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Cooley Law School Holds Spring Commencement for Lansing Campus

Cooley Law School Holds Spring Commencement for Lansing Campus

LANSING, Mich. – Cooley Law School’s spring commencement ceremony on April 25 not only honored the 46 graduates who earned their juris doctor degree, but also celebrated 50 years since the law school’s first class earned their degrees. The ceremony, held at the MSU Wharton Center Pasant Theatre in East Lansing, featured remarks from Cooley graduates who celebrated their achievements 50 years apart. Chosen by his peers, 2026 graduate Nicholas Prowse gave the class farewell remarks, while Distinguished Professor Emeritus Jeff Swartz, a former Miami-Dade County, Fla., judge who graduated from Cooley in 1976, delivered the keynote speech. “The easy path has always been to quit or to cut corners or to do the bare minimum to avoid scrutiny. But that is not what we came to law school for, and that is not who any of us who are about to receive our degrees are. Not anymore,” Prowse told his fellow graduates. “If there are two things I’d like to leave everyone with, it’s 1: We have all already proven that we can do incredibly difficult things. Let’s not forget that. It matters most, and it becomes tempting to take the easier path. And 2: let us not forget who was with us along the way.” Prowse thanked his fellow students, friends and family of the graduates, and Cooley professors and faculty. He added, “Remember the professors who invested in us when we inevitably have the opportunity to invest in somebody else. We have all seen first-hand the impact that can have. Let us pay it forward.” During the ceremony, Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath presented five members of the 1976 graduating class with commemorative medallions, dubbing them “Golden Graduates.” Those Golden Graduates included: Swartz, Larry Nolan, Jared Silberman, William Ferrigan, and James Bonfiglio. Swartz spoke about Cooley’s impact on his extensive and successful career in law, while connecting his experience back to this year’s graduating class, finding one’s calling, and modern legal integrity. “To be a lawyer right now is to constantly ask yourself, how do I make sure I’m doing the right thing? Am I standing on the right side of history? There is a simple answer: The wrong side of history will always tell you to be afraid. The right side of history will always expect you to be brave,” said Swartz. “I implore you to be brave – as lawyers and as defenders of the constitution. I urge you to go out into this world with courage. The people of this country expect you to be true to the legacy of the very mission, duty, and calling you accept today.” Since opening its doors in 1972 under the leadership of then Michigan Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Brennan, Cooley Law School has remained committed to providing a rigorous and hands-on legal education that is inclusive and collaborative, preparing students who are confident and future-ready for a career in law. President and Dean McGrath thanked staff and students, as well as those who supported them throughout the school year. He noted that April 25 was also World Healing Day, which was established by the Global Consciousness Project to shed light on the possible effects of global consciousness during watershed moments worldwide. In his remarks, McGrath explained how this connection relates to law students and the legal profession. “People don’t come to lawyers when things are going well, generally,” said McGrath. “They come when something is broken, whether it’s a contract, or a family, a business, a trust, sometimes a life. They come frightened, sometimes angry, and sometimes already having lost something they cannot get back. And they sit across from you and they trust you with some broken thing, and they ask you to help. The law gives you tools for that. You have procedures, arguments, negotiations, drafting, and advocacy. These can be instruments of repair, of healing. But the tools only work if the person holding them understands that the goal is not always just to win, it’s to resolve. To heal.” The ceremony also honored the late Polly Brennan, who was instrumental in Cooley Law School’s founding with her husband, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Thomas E. Brennan. In Cooley’s early years, Polly registered students herself, and would set up tables and chairs for class before the school had a permanent home. She was presented with an honorary degree in 2022. A tribute and moment of silence was presented by Lawrence Nolan, a 1976 Cooley “Golden Graduate” and personal friend to the Brennans. The full Cooley Law School Lansing campus graduation is available to watch here.

