why michigan law essay

why michigan law essay

The Importance of Michigan Law

1. Overview of Michigan Law

Michigan law is mainly composed of the state constitution, state statutes, and administratively promulgated rules. The common law of the state of Michigan emanates from the decisions of the state’s appellate courts. Any analysis of Michigan law must begin with a careful review of Michigan’s legal system. The state constitution or fundamental law defines and creates the institutions and organs of state government and their jurisdiction. It also provides guarantees of various civil liberties to the people of the state. These guarantees often correspond to similar provisions of the United States Constitution. If a right is guaranteed by both the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan State Constitution, a law affecting that right must meet higher standards to be valid. This principal is known as “more stringent protection” and the Michigan Supreme Court is the ultimate authority in determining whether a given law meets the higher standard.

2. Benefits of Studying Michigan Law

Another benefit of studying Michigan law is that there are many unique laws in Michigan that are not found in other states. Many times, there are laws written into the statutes that are specific to Michigan and would not be found in any other states. An understanding of these laws is extremely valuable to any Michigan attorney and many businesses and individuals seeking advice or representation. Starting with an understanding of the distinction between civil law and common law, a student can seek out areas where common law has been developed and rendered a particular statute ineffective. This may also help a student find out where Michigan courts have been activist or aggressive in deciding what the law should be or inconclusive if a statute should be repealed or altered. Finally, there are times where the Michigan courts have taken common law from England and articulated its own unique version – this is known as derived common law. Understanding these nuances of law in Michigan will provide a student a clearer understanding of how law, public policy, and legal rights are defined and changed. This should culminate with the ability of analysis and predictability on any of these issues and determine any future trend of how an area of law should develop.

There are several benefits of studying Michigan law. First, you will be aware of the subtleties of the common law because Michigan still has a great deal of it in force. Common law is judge-made law and is traditionally articulated through court cases. In a state such as Michigan, when the legislature enacts a statute, the interpretation and effect of that statute – many times – will happen in a court case. When a court interprets a statute, it becomes case law. The judiciary also has their own interpretations on how statutes should be applied or other legal principles. This leads to more case law. Because there is still so much law developing in Michigan, the distinction between statute law and case law is still very visible – many times the courts may even write opinions discussing the need for a new law. Understanding this distinction is very important in legal education and in practice. High fluency in understanding common law and case law will gear a law student towards research and writing, as well as teeing up strong legal analysis. Those who take the Michigan State Bar will also benefit because Michigan tests general knowledge of the law and might be disproportionately testing the common law of Michigan. With a strong understanding of common law, one will be able to predict what a court may eventually judge as to the law’s application or new court case. Finally, individuals and all Michigan attorneys who are researching an area of law or attempting to understand their legal rights will benefit from understanding Michigan law because it may solve their legal problem or dilemma. Many laws that have not been written into statutes may only be found through researching reported court cases.

3. Career Opportunities in Michigan Law

You are going into law because you like to help people. A career in Michigan can offer that. The University of Michigan Law School is a top-five law school, placing almost half the student body in Michigan jobs – without even taking into account the hundreds of University of Michigan undergrads who progress directly to various legal careers. Michigan is a gigantic legal market. It has over 30 law schools cranking out students, and a relatively large local legal economy. The State Bar of Michigan has over 35,000 members. If you did not fall asleep during math class, you will notice that if even half these people are employed, the jobs are there; they are just waiting for JD’s to come fill them. During the early 2000s, it was common for the bigger firms to roll out the red carpet for U of M law students with sign-on bonuses ranging into the tens of thousands of dollars printed in a single check. It remains to be seen what the immediate future holds, given the economy, but Michigan traditionally has been an excellent job market for U of M grads, Grotta especially. At one time, Grotta believed that working in a gigantic firm was as horrible as being a child slave in turn-of-the-19th-century London, but some of the Cravath salaries mentioned in the preceding sentence have also been known to cause a change of heart in a person.

4. Success Stories of Michigan Law Graduates

Every law college promises to provide professionalism and knowledge. They assure us to make us capable of being successful lawyers and judges in the near future. However, the only thing to be focused on here is to look on the other side of the picture. What more has this college provided to be a good one in the future? The success story of Michigan Law College proves these words right. The college has given more than a degree and academic services to its students. It has an aim of educating lawyers. It believes that the foundation of a professional career is laid in a diversified environment and the result of its success is its alumni, spread all over the world, excelling in different fields. The college promotes interaction of students and professors which leads to a better understanding of law and interpretation of the cutting-edge law in various fields. Michigan Lawyers are known for solving complex problems in a professional and influential manner. In one way or another, alumni have always influenced the world. This has helped our alumni to become successful lawyers internationally. Whether serving clients with international legal issues or the lawyerly skills honed through study, writing, or teaching in international law, a number of Michigan alumni have been involved in international practice. Quite a few hold leadership positions in governmental or non-governmental organizations. Although the geographic area and legal systems encompassed by the term “international law” are quite broad, Michigan Law has always had strength in public international law.

5. Conclusion: Choosing Michigan Law for Your Future

Our students and alumni often return to the law school to hire graduates and interns. They regularly tell us that Michigan students are especially well trained for the practice of law. This is neither accidental, nor a new development. For many years, Michigan Law has focused not just on educating students, but on preparing them for successful careers in the law. This began in the early part of the 20th century with the founding of the law school’s legal aid program. Today, Michigan Law continues that tradition with more than 900 students participating annually in clinical programs, externships, and the pro bono pledge. These programs provide students with the practical experience that is so important to employers. At the same time, the law school’s rigorous curriculum ensures that our students have a solid understanding of legal theory. This unique combination of practical skills and theoretical knowledge is what distinguishes Michigan lawyers in the practice. This is also why employers often express a preference for hiring Michigan Law graduates, and why our graduates have been so successful in careers in all areas of the legal world.