Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Blog

Elizabeth Devolder: Connecting Love of Art and Law

Elizabeth Devolder (Hughes Class, 2016) was nothing short of a superstar in law school. She...

Coolcat - Where It All Begins

Coolcat has been around since 1990, yet whenever I write about it, I say “Coolcat, the library...

There's No Point in Having Dreams if You're Not Going to Fulfill Them

Pauline (Polly) Brennan was used to her husband, Tom — the late Michigan Supreme Court Justice...

Helper Hyphens Aid Comprehension, Prevent Confusion

I have blogged about the problem of excessive commas. Now I want to tackle the problem of a missing...

Honoree: Cooley alum named recipient of prestigious federal award

Recent Cooley alumna Veller Morris almost went into a career in radiology—and it was sheer...

Student Profile: Scholarship winner stays true to her longtime dream

Riley Stheiner dreamed of becoming a lawyer as early as seventh grade, but after finishing her...

Changing Course: Newly minted law grad had long career in field sales management

Scott Nowling who enjoyed a 27-year career in field sales management at Johnson & Johnson before...

Verbal vs. Oral: Know the Difference

With the encouragement of my colleague Joe Kimble, editor of the long-running Michigan Bar Journal...

Yaritssa Plasencia: Achieving Confidence Through Challenges

As a teenager, Yaritssa Plasencia (Blatchford Class, 2022) knew she wanted to pursue a career in...

Two Sides of the Dog Collar: Puppy Contract Musings

“Woof!” There are over 63 million United States households that know this sound when they come home...

Connor Porzig: Build Good Habits and Put in the Work

Growing up, the only thing WMU-Cooley graduate Connor Porzig cared about was basketball. “I like to...

The Library BLOG Series - The New Brennan Law Library

On January 4, 2021, the Brennan Law Library on the Lansing campus opened in a new location.  Gone...

Stephanie Ray: Inflexibility is Inherently Restrictive

Stephanie Ray was a very quiet child, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a lot to say."I think...

Australian Legal Team Investigating the Situation in Ukraine

Barrister William Lye OAM QC, former adjunct professor at WMU-Cooley Law School, leads an...

Legal Expert and WMU-Cooley Professor Addresses New Concerns about Water Supply as a National Security Threat

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has many keyed into the impact on global oil supply, but...

WMU-Cooley Professors Discuss Russian-Ukraine War and Violations of International Law

As the Russia-Ukraine War continues, WMU-Cooley Law School Professors David L. Finnegan and retired...

The Future of Legal Ethics by WMU-Cooley Student Elizabeth Badovinac

LCloud storage, AI, and the potential for a national practice may influence practice rules. Legal...

Legal and Criminal Justice Expert speaks to Media on Police Officer Shooting

Following the April 4 shooting death of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya by a Grand Rapids police officer,...

Tips for Improving Multicultural Communication

Have you ever said something and discovered that your listener felt attacked, when that was not...

Law student Heather Silcott honored with SBM Animal Law Award

WMU-Cooley Law student Heather Silcott knew from the moment she rescued a labradoodle named Bruno...

Confusion: Bad for Contracts, Good for Students

In the middle of their study of Contract law, students encounter a cluster of cases dealing with...

Reflections On A Career: 5 Lessons Learned

I retired in December, 2021, and I had the honor of being asked to present a lecture on what I...

KISS: Simple Ways to Increase Your Article’s Impact

I have previously blogged about ways to boost an article’s readership. Since then I have learned of...

What Should Be Done About Michigan's No-Good, Very Bad Way of Selecting Supreme Court Justices?

THE PAST The "Looking Back: 1930s" article in the January 2022 Michigan Bar Journal concludes by...

Shining Star: WMU-Cooley Student Graduated With A Perfect 4.0 GPA

Mina Woodard’s original career goal was to become a math teacher, but she switched to criminal...

WMU-Cooley Graduate Janelle Benjamin is Helping Employers “Make it Easy to be Equitable”

WMU-Cooley Law School 2005 graduate Janelle Benjamin is the founder and CEO of the company All...

Katie Stanley: When you help a client, you aren’t just helping them, you're helping others.

You might say that Katie Stanley started law school at age 13. She was, of course, too young to...

Robin Sutara: Unassuming Trailblazer

Robin Sutara (Witherell Class, 2010) has always been a trailblazer. Perhaps an unassuming...