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  • Cooley Law School Hosts Florida Restoration Coalition Presentation
    Cooley Law School Hosts Florida Restoration Coalition Presentation

    Cooley Law School Hosts Florida Restoration Coalition Presentation

    In collaboration with the American Constitution Society and Federal Bar Association student organizations, Cooley Law School hosted a Florida Rights Restoration Coalition presentation on March 5. The goal of the event was to educate attendees on restoring voter rights and shed light on critical areas of criminal justice reform. Attorney Lenora Easter, Esq, senior counsel at the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, presented the legal education presentation, Restoring Voting Rights with Sentence Modification Remedies under FL Statute 98.0751. FRRC is the organization behind Amendment 4 - Voting Rights Restoration and is committed to ending the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions. Amendment 4 restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence, including parole or probation. “FRRC is a grassroots organization that supports returning citizens,” said Easter. “We advocate for policies that enhance successful reentry and to build a justice-impacted people’s movement through civic engagement and public education which focuses on restoration of rights, voting registration, and criminal justice reform.” The event was sponsored by and approved for CLE credit by The Florida Bar. The discussion was open to lawyers, law students and Cooley Law School alumni, and included opportunities for members of the audience to ask questions and discuss voter rights reform with Easter and members of the FRRC. “Yes, what we do is political in nature, but people come first,” Easter said. “At the end of the day, it’s the people that drive communities, the people that drive politics.”

  • Cooley Law School Innocence Project Assists in Release of George Calicut Jr.
    Cooley Law School Innocence Project Assists in Release of George Calicut Jr.

    Cooley Law School Innocence Project Assists in Release of George Calicut Jr.

    LANSING, Mich. March 4, 2026 – Cooley Law School’s Innocence Project collaborated with the Michigan Innocence Clinic and the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit in the release of George Calicut Jr., of Detroit, after spending 27 years in prison for being wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder. On March 3, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Bradley Cobb vacated Calicut’s conviction, and he was released from prison. Calicut had been serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the felony murder of Virgie Perkins in 1999. The Michigan Innocence Clinic’s review of Calicut’s case revealed that a known rogue police investigator, Detroit Police Homicide Investigator Barbara Simon, had authored a false confession attributed to him. The Cooley Innocence Project then assisted with DNA testing in collaboration with MIC and the WCPO Conviction Integrity Unit, which resulted in Calicut’s exclusion from key evidence from the crime scene. “It is people like George Calicut who we fight for – to get their freedom back and give them the chance to reclaim their lives,” said Jessa Webber, Cooley Innocence Project attorney for Calicut. “We are pleased we were able to offer investigative resources, pursuant to a Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant in conjunction with Wayne County, which helped to play a small role in George Calicut’s relief. Collaborations within the innocence community are vital. Our partnership with the Michigan Innocence Clinic and the Wayne County Conviction Integrity played a role in Calicut walking out of prison as a free man for the first time in 27 years.” Perkins was murdered in her Detroit home on March 10, 1999. There were no eyewitnesses and no signs of forced entry. Perkins’ husband noticed her cell phone was missing. Investigation and records of the missing phone revealed a call was made by Calicut on March 15. Calicut confirmed that he had taken a cell phone from Lemuel Perkins, Jr., Virgie Perkins’s son, on that day. During an investigative interview with Calicut, Simon wrote a four-page written confessional statement claiming to be from Calicut, falsely confessing to Vergie Perkins’ murder. “When the reliability of evidence used to secure a conviction is called into question, it is the prosecution’s obligation to investigate and to determine whether the conviction was undermined in any significant way. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy agreed with our recommendation for relief as it reflects this office’s unwavering commitment to the integrity of convictions and the credibility of the system,” said WCPO CIU Director, and Deputy Chief Valerie Newman. “The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and Mr. Calicut stipulate that there is reason to believe that, if the jury knew the information about Simon’s pattern of coercion that resulted in false confessions, it is reasonably likely it would not have convicted Mr. Calicut in this case, as there was no other evidence tying him to the crime,” Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said. “The parties’ stipulated facts allow for this court to make an informed ruling that a grant of relief is warranted, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.” Celebrating 25 years of exonerations, the Cooley Innocence Project is part of the Innocence Network, which has been credited with the release of over 375 wrongfully convicted prisoners, mainly through the use of DNA testing. The Cooley Innocence Project is the only post-conviction DNA innocence organization in Michigan. Since its inception in 2021, the office has screened over 6,000 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of nine individuals: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Kenneth Nixon (2021), Gilbert Poole (2021), Corey Quentin McCall (2021), George DeJesus (2022), and most recently, Louis Wright (2023), who spent 35 years being wrongfully imprisoned. In addition to George Calicut Jr., the Cooley Innocence Project has helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton, Ramon Ward, Terance Calhoun, Crystal Mulherin, and Duane Williams. “For 25 years, the Cooley Innocence Project has helped prove the innocence of Michigan residents who have been wrongly convicted by our justice system,” said Ann Garant, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project. “Our staff and student interns strongly believe in the Cooley Innocence Project’s mission of restoring freedom to the wrongfully incarcerated and raising public awareness through advocacy and education.”

