90% OF 2021 GRADUATES SECURED LEGAL EMPLOYMENT

The Detroit Mercy Law graduating class of 2021 secured an overall employment rate of 90 percent in legal positions. Graduates secured positions with law firms, the judiciary, businesses, and government and public interest organizations across the US and Canada.

Graduate Employment Rate Surpasses National Average

Each year, Detroit Mercy Law supports graduates with securing employment and reports the employment outcomes of graduates as of ten months following graduation to the American Bar Association (ABA). For the graduating class of 2021, Detroit Mercy Law surpassed the national average for securing full-time, long-term legal employment. According to the ABA employment summaries, 88 percent of 2021 Detroit Mercy Law graduates secured full-time, long-term legal employment, compared to 83 percent of 2021 law graduates nationwide.

The Detroit Mercy Law employment outcomes include graduates of the Canadian & American Dual JD Program—the only comparative program of its kind in North America in which students earn two law degrees in three years. Students earn a JD from both Detroit Mercy Law and Windsor Law and graduate eligible to be licensed in both the US and Canada.

Graduates pursuing licensure in Canada are required to complete post-graduation experiential training, which is similar to an apprenticeship, before they are admitted to practice law. For the 2021 Dual JD graduates, 97 percent secured articling, Law Practice Program, or attorney positions to fulfill the post-graduation experiential training requirement, and some will pursue licensure on both sides of the border.

Meet Our 2021 Graduates Large Law Firms

Graduates secure positions with large law firms, often prior to graduation through on-campus interviews in partnership with the Career Services Office. Students typically interview the summer before their second year of law school, work as a summer associate between their second and third years of law school, and join the firm as an associate the following year.

Community In Practice

Nadine Dabaja '21 Associate, Clark Hill PLC Detroit, Michigan

Nadine Dabaja '21 practices labor and employment law. "I enjoy the opportunity to educate employers and their workforces about discrimination, sexual harassment, and ethics, she said. "I value the people aspect of the practice–forming relationships with clients and being entrusted with solving their problems is another thing I enjoy most about my practice."

Dabaja came to Detroit Mercy Law because of the community and opportunities offered for students. She now finds similar connections with fellow attorneys and her clients. "I am always equipped with what I need to address client concerns and am constantly learning from some of the most skilled and experienced professionals in the area."

SMALL & MID-SIZE LAW FIRMS

Many law school graduates nationally and from Detroit Mercy Law work in small and mid-size law firms. Many of these employers hire through on-campus interviews and job postings in partnership with the Career Services Office.

Practicing Teamwork

Kathryn Donaldson Salter '21

Associate, Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC Nashville, Tennessee

Kathryn Donaldson Salter '21 finds working at a law firm provides her with the right environment to become the best lawyer possible. "I love the collaborative, team environment my job provides. Strategizing with colleagues and utilizing each lawyer’s unique talents makes work enjoyable."

Salter practices insurance defense. "The unique challenges of each situation make every day interesting and gives me the opportunity to learn about different industries, businesses, and individuals."

"Detroit Mercy Law set me up with the practical skills that I needed to flourish as a first-year associate. To walk in on my first day, be handed a case file, and know where to start was a relief and gave me the confidence I needed to start my career."

Inspiring Interactions

Jocelyn Flemons '21 Associate, Miller Cohen, PLC Detroit, Michigan

Jocelyn Flemons '21 practices labor and employment law. "I was inspired to pursue labor and employment law by the many experiences I had prior to law school when I worked as a teacher."

She enjoys the small firm environment. "Authentic and genuine interactions have always been important to me because I know we get our best growth and ideas through authentic interactions and collaboration with others," she said.

Flemons chose Detroit Mercy Law based on instinct. "I am happy to say my instincts did not lead me astray. The legal network I tapped into at Detroit Mercy Law is phenomenal. By the time I graduated, I had personal relationships with attorneys and judges across the state of Michigan."