Yveline Dalmacy: Charting Her Own Path of Service

What does being a lawyer mean to Yveline Dalmacy? Well, it doesn’t mean driving the fanciest car or...

Hon. Kwamé Rowe: Don’t let others tell you that you can’t do something

On Thursday, July 22, 2021, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Kwamé L. Rowe to...

The American Bar Association Wants You To Know More About Multicultural Lawyering

If you are an American lawyer in the 21st century, you need to understand how to work with clients,...

Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement: A Pregnant Teen, Two Gay Men, and a Gender-nonconforming Woman

Many people helped make the modern Civil Rights Movement, which aimed to get equal treatment of all...

A Look at the Civil Side of Fraud

Fraud is the deliberate misrepresentation of a material fact, made with the intention of inducing...

Jon Kohler: Brokering and Conserving Natural Lands

When you read articles featuring Jon Kohler (Adams Class, 1997) about his success as a land broker,...

Professor Amanda Fisher: Teaching, reading, and writing; there’s nothing better

According to WMU-Cooley professor Amanda Fisher, the resources and attention that students get at...

The Study of Remedies, Law's Cure for Wrongdoing, is in Declining Health.

I have previously blogged about the unfortunate case of Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal. In a poll of...

Rabih Hamawi: From Insurance Agent To Insurance Lawyer

Sometimes seminal moments in one’s life can change a career path. For Rabih Hamawi (Story Class,...

Multicultural Lawyering Takes Talking, But Mostly Listening

How can lawyers help their clients when the clients’ experiences – often traumatic and oppressive...

Kimberly Lewis and Susan Lee: Unapologetically Unafraid

Orientation for most students can be slightly overwhelming, but for Kimberly Lewis it was the...

WMU-Cooley Faculty Expert Analysis on Rittenhouse Verdict

Following the not-guilty verdict of Kyle Rittenhouse on November 19, 2021, WMU-Cooley Law School...

Showcase Your Scholarship, Part Three: Self-Publishing

Recent posts have described a process for showcasing your scholarship. It’s done by creating a...

Former Judge and Criminal Law Professor Expresses Concerns Over Arrest Procedures

“I am sympathetic to the prosecutor’s cause for gun safety reform, but at this point, the ends do...

Showcase Your Scholarship, Part Two: Google Scholar Profiles and Other Platforms

Part One: Use SSRN To Archive Articles explains how to use the Social Science Research Network...

Showcase Your Scholarship, Part One: Use SSRN to Archive Articles

An earlier post suggested ways to maximize the impact of your scholarship through spin-off articles.

Homeland & National Security Law Review Symposium: Drone Concerns?

Do you have questions about drones and how they may impact your safety and security? Take a...

Brittany Lindsay: COVID-19 Hero of Tampa Bay

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor may have named WMU-Cooley student Brittany Lindsay a COVID-19 Hero of Tampa...

Adjunct Law Professors: Blessing or Curse?

From its earliest days, WMU-Cooley Law School has employed the services of adjunct (part-time)...

Why Writing Well is Essential to Your Legal Career

Writing is a necessary evil to some and a welcome respite to others. But whether you love it or...

WMU-Cooley Grad Olu Ben-Shidah: Stay Focused and Fight for your Clients

“Calm” is not a word that typically springs to mind when thinking about the practice of law –...

Guide to Good Writing; Get Specific!

Strunk & White’s classic guide to good writing, The Elements of Style, urges writers to use...

Vaccines. Masks. Mandates and the law. WMU-Cooley Experts Weigh in.

Despite the apparent confusion and divide on the topic of vaccines, masks, and mandates, WMU-Cooley...

Asynchronous Teaching Methodologies: Pandemic Reflections and Best Practices

WMU-Cooley Law School Professors Matthew Marin and Amanda Fisher’s article, "Asynchronous Teaching...

WMU-Cooley Graduate Jon Kohler: Leading Plantation Broker in USA

WMU-Cooley Law School graduate Jon Kohler (Adams Class, 1997), is the founder of Jon Kohler &...

Maples & Jones: Cooley grads Achieving positive Outcomes For Clients

What are the keys to a successful law practice? For family law attorneys Nikki Maples (Sibley...

James Turgal - A Lifetime Calling to Protect America

James Turgal stared at his phone in shock. In just five minutes, his life had been completely...

Detroit's Revitalization Flows Through Work of Graduate Choi Portis

Choi T. Portis (Wilkins Class, 2011), a Detroit native and deputy general counsel for the city of...

