detroit, studying in Detroit, and having access to the courts is so convenient for students looking for internships.”

Palepu began working with the Metropolitan Justice Center of Southeast Michigan in Wayne County during his 2L year, which led to a job as a state defender after he graduated and passed the Michigan Bar Exam.

“Cutting my teeth in Detroit at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice gave me an unbelievable amount of experience. Practicing one year in Detroit is often considered as practicing several years anywhere else,” he explained. “I kept track of everything I did in the defender ’s office and when I applied at the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, I was concerned that they may not believe the volume of work I included on my resume.”

Palepu began working at the Macomb County Prosecutor ’s Office in 2014. He has spent his time there serving victims of crimes and fighting for justice. “I’m most proud of the four years I worked in the child protection unit vertically prosecuting the physical and sexual abuse of children,” Palepu said. “There is a tremendous amount of time, effort, and training that is necessary to try cases involving child sexual assault.”

In 2018, he was distracted by an aircraft landing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which is by his office in Mt. Clemens. “I missed the people you meet when serving in the military and thought to myself that I would like to know what it was like on the base.”

He took his oath and attended boot camp in 2019 to become a member of the US Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, while maintaining his civilian job. “Over the past few years, the military has been focused on sexual assaults. I wanted to join because I thought my experience trying sexual assault cases would be valuable in the US Air Force.”

As a civilian, Palepu is now responsible for 15 assistant prosecutors who handle cases before 19 judges in 10 district courts located throughout Macomb County. He is Chief of District Court for Macomb County, Chief of Hate Crimes, and a Veterans Treatment Court Liaison.

Veterans Law Clinic Serves Those Who Have Served

The Veterans Law Clinic at Detroit Mercy Law is proud to serve those who have bravely served our country. Students participating in the Veterans Law Clinic represent military veterans and their families in disability cases and related matters. Students primarily practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain veterans benefits for service-connected disabilities.

$4.4 million+

Since the clinic began operating in 2007, over $4.4 million in retroactive benefits have been secured.

$250,000+

This year, the clinic has already recovered over a quarter of a million dollars in retroactive benefits for veterans in the Detroit community.

$95,000

A veteran served by the clinic this year, a Purple Heart recipient who had been applying for benefits for many years, finally received an award of around $95,000 in back pay for his service-connected PTSD.

$22,000

A Vietnam veteran, who started his claim 15 years ago, received the last missing piece of his benefits this year, which was over $22,000. This veteran turned around to donate a portion of his back pay to the clinic.

$19,000

Another veteran, who suffers from service-connected schizophrenia, received over $19,000 in back pay this year. This veteran had been applying for benefits for over 45 years.