  • Cooley Law School to Host Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Presentation
    Cooley Law School to Host Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Presentation

    Cooley Law School to Host Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Presentation

    The presentation on restoring voting rights is scheduled for March 5 TAMPA, Fla. — On March 5, Cooley Law School will host a Florida Rights Restoration Coalition presentation about restoring voting rights. Attorney Lenora Easter, Esq, a member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, will present the continuing legal education presentation, “Restoring Voting Rights with Sentence Modification Remedies under FL Statute 98.0751.” FRRC is the organization behind Amendment 4 - Voting Rights Restoration, and is committed to ending the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions. Amendment 4 restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence, including parole or probation. The event is open to lawyers, law students and Cooley Law School alumni. It will be held in the events center, located on the first floor of Cooley’s Tampa campus. All guests should check in with security at Cooley’s Welcome Center, also located on the first floor. The event is sponsored by the American Constitution Society and Federal Bar Association student organizations and approved for CLE credit by The Florida Bar. Refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration is not required.

  • Cooley Law School Partners with Michigan Attorney General’s Office to Host Expungement Fair on March 6
    Cooley Law School Partners with Michigan Attorney General’s Office to Host Expungement Fair on March 6

    Cooley Law School Partners with Michigan Attorney General’s Office to Host Expungement Fair on March 6

    Registration is encouraged and available online for those wishing to have convictions expunged Cooley Law School will host an Expungement Fair from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 6, in the law school’s lobby. Volunteer attorneys and law students under the supervision of licensed attorneys will assist with their expungement paperwork. Cooley Law School has hosted several Expungement Fairs since 2023, which has resulted in hundreds of individuals being able to have their criminal records expunged. The event is being held in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Safe & Just Michigan, Ascend Co-Lab for Social Equality, and Legal Services of South Central Michigan. Registration is open online for those wishing to have their convictions expunged. Limited walk-in appointments will be accepted on the day of the event. Expungement removes arrests and convictions from a person’s public criminal record. Criminal offenses that have been expunged are no longer accessible to employers or landlords. Michigan law has always allowed for expungements, but the “Clean Slate” legislation enacted in 2020 made more individuals and offenses eligible for expungement. This process became available to the public in 2021. On April 11, 2023, the automatic expungement provisions went into effect, allowing for the automatic expungement of some felonies and misdemeanors. Under the new law, individuals with up to three expungement-eligible felonies and any number of misdemeanors can have their records expunged. Certain traffic violations and first-time operating while intoxicated offenses can be expunged. Additionally, misdemeanor marijuana convictions that would not have been considered crimes after recreational marijuana was legalized in Michigan can be expunged. Friday, March 6, 2026 Noon-4 p.m. Cooley Law School - Lobby 300 S. Capital Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 Register online

  • Cooley Law School Student Receives $5,000 Scholarship from State Bar of Michigan Insurance & Indemnity Law Section
    Cooley Law School Student Receives $5,000 Scholarship from State Bar of Michigan Insurance & Indemnity Law Section

    Cooley Law School Student Receives $5,000 Scholarship from State Bar of Michigan Insurance & Indemnity Law Section

    LANSING, Mich. – A Cooley Law School student has been awarded one of two scholarships from the State Bar of Michigan Insurance & Indemnity Law Section.

