Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Blog

Less than 10 years ago, WMU-Cooley graduate Ogenna Iweajunwa had a dream of of practicing law in the United States, but there was high hills to climb and major obstacles to overcome. 

Hassan Abdallah was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, but knew his story started long before then. As a U.S. citizen, he started to realize as he got older what a sheltered life he had lived. Listening to stories his parents told about how they struggled and sacrificed to come to America, he recognized that it was through their suffering that he is the person he is today. His father left Lebanon first, in the name of freedom and opportunity, but it was his mother's selfless actions that taught him humility and gave him the work-ethic he has today. His mother had to leave everything she knew, and nearly everyone she loved, to follow her husband to a place she only knew by name.

Higher education at every level is expensive and law school is no exception. But that shouldn’t hold you back from achieving your dream. The key to managing the financial side of law school is understanding your budget, including things that you can do to minimize expenses and locate funding that fits your needs and eligibility.

Did you ever wonder if the the American justice system really is the best system in the world? When mistakes are made, are the mistakes different in different countries?

The Master Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Michigan is composed of nearly 20,000 Michigan lawyers who have 30 or more years of practice experience. Its membership was surveyed in March of this year to help the Section’s Council set future priorities. The survey also asked Section members, as experienced lawyers, what words of wisdom they would share with a new lawyer. More than 650 respondents offered their thoughts, which ranged from the specific (“Shine your shoes and always be early.”) to the general (“Relax. You will make mistakes. They’re not fatal.”). Here are some pieces of advice of particular application to law students and new grads:

Blog author WMU-Cooley Distinguished Professor Emeritus Otto Stockmeyer presented a paper at an annual conference of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters, which was held March 10, 2017, on the campus of Western Michigan University. He titled his presentation “Reflections on Teaching the First Day of Contracts Class.” Professor Stockmeyer offered his thoughts on why he believes Contracts is the most significant course in the first-year curriculum, why the study of contract law should begin with the subject of remedies, and why Hawkins v. McGee (the “hairy hand” case made famous by the book and movie versions of The Paper Chase) makes an ideal starting point.

Starting law school is a major life event ... and sooner or later most first-year students seek advice from a legal mentor, many times a professor, about how to make it through with flying colors. The advice they receive from these seasoned legal professionals is often remembered for the rest of their lives because it helps them meet and overcome challenges time and again. To share some of that valuable wisdom, we asked a few of our professors what advice they usually give first term law students …

Blog author Professor Nelson Miller is the Associate Dean at WMU-Cooley's Grand Rapids campus. He has published 49 books and many more book chapters and articles on legal education, law practice, tort law, civil procedure, damages, international law, constitutional law, university law, professional responsibility, bioethics, legal history and philosophy, and faith. He also was named one of 26 law professors selected for a national study in the Harvard University Press project called What the Best Law Teachers Do.

It’s that time of year. October 31st is hiding around the corner. Halloween and haunted houses. Both scary business. WMU-Cooley Law School Professors give practical advice to home owners with chilling concerns for more than just one day out of the year. This blog originally posted on October 26, 2016. 

Blog author Otto Stockmeyer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, was a Commissioner and Research Director at the Michigan Court of Appeals for 12 years before joining the WMU-Cooley Law School faculty in 1977. His role in the formation of the court’s research staff is described here.