Hire A Detroit Mercy Law Student Or Recent Graduate

Employers are encouraged to connect with the Career Services Office early about hiring needs for the strongest applicant pool. Many students secure summer employment during the preceding fall, and many recent graduates secure legal employment prior to graduation.

cso@udmercy.edu

Judicial Chambers

Graduates secure judicial clerkships in the US and Canada.

A PASSION FOR LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING

Katherine Ganick Christy '21

Judicial Clerk, US Department of Justice Cleveland, Ohio

Katherine Ganick Christy '21 secured her clerkship through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. "I decided to pursue a judicial clerkship because of my interest in legal research and writing that developed over the course of my time at Detroit Mercy Law," she said.

"Detroit Mercy Law’s commitment to ensuring that students have the necessary legal research and writing skills upon entering the legal field was crucial to my success as a new attorney. I had ample opportunity to practice my skills in various contexts while at Detroit Mercy Law through membership on the Law Review, in upper-level writing courses, and during clinical courses."

A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE LAW

Ryan Markesic '21

Judicial Clerk, Court of Appeals Vancouver, British Columbia

Ryan Markesic '21 enjoys applying the law from a neutral perspective and learning from experienced jurists. "The opportunity to learn from judges who interpret and apply the law on a daily basis provides a unique opportunity not available in private practice. I get a behind-the-scenes experience and learn daily from judges who have been practicing longer than I have been alive."

"With the rise of globalization and the interconnectedness between Canada and the US, it was a no-brainer to pursue my legal studies in the Canadian & American Dual JD program," Markesic explained. "The Dual JD program is a rigorous academic program that prepares you for the workload and mental fortitude required to succeed as a judicial clerk."

Hire A Detroit Mercy Law Student Or Recent Graduate

Employers are encouraged to connect with the Career Services Office early about hiring needs for the strongest applicant pool. Many students secure summer employment during the preceding fall, and many recent graduates secure legal employment prior to graduation.

cso@udmercy.edu

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY

Graduates secure positions outside of traditional law practice that combine their prior experience with their legal education.

Engineering Creativity

Luke Popiel '21

Intellectual Property Manager, General Motors Detroit, Michigan

Luke Popiel '21 combines his engineering experience and legal education in his current role as an Intellectual Property Manager at General Motors.

"Detroit Mercy Law taught me the legal principles required for my current role and also improved my public speaking skills. Since joining GM’s IP team, I have been presenting to groups that range in size, but the biggest group consisted of approximately 200 attendees. At Detroit Mercy Law, each day, I had to ensure I was ready to be called upon to answer a question in front of the entire class about a given case."

A Calling To Health Care

Ali Ibrahim '21

Clinical Risk Manager, Ascension Detroit, Michigan

Ali Ibrahim '21 uses his law degree every day as a clinical risk manager for a large healthcare system. He started his career as a registered nurse before transitioning to law school. "Healthcare is a calling. Healthcare is a different kind of service," he explained.

"I am aware of how complex things can get. My clinical background helps me when I have to investigate a safety event and my legal education allows me to keep things within the framework of regulations while complying with the various laws."

GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC INTEREST

Graduates serve their communities in government and public interest positions.

Untangling The Legal Mystery

Mariah Herfi '21

Assistant Public Defender, St. Clair County Public Defender Office Port Huron, Michigan

Mariah Herfi '21 spends almost every day in court, despite originally never wanting to be a litigator. "It wasn’t until my final year that I began to change my mind. Detroit Mercy Law gave me opportunities to explore what it is like to be in a courtroom and I realized I shouldn't close off job opportunities only because I never pictured myself in front of a judge."

"I wanted to use my legal degree to help those who may not have the resources to get the legal help they need. The world of law is a mystery to a lot of people, and I want to make sure there are lawyers out there willing to be patient and understanding in untangling that mystery for clients."

"I had professors who were passionate about helping those in need through the knowledge of the law, and that passion was certainly not lost on me," she explained. "I am honored to serve the community and that is a lesson I learned from my professors and Detroit Mercy Law as a whole."