Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Blog

“If you stick around long enough, you’ll see everything,” noted Christina Corl, partner at Plunkett Cooney and one of a trio of new WMU-Cooley Law School Board of Directors members. Twenty five years into her legal career, Corl (Bird Class, 1995) is rarely surprised anymore. Most likely, she indicated “I’ve seen it before.”

Mustafa Ameen (Fitzgerald Class, 2006), knew growing up that he was either going to be a doctor or a lawyer. That's what his parents told their children, after emigrating from India to the United States to secure a better life for the family.

In the last decade, Aaron V. Burrell (Woodward Class, 2010), a business lawyer with the Detroit office of Dickinson Wright, has become acutely aware of dynamic shifts in the way law is practiced. Burrell, who serves as co-chair of the firm’s diversity and litigation-training committees, and has a busy practice in complex commercial litigation, appellate law, and labor and employment law, is in a prime position to note changes in the legal arena.

McDonald Pierangeli Macfarlane law firm in West Michigan is home to three WMU-Cooley graduates: Jonathan Paasch, Erick Bradtke, and Nicholas Romer.  This blog features Nicholas Romer and why he appreciated his legal education at WMU-Cooley Law School.

McDonald Pierangeli Macfarlane law firm in west Michigan is home to three WMU-Cooley graduates: Jonathan Paasch, Nicholas Romer and Erick Bradtke. This blog features Erick Bradtke and why he appreciated his legal education at WMU-Cooley Law School. 

WMU-Cooley graduate Kara Hope, State Representative for Michigan’s 67th House District, spoke recently to WMU-Cooley Law School students about career paths that can lead to success, even a career in politics. If you missed the presentation, take a moment to read her five key pieces of advice to students – from her life experience and perspective. 

WMU-Cooley Law School graduate Mustafa Ameen knew growing up that he was either going to be a doctor or a lawyer. That's what his parents told their children, after emigrating from India to the United States to secure a better life for the family.

In the last decade, Aaron V. Burrell, a business lawyer with the Detroit office of Dickinson Wright and WMU-Cooley graduate, has become acutely aware of dynamic shifts in the way law is practiced. Burrell, who serves as co-chair of the firm’s diversity and litigation-training committees, and has a busy practice in complex commercial litigation, appellate law, and labor and employment law, is in a prime position to note changes in the legal arena.

McDonald Pierangeli Macfarlane law firm is making its mark on the west Michigan community, offering, as they would say, a "small firm feel," with a "big firm experience." That's what WMU-Cooley graduate Jonathan Paasch liked about the firm when he first joined. It's the same feeling and experience he likes to say he had in law school. Yet Paasch didn't always want to be an attorney. 

Brandon Ayers always wanted to go to law school. He took a somewhat winding path to get there, but once he did, he jumped in with both feet, earned his J.D. degree in just a fraction over two years, and passed the bar a month after graduation.