Growing future legal professionals, long before the 1L year

obs in legal occupations are projected to grow faster than all occupations from 2022 to 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 90,000 positions will be available on average annually due to employment growth and the need to replace employees who permanently leave their roles. Top jobs in the field include lawyers, judges, arbitrators, mediators, court reporters and legal assistants.

Wayne State University Law School is eager to meet this demand.

“We have been developing programs and opportunities for students to experience firsthand what is available to them in the field of law,” said Wayne Law Dean and John W. Reed Professor of Law Richard Bierschbach.

From summer camps for high schoolers and pre-law programs for undergraduates to new law-related degrees and concentrations and initiatives focused on law student support services, Wayne Law is empowering a diverse student body through programs that cultivate inclusion, offer broad perspectives and provide a range of skills.

C2 Pipeline

Although Wayne State has historically showcased project-based learning activities in STEM fields, last year saw an expanded offering when Wayne Law debuted a summer camp, Law and the Real World, to introduce students to a variety of legal professions as they learn the law.

Having worked closely with undergraduate students as Wayne Law’s Academic Service Officer and Community Education Outreach Coordinator, Ryan Doss sought to bring the C2 Pipeline experience to the Law School.

Over four days in July 2023, 15 high school students participated in legal simulations and hands-on activities. As part of the class curriculum, the immersive camp was based on two themes: business law and Fourth Amendment-related criminal law issues.

“Students learned to identify, discuss and demonstrate an understanding of how the law is used to protect them; the fundamentals about business law and starting a business; how to protect their brand; and how to effectively advocate for themselves,” Doss said.

Each day, students learned from Law School faculty and staff not only about the law, but college and career readiness skills including networking, communication, team building, critical thinking, active listening, emotional intelligence, problem-solving and persuasion. Beyond this, they learned life skills like negotiation, communication and personal ethics.

“I enjoyed getting to experience negotiation and having to be on teams and collaborate throughout the week,” said Shifa Khanom, a high school senior participant. “It was fun getting to know each other and learning new skills.”

Indeed, Wayne Law staff engaged students through a range of activities including a contract negotiation competition, a law-related Jeopardy game, and an escape room-style scenario where they worked through a series of cases, puzzles, riddles and legal questions as they represented their clients and relied on the knowledge they gained throughout the week.

“It is important to expose students to what it is like to be a lawyer to help develop their career interests,” said Dan Ellman, director of externships and assistant clinical professor at Wayne Law. “The more that young people experience and have exposure to, the more they have to reflect on when making decisions going forward.”

Undergraduate degrees in law

Minor in law

“This curriculum allows undergraduate students curious about law-related careers or who may want to pursue a legal education a chance to get exposed to the law with actual law classes designed specifically for undergraduates,” said Nikki Taylor-Vargo, senior assistant dean of enrollment management and new program development at Wayne Law.

There are three different tracks by which students can complete the minor: liberal arts and sciences, business, and social work. Each track involves the same three courses in law, all taught by Law School faculty members. Subject to the track, classes include Law in Social Context, Legal Procedure, American Legal Systems and Processes, Justice, Foundations of Law, Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy, and Philosophy of Human Rights.

Since its inception, over 400 Wayne State University students have enrolled in the minor in law program.

“Our minor provides exposure to the law and careers that the law touches,” said Taylor-Vargo. “The enrollment demonstrates the interest students have in the field of law. We are eager to see where these students go with this education.”

Bachelor of arts in law

The B.A. in law is designed to prepare students for emerging employment opportunities in various fields or graduate studies in law school. This degree empowers students to be well-rounded and civic-minded leaders through a mix of coursework and hands-on experiences relating to political science, criminal justice and other law-related subjects.

“Legal Procedure is my favorite class,” said Christopher Gibson, a junior at Wayne State University who is concurrently majoring in law and criminal justice as he pursues his dream of becoming a corporate and criminal lawyer. “I love to learn about the legal process and the life of a case. I plan to go to law school, so I believe this foundation will help me.”

Graduates of the B.A. in law program have a variety of career paths at their fingertips, such as title examiners, paralegals, arbitrators, urban planners, correction officers, court reporters, or personal financial advisors.