Nurisha A. Harvey, ESQ.: Following Family Footsteps to Advance Equal Justice

Nurisha Azizi Harvey graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor and concentration in litigation from...

Cooley Law Student Seeks Chance to 'Create Change'

Never tell Heather Silcott she can’t achieve success—whether in the legal field, hockey arena, or...

John Desmond: Lawyers Can Serve a Greater Role as Leaders & Educators

When offices started closing down back on March 16 of 2020, John Desmond (Person Class, 1994)...

Erika Weiss: Embracing Heritage Leads To Native American Law Practice

Growing up, Erika Weiss’ (Livingston Class, 2014) family didn’t talk much about their Native...

Samuel Onyegam: Doing What He Loves To Do and Making an Impact

Samuel A. Onyegam (Wilkins Class, 2011) would be the first to say he had a good time as a student...

Using Microsoft Word’s Readability Program: advice for lawyers

Readability should be a goal of all careful writers. Lawyers, in particular, need to exercise care...

An Introduction to Compensatory Contempt, the "Other" Contempt of Court

Contempt of court has been in the news recently, usually as a result of someone being punished for...

Admissions’ Secrets to Conquering Your LSAT Prep

The LSAT is the definitive test used in the law school admissions process. As such, your score will...

WMU-Cooley Professor Renalia Dubose Speaks on Florida HS decision to pause yearbook distribution

WMU-Cooley Professor and former administrator from Pasco, Hillsborough and Orange Counties Renalia...

Chelsea Rebeck: Success Means Anticipating and Pivoting with Change

Southfield, Michigan tax attorney Chelsea Rebeck (Ellsworth Class, 2012) could see the handwriting...

How to State Issues in a Case Brief or Exam Bluebook

Let’s talk about stating issues. It’s a really important skill. There’s an old saying that “a...

Chase Your Dream of Being a Lawyer: Christopher Bogard

I remember when I decided I wanted to be an attorney. My father had just enrolled in law school,...

Up to the Challenge: Cooley Grad Succeeds Against Series of Overwhelming Odds

Law students often face tough challenges during their demanding legal studies. But Samantha Norris,...

What Goes On At Those "Free-Lunch" Seminars?

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, so-called “free lunch” seminars are often...

Shemia Washington: Shining and Breaking Barriers

When Shemia (Francisco) Washington was in fifth grade, she wanted to be like Clair Huxtable, the...

Maximize Your Article's Impact

Congratulations! Your article has been researched, written, edited, and—hurray!—published. After...

Calling All Scribes

What does the word “scribes” call to mind? For most people, it evokes the image of medieval monks...

Rick Conklin: Lady Justice Was Calling

Cooley Law School alumnus Rick Conklin always had a passion for the law—and while earning his...

Law School Changes May "Virtually" be the Future of Legal Education

During this age of the Coronavirus, numerous industries have been taking the necessary steps to...

Historian James Kratsas: These are the best (and worst) of times

My fervent hope is to provide some historical perspective of the past year and the last three...

Maya Smith: Making an Impact

Maya Smith knew from childhood that her purpose was to give back and make an impact – and saw the...

Attorney and athlete Charles Ford – a man of many talents and gifts

Charles Ford has lived life large, not only as a star athlete, but as an attorney and a successful...

It's All About IRAC

As beginning law students soon learn, what we call “legal reasoning” can be expressed by the...

Distinguished Alumni Awards Focus on exemplary service in the profession

The 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Amy Rombyer Tripp (Blair Moody Class, 1996)...

Law School's Equal Access to Justice Mission Lives on in Artwork by Retired Dean of Admissions

Assistant Dean of Admissions Stephanie Gregg may have retired from WMU-Cooley in 2012 after 25...

Legal Experts Explain the Legal Ramifications of Sedition

On January 6, while rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, WMU-Cooley Law School professors began...

A Tale of Two Toms: How WMU-Cooley Law School Acquired Two Bronze Likenesses of its Namesake

WMU-Cooley Law School alum John Nocita (Turner Class, 1991) is profiled in the Winter 2020 issue of...

Lawyers Publish or Perish. Is Legal Writing An Essential Skill?

Yes, that statement exaggerates—but only slightly. Academics must publish or perish, meaning to...

Origin of Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Fellows Program

Earlier this year the Michigan State Bar Foundation announced the names of inductees into the 2020...

Booyah! Michigan has committed to go UBE!

