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Points of Distinction

Recognized by the ABA for Public Interest
In 2006, the School of Law was recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) Student Law Division as the top university in the country for providing public interest opportunities for its students. The ABA presented the University with the Judy M. Weightman Memorial Public Interest Award for recognition of its outstanding community service projects, public interest programming and strong commitment to helping others in need.

Immigration Law Clinic
In 2000, the School of Law established the Immigration Law Clinic to serve indigent foreign nationals seeking asylum in he U.S. Under faculty supervision, students act as lead counsel in preparing clients' applications for asylum and advocating on their behalf before the U.S. Immigration Court in Detroit.

Environmental Law Clinic
The Environmental Law Clinic is scheduled to begin as a pilot in the Winter ’08 term. The clinic will be quite unique, in that the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law has been given the opportunity to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Environmental Enforcement Section of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., bringing environmental enforcement actions on behalf of various U.S. agencies.

Law Firm Program Courses
In 2007-08, the School of Law launches its Law Firm
Program (LFP) for upperclass students.  This year, the LFP
will offer course modules in Corporate Transactions,
Intellectual Property Law, Health Law, Medical Malpractice
and more.

Job Placement Rates
More than 90 percent of the 1999-2006 graduates have
reported to UDM that they were employed or pursuing
another degree within nine months of graduation.  Our
graduates serve in private practice, prosecutorial
positions, judicial clerkships, business, public interest
law and academia.

Urban Law Clinic
Since 1965 the Urban Law Clinic has provided "hands-on" experience for students in various capacities in legal representation of clients in "real-life" settings, including more recent components such as the Mobile Law Office, which provides legal services to the underserved, and the Mediation Clinic and Appellate Advocacy Clinic.

Veterans Law Clinic
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law has pioneered a Veterans Law Clinic to address the compelling legal needs of veterans.  The Clinic focuses on veterans’ legal issues through representation, pro bono attorney referral, and education.

The Veterans Law Clinic represents low and moderate income veterans in their disability claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and Court of Veterans Appeals.   Under the supervision of the clinic instructor, students interview clients, draft briefs, and argue before administrative agencies and appeals courts

Joint Degree Program with the University of Windsor School of Law (J.D./L.L.B.)
The School of Law's joint degree program with the University of Windsor School of Law provides students with both an American and a Canadian law degree within three years.

Applied Legal Theory and Analysis Program
The Applied Legal Theory and Analysis (ALTA) program for all first-year law students is a national model in the area of legal writing and analysis instruction.