  • Cooley Law School to Host Nationwide Meet & Greet Information Sessions for Prospective Students
    Cooley Law School to Host Nationwide Meet & Greet Information Sessions for Prospective Students

    Cooley Law School to Host Nationwide Meet & Greet Information Sessions for Prospective Students

    Cooley Law School will host several Meet & Greet Information Sessions for prospective students throughout the country in February and March. Those who pre-register online and attend a Meet & Greet and are later accepted to Cooley will receive a scholarship of approximately $15,000, and all entrance fees will be waived. The law school will hold sessions in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Florida and Toronto, Canada. Each event will start at 6:30 p.m. with a brief informational presentation from the Cooley Law School Admissions Office, followed by a question-and-answer session to ask questions about law school, student life, and what to expect as a Cooley student. Attendees will learn about the law school admissions process, scholarships/financial aid, scheduling options, Cooley’s campuses in Lansing, Mich., and Tampa, Fla., and the variety of resources available to Cooley's student community. Registration is required: https://info.cooley.edu/meet-and-greet-registration. Meet & Greet Dates & Locations: February 4 – West Orange, NJ, 6:30 pm ET. Register February 5 – Garden City, NY, 6:30 pm ET. Register February 18 – Orlando, FL, 6:30 pm ET. Register February 19 – Miami, FL, 6:30 pm ET. Register March 4 – Toronto, ON, 6:30 pm ET. Register March 5 – Buffalo, NY, 6:30 pm ET. Register March 9 – Detroit, MI, 6:30 pm ET. Register March 11 – Indianapolis, IN, 6:30 pm ET. Register March 12 – Chicago, IL, 6:30 pm CT. Register March 16 – Grand Rapids, MI, 6:30 pm ET. Register March 19 – Dallas, TX, 6:30 pm CT. Register March 26 – Atlanta, GA, 6:30 pm ET. Register

  • Cooley Law School Holds Orientation for New Students in Weekend and Evening Program
    Cooley Law School Holds Orientation for New Students in Weekend and Evening Program

    Cooley Law School Holds Orientation for New Students in Weekend and Evening Program

    LANSING, Mich. and TAMPA, Fla. – Cooley Law School welcomed a total of 65 new students to its Lansing, Michigan, and Tampa Bay, Florida, campuses during the evening and weekend program orientation for the Hilary spring semester. In Lansing, 35 new students attended orientation on Jan. 5-7. In Tampa, 30 students attended orientation on Jan. 9. During orientation, a sitting judge administered the professionalism oath, which required students to follow Cooley's Honor Code, the official guide to student conduct and behavior while in law school. In Lansing, Judge Kristen D. Simmons, 54-A District Court and Cooley graduate, delivered the professional oath to 35 new students. In Tampa, Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Nick Nazarian delivered the professionalism oath to 30 students. Incoming students also attended discussions with current students regarding advice on preparing for classes, learning and studying tips and techniques, and how to fully engage in the law school experience. Other sessions included: “Introduction & Learning Techniques” with President and Dean James McGrath, and “Preparing for Class with Dean’s Fellows” and “How and Why to Read and Brief Cases” with Cooley staff. Additionally, a pinning ceremony was held to honor incoming students and welcome them into the profession and study of law. The pinning signifies their professional persona as a lawyer in training. Students starting in January at Cooley Law School attend classes Monday through Friday during the evenings in Tampa and the weekend/blended program in Lansing.

  • Cooley Law School Holds Winter Commencement for Lansing Campus
    Cooley Law School Holds Winter Commencement for Lansing Campus

    Cooley Law School Holds Winter Commencement for Lansing Campus

    LANSING, Mich. – Graduates of Cooley Law School’s Lansing campus were honored during a commencement ceremony at the MSU Wharton Center Pasant Theatre in East Lansing on Dec. 12.

  • Cooley Law School Holds Winter Commencement for Tampa Campus
    Cooley Law School Holds Winter Commencement for Tampa Campus

    Cooley Law School Holds Winter Commencement for Tampa Campus

    TAMPA, Fla. – Graduates of Cooley Law School’s Tampa campus were honored during a commencement ceremony at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center in Tampa on Dec. 16.