To say that WMU-Cooley Distinguished Professor Emeritus Otto Stockmeyer was a little excited would...

Achieving Dream after Endurance and Sacrifice for Country

As a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, Major Carmen J. Quesenberry attended WMU-Cooley while serving as...

WMU-Cooley Spotlight: Jaevonn Harris

Artistic endeavors: WMU-Cooley Law graduate is also a talented artist and entrepreneur  

Tammy Allison: Only you can know what is or isn't possible

Attorney and WMU-Cooley graduate Tammy Allison worked for the U.S. Department of Justice for a...

A Love Letter to the WMU-Cooley Law School Steven Johnson Field Class

WMU-Cooley Professor and Director of the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project Marla Mitchell-Cichon gave...

WMU-Cooley Faculty Experts Shine a Spotlight in Election Coverage

Leading up to, during, and after the 2020 presidential election, WMU-Cooley Law School professors...

WMU-Cooley Spotlight: Katrina Hofstetter

WMU-Cooley Law School alumna Katrina Hofstetter, who earned her undergrad degree in history, summa...

Judge Brennan's Ten Commandments For Law School

Starting a new law school from scratch is not a simple matter. WMU-Cooley Law School’s founder, ...

Joseline Hardrick: Diversity and inclusion essential in the workplace

APRIL 26, 2021 - Congratulations, Joseline Hardrick, Professor and Diversity Access Pipeline,...

Contract Law With A Florida Twist

Professors Turn Focus to Practical Bar Passage Help As a way to assist Florida bar passage efforts,...

Ask the Expert: Wallethub.com gets answers from WMU-Cooley legal expert

WMU-Cooley Professor and Associate Dean Emeritus Nelson Miller shared his expertise with ...

Think Your House is Haunted? Don't Sell Until You Get Some Legal advice.

With Halloween just a few dark and dreary days away, many individuals have begun sharing ghost...

Justice Cardozo's Supreme Court Confirmation

My Contracts students know how much I revere Justice Benjamin Cardozo (1870-1938). Teaching his...

WMU-Cooley Faculty Legal Experts Available To The Media

With campuses in Michigan and Florida, WMU-Cooley Law School professors are available to speak with...

State's High Court Justices DO Indeed Make Law

It has happened again. A candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court has declared, “It is incumbent...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Death Means Far More Than Many Truly Understand

Blog author, Constitutional Law expert and WMU-Cooley Professor Brendan Beery gives his legal...

Day of Remembrance 2020

Associate Dean and Ret. Brig. Gen. Michael C.H. McDaniel and Associate Dean Tracey Brame spoke...

Call To Action: What Does Accountability Mean To You?

Blog author Marla Mitchell-Cichon, is the director of WMU-Cooley Law School’s Innocence Project....

The Importance of the First Year of Law School

Blog author WMU-Cooley Distinguished Professor Emeritus Otto Stockmeyer devoted 35 years to...

Bob Woodward and the Ethical Lens of America

This opinion blog piece was written by WMU-Cooley Law School Assistant Dean Victoria V. Vuletich....

The Importance of Definitions in Law School

Here at WMU-Cooley fall classes are beginning. New students will quickly learn that first-term...

The Great Cardozo Bar-Exam Canard

Justice Benjamin Cardozo (1870-1938) served with great distinction as Chief Judge of the New York...

Ray Petty: My Duty is to Bring Justice to Areas of Injustice

UPDATE: Nov. 2, 2021 - Check out recent graduate Ray Curtis Petty Jr.'s viral video sharing his...

Michigan Lawyer of the Year: WMU-Cooley Associate Dean Tracey Brame

Every year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly accepts nominations of worthy attorneys to be considered as...

Law school success means being a self learner and following a system

Dalton Dennis remembers early on that his father never made things easy. Whatever they did, his...

Does the President Have the Legal Right to Delay an Election?

The following July 30, 2020 News 8 story called Constitutional professor weighs in on Pres. Trump’s...

Martin Peters: Support Your Dreams and Dreams of Others

Martin Peters (Trimble Class, 2015), chief of staff and general counsel for Eckerd Connects in...

Sean Egan: inspire people to action and compliance in the workplace

With the Covid-19 pandemic, and the resulting stay-home and business closure orders, face mask...

Christian Wise Smith: Significance Over Success

Christian Wise Smith (Wilkins Class, 2011) has a history of beating the odds. So when he launched...

