By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
The first person in her family to attend law school, Alyssa Emery will graduate from WMU-Cooley Law School in August—and, after receiving a federal clerkship, will do legal writing and research this summer for a district court judge out of Washington, D.C.
“I interviewed with another candidate before deciding on the one with D.C, but there was something about the way the staff talked about the judge that I knew said. Emery launched her academic trajectory with undergraduate and master’s degrees in philosophy, cum laude, from Wayne State University.
“I’ve always been someone who has asked ‘why’ and philosophy showed me I wasn’t alone,” she said. “I love learning and obtaining knowledge. Philosophy is a bottomless well of knowledge.”
That same passion for knowledge drew Emery to the legal field.
“The law has always been fascinating because it touches every aspect of life,” she said. “Whether it be the labels on your favorite snack or the sidewalk someone walks on, the law influences every aspect of life. I want to be a part of a profession that has the capacity to do so much and give so much.”
At the end of her undergraduate studies, Emery started working at the Law Office of John Yun P.C, in Detroit. She stayed while completing her MA and has continued to work there full time as a legal assistant and supervisor while a full time student at law school.
“During my time at John Yun’s office I’ve learned how the law can help the disenfranchised, and how the law can be used to advocate for those who are not able to advocate for themselves,” she said. “I help indigent wards of the state obtain and maintain benefits to help them live, which includes SSA, Medicaid, Medicare and mental health benefits. I also help with trust and decedent estate administration.”
Emery had originally planned on a five-year, part-time law school program but after her first semester decided to take more classes and didn’t stop until she was taking five classes a semester, while working full time.
She appreciates the inclusive atmosphere at WMU-Cooley Law.
“Every student and professor I’ve met is so willing to help and is very encouraging,” she said.
Emery particularly enjoyed a course on “Legal Ethics in the Digital Space,” taught by Prof. Joan Vestrand.
“I’ve always grown up with technology and have failed to consider how technology affects the practice of law — I’ve never thought about how technology impacts professional legal ethics,” she said. “This class has given me practical knowledge on how to maintain competency in technology while still fulfilling my duty of confidentiality.”
Emery enjoys serving as president of the Organization of Women’s Law Association.
“I love talking with other women law students about their journey but more specifically, I love being able to connect our members with other women who are out practicing,” she said. ““It’s been very inspiring to see women breaking down the stereotypes and bias in the legal community.”
Emery also is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM), Women’s Bar Association (WBA), American Bar Association (ABA), Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) and State Bar of Michigan (SBM). She is a member as well of Inns of the Court through the OCBA.
“WLAM and WBA have been amazing ways to connect with women lawyers and learn through their successes — it’s been inspiring to see all the things these members have done,” Emery said. “The ABA, OCBA and SBM have been great way to stay connected with ongoing legal issues.
“The Inns of the Court has been an amazing way to combine my love for learning with years of experience on developing a presentation on professional legal ethics. My team did our presentation in February and we did a fun ‘Jeopardy’ game I put together and administrated.”
Fascinated with administrative law and relishing the adjudicative side of the law, Emery — who earned certificates of merit in Contracts II and Pretrial Skills classes — plans on a career as an administrative law judge or a municipal attorney.
With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting during the end of her second semester, Emery noted law school online has been “one wild rollercoaster.”
“Although you do miss the in-person communication, I’ve loved online school,” she said. “The Socratic method is still alive and well, and even stronger because of the ability of students to put things in the ‘chat’ while the professor talks. Compared to in-person, I’ve felt more confident to participate online.”
Emery also has appreciated the greater exposure to different people that online courses provide, including the opportunity to take remote classes taught by professors at Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus in the Sunshine State.
“It’s given me different point of views I might have not otherwise been exposed to if not for the online platform,” she said.
A native of Holly in north Oakland County, Emery currently makes her home in nearby Davisburg where her mother is a real estate agent and also helps run the local food pantry. Her father is a project manager at GE.
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