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APRIL 2020

Dear fellow graduates and friends,

My hope is that your family, friends, and colleagues are in good health. Like you, our law school is adjusting to challenging times. I am writing today to give you an update about how the situation has affected the students, staff and faculty at WMU-Cooley.

READ MOREKenneth Wyniemko from Alumni Association President Karen Poole (Witherell Class, 1990).

Have you watched THE INNOCENCE FILES ON NETFLIX yet?

The new nine-episode series gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at 8 wrongfully convicted people, including KENNETH WYNIEMKO, WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project's first exoneree. You may even recognize people you know, including WMU-Cooley Innocence Project Director Marla Mitchell-Cichon. Make sure to watch Wyniemko's feature story (Episode 9 - The Prosecution: The Million Dollar Man). 
  
WMU-Cooley_GivingTuesday_column

STUDENT RELIEF FUND 

#GivingTuesdayNow is coming up on May 5, 2020 as a global emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The law school responded by establishing a WMU-Cooley Student Relief Fund to give financial support to our current students who are facing an array of challenges during the current crisis. So far, with your initial support, we have raised $10,000 toward a goal of $35,000. But much more is needed. 
 
PLEASE HELP A STUDENT TODAY

RACE DISPARITIES SURFACE DURING PANDEMIC  

WMU-Cooley Associate Dean Tracey Brame, a noted civil rights and implicit bias expert, was tapped by the media to discuss how stereotypes and risk factors have played out detrimentally on minority communities. She discusses how stereotypes and greater risk factors have made the threat of the disease much higher and more dangerous for black males.
 
READ MORE
COVID-19 Race Disparity

National Security expert weighs in
Gen. Michael C.H. McDaniel

Not only does former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense Strategy and retired Brigadier General Michael C.H. McDaniel, serve as director of WMU-Cooley Law School’s Master of Laws Program in Homeland and National Security, he also has extensive experience in leading multiple government agencies in times of disaster. Gen. McDaniel is often tapped by media outlets to explain the legal and world ramifications during times of crisis, and now to discuss responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ MORE

ONLINE LEARNING IN WAKE OF COVID-19
ONLINE LEARNING

Implementing modern legal education approaches is something WMU-Cooley Law School has been preparing for a long time.  We are proud that WMU-Cooley was a leader in the challenge of online learning in the wake of COVID-19. We saw the impact of the crisis coming and we responded with the best teaching solutions for our students.
READ MORE

GRADUATE MAKING A GLOBAL DIFFERENCE  

WMU-Cooley graduate Jaebadiah S. Gardner shares with his alma mater how GardnerGlobal, Inc. and Victor International have come together in the greater Los Angeles, California community to source vitally needed N95 masks to first responders as well as those essential businesses still coming in contact with people to keep their business afloat. 
WATCH THE VIDEO
GardnerGlobal Gives Back
Protective Masks

DO WHAT YOU CAN IN TIME OF NEED 

Early news of health care workers’ lack of protective equipment had a ripple effect all across the world, as well as in our own backyard. For those in our WMU-Cooley Law School community, it didn't take long for many to pitch in. Michelle Schmidt and her daughter, Audrey, got to work. They wanted to do something they knew could help others. According to Audrey, it was the right thing to do. 
MAKING A LOCAL DIFFERENCE

STATE BAR VOLUNTEERING 

If you would like to give back by helping those in need who are facing legal issues related to COVID-19, you can volunteer with the State Bar of Michigan.  If you are interested in doing pro bono work for the less fortunate facing legal issues related to the coronavirus, sign up with the STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN HERE.

You can reach out to the FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION HERE. Contact the Alumni Office if you need help finding pro bono opportunities in other states.  
READ MORE

MENTOR A LAW STUDENT

Our WMU-Cooley law students especially appreciate your mentorship at this time of struggle. We encourage you to sign up to be a supervisor to a WMU-Cooley student. Not only will you be helping someone in need, you will be mentoring and guiding a law student from your alma mater. Please sign up with the Career and Professional Development Office at PROBONO@COOLEY.EDU. Please leave your contact information.
CAREER OFFICE

read our official blog

Want to read more stories about your fellow graduates? We share your stories on the official law school blog page. 
VISIT THE BLOG

the latest news

Keep up with all the news coming out of WMU-Cooley by visiting the law school's What's New page on our website! 
WHAT'S NEW

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