Constitutional law expert gives legal analysis on Presidential immunity

WMU-Cooley Law School Constitutional Law expert Professor Brendan Beery shares in an op-ed analysis...

A Life of Service in the Law

Remembering John W. Fitzgerald  July 7th marks the 14th anniversary of the passing of Justice John...

WMU-Cooley criminal law professor spells out the case surrounding fired Minneapolis police officers

WMU-Cooley Professor Tonya Krause-Phelan is frequently tapped as a criminal law expert by the...

What is the Insurrection Law? Brig. Gen. Michael C.H. McDaniel explains

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense Strategy and retired Brigadier General...

Online Legal Education: We’ve been doing it for a decade at WMU-Cooley

WMU Cooley has been offering online legal education for over a decade through our Graduate LL.M....

WMU-Cooley Faculty Experts Speak Out on Equal Access to Justice

Tracey Brame, associate dean of WMU-Cooley’s Grand Rapids campus, Renalia DuBose, a WMU-Cooley...

Bar Exam Subjects: How Many Are Too Many?

Social-distancing policies have forced states to rethink the July bar exam. One state has decided...

The Three Lucys of Contract Lore, Part Three: Peevyhouse vs. Garland Coal

Blog contributor Otto Stockmeyer is a WMU-Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus. This...

The Three Lucys of Contract Lore, Part Two: Wood vs. Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon

Blog contributor Otto Stockmeyer is a WMU-Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus. This...

The Three Lucys of Contract Lore, Part One: Lucy vs. Zehmer

Blog contributor Otto Stockmeyer is a WMU-Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus. This...

How COVID-19 Has Put a Spotlight on Civil Rights and Implicit Bias Issues

On Thursday, April 9, ABC News reported on concerns over face coverings for people of color. The...

Helping any way we can is the right thing to do.

When the coronavirus hit and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued her stay home-stay safe...

Take A Look at Restitution

The subject of Restitution was once a mainstay of the first-year law school curriculum, but has...

WMU-Cooley rising to the challenge of online learning in the wake covid-19

Just like any organization or business or higher education institution, individuals have their our...

WMU-Cooley Homeland Security Expert Gen. Michael C.H. McDaniel Tapped By Media as Legal Expert During COVID-19 Pandemic

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense Strategy and retired Brigadier General...

Nina Yakubov: To Teach A child To Achieve, You must show Achievement

Nina Yakubov is one of those people who always had a good idea what she wanted to do, even at an...

Study Abroad simply "everything"

Arthur Semko and his wife, Polina Elizarova, call Toronto home today, but both have traveled the...

Shari Wilson:The Face of Change and Advocate for Hope

Life for Shari Wilson started off like it did for many kids – hanging out with the family, going to...

Joeie Skelly: Destined For Law School

Joeie Skelly knew that she wanted to be a lawyer since she was 8 years old. “While other kids were...

Vampire Verbs and Zombie Nouns

Whether it's Halloween or not, verbs and nouns can sometimes be downright scary! Professor Otto...

Jalitza Serrano: Best Ways to Learn in Law School

WMU-Cooley Law School 3L student, Jalitza Serrano, is living proof that you can not only conquer...

Study Abroad Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

WMU-Cooley Law School student Tarria Barker dreamed about doing a Study Abroad ever since she was...

Daniel Cardwell: Drive Comes From Within

Back in high school, no one had the 20/20 vision to see where Daniel Cardwell would be in the year...

It's Tax Season! Take Advantage of Free Tax services

Once again it's tax season. Probably one of the most stressful times of year, outside of the...

About Those Large Law School Diplomas

A recent blog post features WMU-Cooley Law School graduate Ed Sternisha. Included is a photo of...

Writing Professors Create Online Lab For Students

WMU-Cooley’s Research & Writing Department is about to unveil an updated online writing lab using...

The Bar Taking Process: What You Need to Know

Taking the bar exam will be one of the most stressful events of your life. You just spent tens if...

The gray tsunami has arrived; don't leave money on the table

WMU-Cooley Professor Gary Bauer, a legal expert in the area of estate planning and elderlaw, spells...

Zack Hugg: WMU-Cooley Connections Instrumental in Career Climb

When Zack Hugg entered undergraduate school at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, he...

Hard Road Proves To Be Best Path

Logical reasoning and analytical thinking – that is what really drew WMU-Cooley graduate Gerlinde...

