Face of Justice 2021 Virtual Program – June 1, 2021

May Face of Justice Program

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Student Resources & Tips

Mentor Resources & Tips

Presenters & Bios

Thumbnail of Hon. Cynthia M. Arvant

Hon. Cynthia M. Arvant
Title: District Court Judge
Current Employment: 46th District Court
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I preside over a docket which includes misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings on felony cases, traffic matters, landlord/tenant cases, civil cases under $25,000, and small claims. I also perform weddings.

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

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Working for a legal services program while I was in law school. It helped me identify what I loved about the law: helping people.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: It's never too early to start studying law, even in high school. Courts are open to the public (and will be again when safe to do so); go visit you local court and observe. It's really interesting.

Thumbnail of Mariam Bazzi

Mariam Bazzi
Title: Judge
Current Employment: Third Circuit Court
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I oversee a felony criminal docket. I also oversee a Mental Health Court docket.

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?: Joining the debate team in college. It helped me realize how much I enjoyed being an advocate.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Being a Lawyer or a Judge is something that is attainable for anyone who wants it. You just have to believe in yourself, stay focused on your goals and enjoy the process.

Thumbnail of Lorna T. Beard

Lorna T. Beard
Title: Assistant Division Director, Legal Counsel
Current Employment: Legislative Service Bureau
Email Address

Please explain your job: Legal Counsel to the Michigan Legislature. I draft bills for the Michigan Senate and House. We are a nonpartisan office.

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?: Working with attorneys in my previous career.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Be confident in yourself. Believe in your ability to achieve your goals.

Thumbnail of Katherine Belzowski

Katherine Belzowski
Title: Acting Assistant Attorney General
Current Employment: Navajo Nation Department of Justice
Email Address

Please explain your job: I advise the Navajo Nation government on a variety of issues.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Archaeologist

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Being able to communicate with people of different backgrounds.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: The practice of law is for everyone. Whatever your interest is there is an area in the law that covers that interest.

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 advise students and recent graduates about career options and professional development. I also plan relevant programming and manage judicial clerkships and small/midsize firm opportunities for the school.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A lawyer - since I was 11.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Believing in myself and the potential I could possess.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Continue to learn and ask questions about your interests. Don't let anyone else tell you who you are supposed to become.

Thumbnail of Brian Boehne

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

Please explain your job: I litigate cases defending insurance companies from car accident 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?: Reading

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Have a plan.

Thumbnail of Brigette Booser

Brigette Booser
Title: Attorney
Current Employment: Wood and Associates PLLC
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I am a custody/divorce attorney.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Lawyer

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Working full time

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Always pursue the truth.

Thumbnail of Karen Braxton

Karen Braxton
Title: Judge, Family Division - Juvenile Section
Current Employment: 3rd Circuit Court
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: Adjudicate juvenile delinquency, abuse/neglect, child custody and guardianship matters; preside over a Juvenile Drug Treatment Court and a specialty truancy docket for Wayne County.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Judge

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Participating in internships in various places including the Cleveland Law Department, Public Defender Service (Washington D.C.) and a law firm.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Always practice in an area of law that you are passionate about because you will never make enough money doing something that you don't love.

Thumbnail of Zenell Brown

Zenell Brown
Title: Executive Court Administrator
Current Employment: Third Judicial Circuit Court
Email Address

Please explain your job: I manage and oversee the technology, security, budget, court reporting, jury, internship programs, and other operations of the Court.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A lawyer, but no idea what was entailed.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: I love to write and learned to use information to reach decisions.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Visit courts and participate in programs where you can meet and shadow lawyers and judges.

Thumbnail of L. Alisyn Crawford

L. Alisyn Crawford
Title: State Administrative Manager
Current Employment: State of Michigan
Email Address

Please explain your job: I manage a section for auto insurance utilization review.

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

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Hardship and struggle. I dropped out of school in 10th grade and decided to pursue college at the age of 25.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Traditional court room legal work is not the only route.

Thumbnail of Stephanie Fakih

Stephanie Fakih
Title: Criminal Defense Attorney
Current Employment: Rights First Law, PC
Email Address

Please explain your job: I defend people accused of committing crimes.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: When I was younger, I dreamed about helping people as a lawyer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Seeking out every opportuntity available to me.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Law is so vast and being an attorney will differ depending on what type of law you practice. My advice is to shadow/intern with lawyers in different practice areas to learn about the different areas of law and what interests you.

Thumbnail of Jocelyn Flemons

Jocelyn Flemons
Title: Law Clerk
Current Employment: UDM Law School
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I assist the attorneys at the firm with research and drafting documents.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Teacher, Lawyer, and Actress

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

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Don't be afraid to dream big because your potential is greater than what you can imagine!

Thumbnail of Bobby Alonza Ficklin Jr.

