Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Blog

Josh Bemis grew up playing hockey. It was all he wanted to do. In fact, at 16 years old he was committed to playing hockey at Western Michigan University, but ultimately was drafted by the Plymouth Whalers in Plymouth, Michigan, and moved away from home. He played there for 3-4 years, and he loved getting paid for doing exactly what he loved to do.

WMU-Cooley student Shekinah Apedo's first name in Hebrew means "In the Glory of God." As a social worker, Apedo loved that she was able to live out her faith, and give glory to God, in her career. But it was in the courtroom when she knew she was best serving her clients.    

After graduating from WMU-Cooley Law School in January, Geofrey Bilabaye will work as a research attorney at the Michigan Court of Appeals. Read about Geofrey's journey from Tanzania to a legal career in the Legal News story by Sheila Pursglove below. 

Read about WMU-Cooley Law School's Grand Rapids BLSA student chapter and their community outreach and support for local Deborah House. Read the Dec. 12, 2018, Legal News story below.

When Ana Luna thinks back on her life, and the suffering she endured, she realizes that it was those life experiences that led her to law school and her life today. 

Rosie Tejada always thought about law school growing up, but she would push the idea way back in her head, mostly because she doubted herself. Still thinking law was out of reach, she ended up getting a Master's degree in business. Yet something was missing. She knew she was meant to do more.  

This blog was originally published on June 23, 2015.  There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about human trafficking. Some believe that human trafficking does not occur in the United States. Others think that human trafficking victims are only foreign born, or that they are always poor. Some have the misconception that human trafficking is only sex trafficking. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This blog was originally published on May 20, 2016.  On March 17 and 18, 2016, Western Michigan University’s Center for the Study of Ethics in Society presented a conference called “Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown.”  WMU-Cooley professors and law students were well-represented among the speakers, presenting on topics such as informed consent, medical quarantines, youth health care, and drug addiction. The conference sparked important conversations surrounding the theme of uncertainty, a fundamental reality in bioethics. The study of bioethics brings to the forefront concepts of right and wrong, good and bad; blending and blurring the areas of philosophy, theology, history, law, and medicine.

This blog was originally published on February 14, 2015. “Who needs just red roses and dark chocolate when what I really love is working together and solving problems with my husband as a team,” exclaimed Elizabeth Devolder about the couple’s Valentine win in the ABA Client Counseling Regional Competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Feb. 8th. 

It was another great day at the ballpark! Hundred of kids shared in the festivities, including pre-ceremony activities where the Parks & Rec kids and WMU-Cooley law students share the field with the players and a relaxing and fun afternoon to take in a Lansing Lugnuts ball game. What was unclear was who was having more fun – the kids or the law students!