Legal Career Readiness Starts Day One in Law School

Laura Bare takes her job seriously as one of WMU-Cooley Law School's associate directors in the law...

WMU-Cooley Grad: Article Published in the Florida Defender

Exclusion of Partial DNA Specimens, Specimens from Multiple Contributors and the Lab-Created...

The Power of Plain English

Background. Placing a shareholder proposal in a corporation’s annual-meeting proxy statement is the...

WMU-Cooley librarian creates podcast that traces history of american law

WMU-Cooley’s Head of Public Services at its Auburn Hills campus library, Tim Innes, recently...

UPDATE: The Uniform Bar Exam

ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO I blogged about Michigan’s possible adoption of the Uniform Bar...

Ret. Brig. General & Law School Dean Legal Expert on U.S. Iranian Tensions

WMU-Cooley Lansing campus Associate Dean and retired Brigadier General Michael C.H. McDaniel, who...

Haley Monaghan: Appreciate and Reciprocate are Words to Live By

Haley Monaghan thought she wanted to be a lawyer, but the thought of going back to school after her...

Ed Sternisha - Bridging the Divide and Putting Together All the Pieces

Anyone who’s ever seen an episode of Law & Order knows there are the police, and then there are the...

De-Andreth Isaacs-Hanson: Extraordinary Circumstances Lead to Legal Profession

When De-Andreth Isaacs-Hanson first heard the words biliary atresia, she didn't know what she was...

Limited Scope Representation is a New Paradigm for Future Practice of Law

Read about WMU-Cooley Law School graduate Mechelle Woznicki, and other Grand Rapids attorney's role...

Moot Court Experience Offered Student a Boost

Read about WMU-Cooley Law School 3L student Kara Moore in the Legal News story below by Sheila...

WMU-Cooley Experts Faculty Provide Legal Analysis for Impeachment Hearings

WMU-Cooley Law School professors Jeffrey Swartz, Brendan Beery, and Devin Schindler provided expert...

WMU-Cooley Law Professor Weighs in on NFL Players Accused of Falsifying Claims

Following the announcement that 10 former NFL players have been indicted for defrauding the NFL’s...

Update: The Liberty Bell Award

Earlier this year, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Otto Stockmeyer blogged about the liberty bell...

Joseph Garrido: Civilian Path Leads Back to Helping Veterans as Attorney

Marine Corps veteran Joseph Garrido knew he needed to find a meaningful new civilian path when he...

Hala Alkattan: If you are really paying attention, you can't NOT care

Even while WMU-Cooley student Hala Alkattan was working on her undergraduate degree, she knew she...

Update: Corporate Annual Reports – Plain-Language Progress?

Last year at about this time, I wrote this in a blog post, “Corporate Annual Reports –...

Ydelmis Cutino: Comfortable in the Fast Lane

WMU-Cooley student Ydelmis Cutino never backs away from hard work, in fact she embraces it. She's...

Lauren Simasko High Court Dreams

Read how WMU-Cooley Law School student Lauren Simasko came to realize that she not only wanted to...

Quadfecta: Federal Grant Awards Support WMU-Cooley's Innocence Project

Quadfecta. Noun. A set of four wins at related events. The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project not only...

#BrianBanks Movie Reminder of Two WMU-Cooley Connections

Some of you may have already watched the movie and true story about Brian Banks. It recently opened...

WMU-Cooley Law Professors Explain High Crimes and Misdemeanors

As congress explores the potential impeachment of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, lawmakers and...

What does the 25th Amendment mean by "Acting Cabinet Officers"

There is much conversation surrounding the 25th Amendment and what might happen if members of...

The 2019 Law School Experience

Victoria Vuletich, the assistant dean at the Grand Rapids, Michigan campus of Western Michigan...

WMU-Cooley Chasing Hope to Build Opioid Epidemic Awareness

Nearly everyone knows someone who is either personally struggling with opioid addiction or knows...

Tips for How to Get Cheap Car Insurance

Ask the Experts: Cheap Car Insurance Pros & Cons Car insurance is a necessary expense if you’re a...

Amanda Burch: Sometimes You Have To Be Part of the Change to Make Change

Amanda Burch always knew she wanted to be a lawyer. Raised on a steady diet of the Matlock TV...

Have You Checked Out These 8 Mobile Apps for Law Students?

Law school is a grueling time. From attending class to participating in externships, and everything...

Exonerees Say Freedom is in the Hands of Law Students as Future Lawyers

During the month of October, the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project is doing its part to build...

