DETROIT — Wayne State University Law School third-year students James D. O'Dea and Alysa Wiggins were awarded the 28th annual Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium Scholarship on Oct. 19. 

This scholarship is presented to Wayne Law students who show interest in labor and employment law and related fields. 

O'Dea is a former editor turned law student. He is currently a member of Wayne Law's Moot Court Team and symposium editor for Wayne Law Review, as well as past assistant editor. Outside of campus, O'Dea works part-time as a law clerk for the Pitt, McGehee, Palmer, Bonanni & Rivers law firm.  

Wiggins is a skilled legal writer who has served as a law clerk for DTE's Office of the General Counsel. She also worked as a legal extern for Region 7 of the National Labor Relations Board. Wiggins currently works part-time as a law clerk for the Segal McCambridge law firm. 

Assistant Attorney General Bryan Davis stepped in for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel as the keynote speaker at the symposium. Davis provided updates on the Department of Attorney General’s initiatives and actions to protect the rights of Michigan workers. 

The three-part symposium featured speakers from Region 7 of the National Labor Relations Board; Pinsky Smith; Faegre, Drinker, Biddle & Reath; Gregory, Moore, Brooks and Clark; Varnum Law; Mackinac Center for Public Policy; the former President of the Michigan AFL-CIO; and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The scholarship and related labor law symposium honor the labor relations vision of former Regional Director of Region 7 of the NLRB, Bernard Gottfried, who served the NLRB from 1973 until his death in 1992. Gottfried also taught as an adjunct professor at Wayne Law for many years. 

Photos from the symposium can be viewed here.

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Contact: Jennifer Kennedy

Phone: 313-577-4629

Email: Jennifer.kennedy2@wayne.edu