“There are so many areas that touch law, the career paths are endless,” said Taylor-Vargo. “Although completion of the program does not guarantee admission into law school, it does provide an opportunity for students to get their feet wet and learn if law school is a path for them.”

Students experience a mix of liberal arts and law school coursework totaling 120 credits, many spanning topics in criminal justice, political science, English, law, and philosophy.

“Students gain a general understanding of legal practices and have exposure to legal topics including tort law, criminal law, property and how legal policies shape industries,” said Taylor-Vargo. “They also gain experience in creating and reviewing legal documents.”

Those enrolled in the program have the benefit of learning from Law School faculty members, who provide them with opportunities to participate in a unique learning community and work hands-on with partner organizations addressing real issues that impact metro Detroit. In addition, students are encouraged to get involved in related events and service-learning projects.

In its first year, enrollment in the B.A. in law program has soared to more than 130 undergraduate students, with nearly 100 of them new to Wayne State University.

Warrior Housing Corps Learning Community

The Learning Community was incorporated as a pilot program in the curriculum, specifically the Law in Social Context class for undergraduate students to learn about the law through experience. This community of students read a book on eviction and learned the current state of housing in the city of Detroit and surrounding areas, working in partnership with community organizations to address ongoing housing crises.

In addition to a traditional learning environment, students participated in events like court-watching and service-learning projects relating to eviction, rental housing and other issues impacting Detroiters.

“This undergraduate and experiential education program was a collaborative effort and a key component of the students’ education,” said Rebecca Robichaud, director of clinical education and assistant professor (clinical) of law. “Data shows that students who have practical experiences and serve internships are more likely to succeed in getting jobs. This learning community has brought a unique offering to our undergraduate students and allows them to learn more tangibly about the law and how they can make an impact in Detroit.”

Mock Trial Law Club

In addition to learning the mock trial process throughout the year, the students will explore the justice system, analyze trending legal cases, and gain leadership and advocacy skills. Members of the Wayne Law Review and Mock Trial Program will be facilitating workshops with students each week to further develop their strategies and improve upon their skills to compete locally and nationally. The program concludes with a mini mock trial scrimmage at Wayne State University Law School.

Damon J. Keith Pre-Law Summer Institute

Free to all participants, the four-week summer program is open to rising juniors and seniors who are pursuing an undergraduate degree at any institution, and recent graduates within the last two years. Sophomores participating in a 3+3 program at Wayne State or Oakland universities are also eligible to apply. Applicants must have graduated from a Detroit Public Schools Community District high school or be residents of Detroit.

Since its inception in 2021, the Damon J. Keith Pre-Law Summer Institute has welcomed 40 students from Wayne State, Oakland and Michigan State University.

“Each summer, we have enrolled anywhere from 10 to 20 students in the program, and two so far have become Wayne Law students,” said Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Tierney Hoffman.

Students receive access to an in-person 30-hour LSAT test preparation course; a $500 stipend to cover LSAT registration expenses upon successful completion of the program; and instructional sessions taught by Wayne Law faculty and staff on topics like legal writing, academic success, financial literacy, professionalism, and the law school application and admissions process.

Students also participate in team-building activities and social events, where they have opportunities to connect with mentors in the Detroit legal community and visit local law firms; federal, state and local courts; and public interest firms and organizations.

“Our pre-law institute provides holistic preparation on what to expect in law school and provides undergraduate students opportunities they may not otherwise have,” said Hoffman. “We encourage all eligible students to apply for this unique program to understand that law is a possible career path for them.”

Last summer, participants prepared for and competed in a mock trial competition, where they dined with attorneys, toured a law firm and visited Wayne County Third Circuit Court to meet with a judge. They also attended weekly workshops to learn about clinic and externship opportunities, heard from a panel of Wayne Law students about their experiences, and participated in well-being exercises.

A grant from the AccessLex Institute helped launch the program in year one; however, in subsequent years, it has been funded by Wayne Law.

“Our objective in funding this program rests heavily on our commitment to our community and to foster access to a legal education,” said Bierschbach.