Stuart Shoup, '09

"I chose Wayne Law because I wanted to go to a diverse, urban law school. I also liked Wayne Law's reputation in the labor community. Plus, the price was right."

Undergraduate degree? When/where? I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. in History and a Sociology minor.

What area of law are you specializing in? Why? I am specializing in labor and employment law because I am passionate about seeking justice in the workplace.

What student organizations/co-curriculars are you involved in? I am very involved with the National Lawyers Guild and the Wayne Labor Law Association (which I helped merge last year). I am also involved in the Public Interest Law Association and the Journal of Law in Society.

How has your involvement in student organizations impacted your law school experience? I think getting involved is one of the most important things that I have done at law school. Not only is it a great way to meet like minded law students, it is also a way to meet local lawyers and getting your network started.

What have you been most proud of in law school? I have had several opportunities, through internships and clerking jobs, to work with some great people's lawyers in Detroit. With them, I have been able to make a difference in so many lives, locally and across the country. No one needs to ask me which side I'm on, and that's what I'm most proud of.

Has there been a professor who has really impacted your journey into law? Professor Margaret Leibowitz and Professor Jocelyn Benson have both been very inspirational on a personal, professional and educational level. The law can often feel like a vehicle for greed and oppression, but these two professors have given me the courage to use it as a tool of justice.

Do you feel well prepared for a career in law? Yes, I do. It is scary out there, but I think I have the tools to be successful.

What advice would you give to folks considering Wayne Law as their law school? There is a lot of good work to be done in Detroit. Come to Wayne Law and be a part of the Renaissance.