Michael Terner: Success is not where you start, but where you finish

“Look to your left, look to your right; one of you won't complete your law school journey.” I...

Law Librarian: Because Superhero isn’t an official job title

Daniel Cardwell is a first-year law student at the WMU-Cooley Law School. He earned an M.A. in...

Diversity programs near and dear to WMU-Cooley Professor Joseline Hardrick

Even at nine years old, Joseline Hardrick knew she wanted to be a lawyer. She remembers being glued...

Distractions and LSAT Test Prep

Amy Dickinson is a syndicated advice columnist. In a recent installment of “Ask Amy” she responded...

WMU-Cooley Grad Kate Barnaby: Everything You Do has a Ripple Effect

Growing up, WMU-Cooley graduate Kate Barnaby remembers how much she loved learning about our legal...

Note to legal writers: You CAN start sentences with But.

My colleague Joe Kimble has attempted to refute the common superstition against beginning a...

Ret. Brig. Gen. Michael C.H. McDaniel Offers Expertise on Mass Shootings

As investigators continue to uncover evidence surrounding the two mass shootings this past weekend,...

Legal Writing Experts Explain the Evolving "They"

One thing is for sure. Only writing professionals and the grammar elite have the passion to wrap...

The Liberty Bell Award Has Michigan Roots

On May 1 each year, thousands of people and organizations across the nation participate in Law Day,...

Work Ethic a Key Characteristic of Successful Solos

WMU-Cooley Professor Gary Bauer has decades of business and marketing experience, alongside nearly...

Shequel Ross: Designing Legal Education Movement to Teach Legal Rights

Using social media to promote businesses and products has become the norm in recent years, but...

David Malson Proud of Top 100 Firm's Diversity and Inclusiveness Efforts, and Work-Life Balance Programs

David Malson, by anyone's standards, personifies career success and a meaningful life. But Malson...

WMU-Cooley graduate Christina Corl: High Demand and High Honors

“If you stick around long enough, you’ll see everything,” noted Christina Corl, partner at Plunkett...

WMU-Cooley Grad Mustafa Ameen: Legal Career Helps Others on a Larger Scale

Mustafa Ameen (Fitzgerald Class, 2006), knew growing up that he was either going to be a doctor or...

WMU-Cooley Grad Aaron Burrell Leader in Legal Diversity & Inclusiveness

In the last decade, Aaron V. Burrell (Woodward Class, 2010), a business lawyer with the Detroit...

Natural Enthusiasm Isn't So Natural; But a Characteristic of Successful Solos

WMU-Cooley Professor Gary Bauer has decades of business and marketing experience, alongside nearly...

Nicholas Romer: Diverse students mean enriched classroom experience

McDonald Pierangeli Macfarlane law firm in West Michigan is home to three WMU-Cooley graduates: ...

#1 Characteristic of Successful Solos is the Ability to Choose Fearlessness

WMU-Cooley Professor Gary Bauer has decades of business and marketing experience, alongside nearly...

Kimble Center for Legal Drafting Established at WMU-Cooley Law School

Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School is pleased to announce that it has established the ...

Erick Bradtke: Nobody Outworks WMU-Cooley Law Graduates

McDonald Pierangeli Macfarlane law firm in west Michigan is home to three WMU-Cooley graduates: ...

State Rep. Kara Hope: 5 Key Pieces of Advice for Success in Life

WMU-Cooley graduate Kara Hope, State Representative for Michigan’s 67th House District, spoke...

WMU-Cooley Grad Mustafa Ameen Uses Legal Career to Help on Larger Scale

WMU-Cooley Law School graduate Mustafa Ameen knew growing up that he was either going to be a...

New to WMU-Cooley? Here's what you need to know about the law school library

The law library is going to be one of your best friends while you are in law school. Here are some...

WMU-Cooley Grad Aaron Burrell Leader in Legal Diversity & Inclusiveness

In the last decade, Aaron V. Burrell, a business lawyer with the Detroit office of Dickinson Wright...

Jonathan Paasch: Clients appreciate attorneys who are real-life, real-world

McDonald Pierangeli Macfarlane law firm is making its mark on the west Michigan community,...

Trailblazing Women Chief Justices

Otto Stockmeyer is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Western Michigan University Cooley Law...

Retiring from the Military or Law Enforcement Soon? Consider Law School

WMU-Cooley Professor Gary Bauer considers his job an important one for those law students...