Face of Justice 2021 Virtual Program – December 9, 2021

Face of Justice Program

 

Student Resources & Tips

Mentor Resources & Tips

Presenters & Bios

Thumbnail of Kristina Bilowus

Kristina Bilowus
Title: Assistant Director of Career Development
Current Employment: MSU College of Law
Email Address

Please explain your job: I counsel, advise, and educate law students and recent law school graduates.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A lawyer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Confidence.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Don't compare yourself to others. Work on your own strengths and skills, and build a good reputation for yourself.

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Brian Boehne
Title: Principal
Current Employment: Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook
Email Address

Please explain your job: I manage a team of civil litigators defending Michigan No-fault claims.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: An attorney.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Curiosity.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: There are limitless applications of your talents that you can share as an attorney or in other legal field roles.

Thumbnail of Jehan Crump-Gibson

Jehan Crump-Gibson
Title: Managing Attorney
Current Employment: Great Lakes Legal Group PLLC
Email Address

Please explain your job: I manage attorneys and administrative duties at the firm. I represent clients with business and commerical matters and probate and estate planning.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A lawyer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Mentorship, early internships.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Success comes before work only in the dictionary. You can achieve it when you work hard!

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Amanda Gilpatrick
Title: Paralegal
Current Employment: Ingham County Office of the Public Defender
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I assist and support attorneys with all aspects of their cases.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A lawyer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Experience.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Start getting your experience in now, interview attorneys in areas of law you are interested in, read and learn new laws and legislation, work as a receptionist in a law firm, and STUDY.

Thumbnail of Bobby Alonza Ficklin Jr.

Bobby Alonza Ficklin Jr.
Title: Attorney
Current Employment: The Ficklin Law Firm, PLLC
Email Address

 

Please explain your job: I am a social security disability attorney that litigates appeals claims for social security benefits.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: An attorney or major league baseball player.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Being the middle child - and looking at things objectively and neutrally from being the middle child. Secondly, my parents - they are both educators and made me feel like I could do anything. That confidence has stayed with me. Lastly, and most importantly my faith in God. I know that I can do all things through Christ.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Believe in yourself, even if no one else does. Dream big and work hard to go after it. Have a plan B, but plan not to ever have to use it.

Thumbnail of Michael Everett Hall

Michael Everett Hall
Title: Attorney-Technology Transactions
Current Employment: D. Augustus Straker Bar Association
Email Address

Please explain your job: I am an intellectual property attorney. I specialize in technology, trademark, copyright and entertainment law.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: I love music and I knew that whatever I did would have music and creativity connected to it in some way. I had two dreams, to be an engineer and to be an entertainment attorney. I didn't think I could do both, but here we are.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: My previous career as an engineer and discipline.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: We all were where you are, so that means you have the ability and intelligence to go beyond us... it's where talent meets hard work.

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Linda Kennedy
Title: Co-Founder of Law Firm
Current Employment: Panagos Kennedy PLLC
Email Address

Please explain your job: I help creative people protect their ideas.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A journalist.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Learning to write well and ask meaningful questions.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: It takes a long time to solve complex problems -- don't let setbacks distract you.

Thumbnail of Debani Gordon Lehman

Debani Gordon Lehman
Title: Associate Attorney
Current Employment: Rosati Schultz Joppich and Amtsbuechler
Email Address

Please explain your job: I focus my practice on municipal law, employment law, law enforcement, and civil rights. I also assist with providing general counsel services to several municipalities. I assist these communities by researching and providing legal opinions. I am also a trained civil mediator.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Being a lawyer was always my dream.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Legal intern and externships.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Find a mentor in the legal community as early as you can and seek their advice and guidance.

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Richard Lynch
Title: General Counsel
Current Employment: Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan
Email Address

Please explain your job: I serve as the lead attorney for Michigan's largest general jurisdiction trial court.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A historian / university professor.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: A love of research and learning.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: "If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill

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April Malak
Title: Principal
Current Employment: Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner Valitutti and Sherbrook
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I co-manage a civil litigation team which focuses on complex first-party automotive claims, Michigan Assigned Claims, and general negligence.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A lawyer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: I started working at a local law firm in high school as a receptionist, and worked my way up to legal secretary. I also shadowed the attorneys in court, and volunteered for any task that would get me into court or depositions. Seeing the legal practice play out in real time provided me with significant insight and real world knowledge.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Understand the value of relationships. Your reputation is extremely important and follows you for life. This means choosing your battles and knowing when to give people grace.

Thumbnail of Nicholas M. Ohanesian

Nicholas M. Ohanesian
Title: United States Administrative Law Judge
Current Employment: Social Security Administration
Email Address

Please explain your job: I conduct disability hearings and issue decisions.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A teacher.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Being curious and asking questions.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Be curious and ask questions.

Thumbnail of Edward M. Olson

Edward M. Olson
Title: Owner
Current Employment: Olson Law Firm
Email Address

 

Please explain your job: I am a sole practitioner with a general business practice.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: In charge of my own future.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Being active in law school and clerking while in law school were the most helpful.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Don't go to law school unless you mean it. No one wants to hire someone thinking about being a lawyer.

Thumbnail of Hon. Miriam Perry

Hon. Miriam Perry
Title: District Court Judge
Current Employment: 15th District Court
Email Address

Please explain your job: I preside in criminal and traffic matters in district court.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A judge.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Being a life-long learner.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: I did most things the hard way, if I can do this so can you.

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Daniel Quick
Title: Member
Current Employment: Dickinson Wright PLLC
Email Address

Please explain your job: I work in business litigation.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Deep analytical work in undergrad.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: There are a lot of different ways to participate -- not just as a trial attorney like you see on TV.

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Chelsea Rebeck
Title: Law Firm Owner
Current Employment: Rebeck & Allen
Email Address

Please explain your job: I am a tax attorney & CPA who manages a firm.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A CPA.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Law school.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Everything is a process, figure out the process and take one step at a time.

Thumbnail of Dana M. Warnez

Dana M. Warnez
Title: Lawyer / shareholder at my firm, volunteer, and President of the State Bar of Michigan
Current Employment: State Bar of Michigan
Email Address

Please explain your job: I am an attorney specializing in estate planning, real estate work, and probate work.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Always wanted to follow in the family footsteps in a law career.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Getting involved with external groups and organizations.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Learn broad-based things, go for law afterwards, and get in courtrooms early and often to better understand the impact and importance of the justice system.

Thumbnail of Mia Williams

Mia Williams
Title: Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Current Employment: Office of the Prosecuting Attorney (Jackson)
Email Address

 

Please explain your job: I work at the pleasure of the Jackson County Prosecutor.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A lawyer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Having family support.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Intern so you can obtain exposure and experience within the legal profession.

Thumbnail of Aaron V. Burrell

Aaron V. Burrell
Title: Member, Co-Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclsuion
Current Employment: Dickinson Wright PLLC
Email Address

 

Please explain your job: I practice commercial litigation, labor and employment, appellate, and in the minority business enterprise corproate space.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: An entertainment executive, producer, and performer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Experience that instilled hard work and discipline.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: A career in law allows you to platform to positively impact your community and those around you.  Work hard, and you can begin a career that is meaningful.

Thumbnail of Sherriee L. Detzler

Sherriee L. Detzler
Title: Regional Director for Largest Non-Profit Organization dedicated to legal education
Current Employment: AccessLex Institute
Email Address

Please explain your job: Development and supporting law students through law school and the bar exam.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A truck driver.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Advocating for my developmentally disabled sister.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Get organized! Success in law school and practice requires "structure" and "self-discipline". SMILE

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