Bobby Alonza Ficklin Jr.
Title: Attorney
Current Employment: Trajector Disability
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 Hon. Kameshia D. Gant

Hon. Kameshia D. Gant
Title: Circuit Court Judge
Current Employment: Sixth Judicial Circuit Court
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I preside over court proceedings in the Family Division, which include divorce, custody, support, juvenile delinquency, abuse and neglect, adoption, and Personal Protection Order matters. As a Judge, I perform a variety of tasks such as ruling on questions of law and the admissibility of evidence; researching laws; issuing opinions and case decisions; listening to witness testimony; and rendering decisions in legal disputes.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming a dentist. I changed my career focus from dentistry to the legal field after graduating from college and being intrigued by the legal system.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: I was best prepared for a legal career by developing effective organizational and time management skills in high school that carried over into adulthood.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: The legal field is a noble field and I encourage high school students interested in the legal field to seek advice and guidance from various professionals in the legal field to provide education about career options and the general requirements for your chosen career path.

Thumbnail of Amanda Gilpatrick

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

Please explain your job: I work with the attorneys in my office to represent indigent clients throughout the criminal process in Ingham County.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Lawyer

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: The experience I received working at multiple law firms and the paralegal program at LCC.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Look for opportunities now as a legal receptionist to get your foot in the door. Ask to meet with attorneys in the fields of law you are interested in and interview them.

Thumbnail of Johnny Hawkins

Johnny Hawkins
Title: Personal Injury Attorney
Current Employment: Law Office of J L Hawkins
Email Address

Please explain your job: I offer professional legal services to persons who have been seriously injured as a result of the actions of others receive proper compensation.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: A musician and radio personality or talk show host

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Being a very disciplined and organized person.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Take it seriously, that getting good grades is extremely important.

Thumbnail of Jennifer Henderson

Jennifer Henderson
Title: General Counsel
Current Employment: Road Commission for Oakland County
Email Address

Please explain your job: As the head of the Legal/Risk department, I oversee our litigation, contracts, and other legal matters.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Lawyer

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: My parents

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Work hard!

Thumbnail of Linda Kennedy

Linda Kennedy
Title: Partner
Current Employment: Panagos Kennedy PLLC
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: Advising clients how to protect their innovative products from being knocked-off, and suing the makers of the knock-offs in court.

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

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Taking on leadership roles I didn’t feel ready for.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Take chances on yourself. Don’t be afraid to fail — learn from it.

Thumbnail of Alan Koenig

Alan Koenig
Title: Assistant Public Defender
Current Employment: Kalamazoo Defender
Email Address

Please explain your job: I represent indigent clients in serious felony criminal proceedings.

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?: Reading and writing

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Live your dream, always work hard, and never give up.

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 am an Associate with the firm and 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 also 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?: I went through many phases, at one point I wanted to be an artist, a WNBA player, a teacher, and finally I found my passion for the law and put all my efforts into becoming a lawyer.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Being involved in clubs, community organizations, and sports teams where I could take a leadership position.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: As soon as you can, find a mentor in the legal profession who can help guide you through all the highs and lows of one day entering the legal profession.

Thumbnail of Marla Linderman

Marla Linderman
Title: Attorney
Current Employment: Linderman Law PLLC
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I handle employment, business and civil rights litigation. I represent employees and employers.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: When I went to Schoenhals, I decided to become a lawyer because of an incident with a burrito in 2nd grade. Love Southfield Public Schools!!

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: I still think it was the burrito. I was unfairly accused of the silliest of "crimes" and I was the "gold star" student. If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone and I felt then, and now, that fairness and equity in treatment is important to everyone.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Be yourself. Stay true to who you are and be a good person. People who try to fit into boxes of what they think lawyers should be limit themselves unnecessarily.

Thumbnail of Tere M. McKinney

Tere M. McKinney
Title: Labor Relations Specialist
Current Employment: Penske Truck Leasing
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: Labor law specialist

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

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

Thumbnail of Susan Moiseev

Susan Moiseev
Title: Retired District Judge
Current Employment: 46th District Court (Retired)
Email Address

Please explain your job: I am a retired judge of Michigan's first level trial court; I currently sit by assignment handling landlord/tenant cases.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Social studies teacher/wife/mom

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Nothing-I didn't know any lawyers growing up, women weren't seen as lawyers or judges...

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Law school is a good education, no matter what you decide to do with your degree.

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 over misdemeanors, probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, and a domestic violence docket.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Actress and Lawyer

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: The one thing that best prepared me for my legal career is being a student of life.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Take advantage of as many programs, internships, and learning experiences as you can.

Thumbnail of Ashley Poindexter

Ashley Poindexter
Title: Associate Attorney
Current Employment: Foster Swift Collins & Smith
Email Address

Please explain your job: I assist with civil litigation, including legal research, drafting and filing pleadings, and appearing in court.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: An orthopedic surgeon

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: One of the most useful things I learned as a young student was the scientific method. While its application to law may not be immediately clear, the fundamentals are essentially the same in both fields. In each, you form a question, research the area, test your hypotheses against your facts, and then report your conclusions. The type of information you are working with as a lawyer isn’t the same as a scientist, but the process is nearly identical.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Read as much as you can but don't limit yourself to just legal topics. Read novels, historical accounts, opinion pieces, and editorials. Learn as much about your passions, yourself, and the world as you can. The law has its fingers in everything; having a solid knowledge base in any topic will be monumentally useful in this career.

Thumbnail of Farrah C. Ramdayal

Farrah C. Ramdayal
Title: Attorney at Law
Current Employment: SSR Law Office
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I practice Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate Law in the Macomb, Oakland and Wayne County areas.

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?: All of the extracurricular activities I participarted in while in school.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Once you've decided what you want, failure is not an option.

Thumbnail of Hon. Michelle Rick

Hon. Michelle Rick
Title: Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals
Current Employment: MICOA/NAWJ
Email Address

Please explain your job: I review appeals of decisions made by trial courts and the Tax Commission.

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

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Participating in debate and forensics in high school

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Work hard, have compassion, be fearless.

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Donald Roberts
Title: Managing Attorney
Current Employment: Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I manage a law office (10 lawyers, 3 support staff) responsible for providing free legal services to the low income and elderly residence of 4 counties in southwestern Michigan.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Teacher

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Love of reading

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Persevere

Thumbnail of Ashleigh K. Russett

Ashleigh K. Russett
Title: Associate Attorney
Current Employment: Hewson & Van Hellemont, PC
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I represent insurance companies in all aspects of litigation.

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?: Reading. Being able to quickly read and analyze information is vital in my position.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Anyone can go to law school. Before you do, spend your time exploring different topics and find something that interests you. You never know if your love of sports or education will lead to a legal career in that field!

Thumbnail of Cassandra Sanders

Cassandra Sanders
Title: Assistant Attorney General
Current Employment: Michigan Department of the Attorney General
Email Address

Please explain your job: I am an attorney representing the State of Michigan in civil claims for wrongful incarceration compensation.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: International Ambassador

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Higher level math classes

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Be prepared to read a lot.

Thumbnail of Michael Serra

Michael Serra
Title: Product Counsel
Current Employment: Cisco Systems Inc.
Email Address

Please explain your job: I serve as "Product Counsel" for the Security Business Unit within Cisco. My main role is to work with engineering and sales teams to ensure we are offering a product that complies with laws around the world.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Archeologist or Zamboni Driver

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: A lot of experience reading and writing.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: It offers a lot of independence to "be your own boss" or enter a field where you are highly paid expert.

Thumbnail of Hon. Shannon Schlegel

Hon. Shannon Schlegel
Title: Circuit Court Judge
Current Employment: 29th Circuit Court
Email Address

Please explain your job: Circuit Court Judge

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Originally a news journalist then once I made the decision to go to law school, a judge.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Learning to put myself in the other person's shoes. Perspective is everything.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Put yourself in someone else's shoes. Talk to people who have a different perspective then you. Be open to learning.

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Lynn Shecter
Title: Lawyer/Partner
Current Employment: Roy, Shecter & Vocht
Email Address

Please explain your job: My practice largely focuses on employment and consumer litigation.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Astrophysicist

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Activity in organizations that required me to think on my feet.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: You have to have a patience, and an interest in serving the public, even in non-litigation private practice because lawyers have that kind of responsibility.

Thumbnail of Frances Walters

Frances Walters
Title: Director, Conviction Integrity & Expungement Unit
Current Employment: Washtenaw County
Email Address

Please explain your job: I review claims of wrongful conviction and investigate them and make recommendations to the Prosecuting Attorney on whether we should agree to relief in a case; I also assist people with getting old convictions set aside (removed from public records) if they qualify under the new laws.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Initially a doctor, then a teacher (which I was for 6 years)

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: Tied are having empathy for others and learning how to be an effective writer.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Explore many different areas of interest, including in different parts of the law--don't feel you have to rush into a particular part of the legal field before spending some time to find what you enjoy doing, what your talent/skills are and what area of the law they would be best suited for, etc.

Thumbnail of Maria Zografi

Maria Zografi
Title: Corporate Counsel
Current Employment: Daimler North America Corporation
Email Address
 

Please explain your job: I’m an in-house counsel that deals with corporate governance, m&a projects, corporate finance and records retention/information governance.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: Doctor or businesswoman

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: My passion, hard work, and drive

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Dream and work consistently towards that dream of yours, no matter how silly or crazy it may sound to others, if you have a vision and know what you want you can always make things happen.

Thumbnail of Justice Megan K. Cavanagh

Justice Megan K. Cavanagh
Title: Michigan Supreme Court Justice
Current Employment: Michigan Supreme Court
Email Address

Please explain your job: One of seven Justices on Michigan's highest court. The Court decides cases and oversees the administration of all of the state's courts.

When you were younger, what did you dream of being?: When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher or a writer. I became an engineer after college and eventually went to law school. I started out wanting to be a patent lawyer but discovered that my passion was research and writing and so I became an appellate lawyer before becoming an appellate judge.

What is the one thing that best prepared you for a legal career?: A technical degree in engineering helped me develop the analytical reasoning and writing skills that I would need as a lawyer and a judge.

Please offer one piece of advice or motivation for high school students interested in the legal field: Don't get stuck believing that there is only one path to becoming a lawyer. Your personally, your clients, the legal profession, and your community will benefit from a wide variety of life and educational experiences.

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