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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 Holds Spring Commencement for Tampa Campus
    Cooley Law School Holds Spring Commencement for Tampa Campus

    Cooley Law School Holds Spring Commencement for Tampa Campus

    TAMPA, Fla. – Cooley Law School’s spring commencement ceremony on April 21 not only honored the 22 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 New Tampa Performing Arts Center in Tampa, featured remarks from Cooley graduates who celebrated their achievements 50 years apart. Chosen by his peers, 2026 graduate Dylan Sanchez gave the class farewell remarks, while Distinguished Professor Emeritus Jeff Swartz, a former Miami-Dade County judge who graduated in 1976, delivered the keynote speech. “As future attorneys, we are stepping into roles where people will come to us during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Sanchez told his fellow graduates. “Moments where they feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or unheard. And in those moments, we are called to serve. “Service in this profession is not always easy,” he added. “It requires patience, humility, and sometimes sacrifice. But it is also what gives this work its meaning. If we measure success only by titles, salaries, or victories, we will have missed the point entirely. But if we measure it by the lives we impact, the people we stand up for it, and the integrity we carry into every room, then we will truly understand what it means to be great in this profession.” After receiving a commemorative medallion as a member of the first graduating class, 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 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? Sometimes you ask yourself, am I standing on the right side of history? There’s 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. “Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you lack integrity, honesty, and candor, your future will be fraught with fear and trepidation. I implore you to be brave – as lawyers and as defenders of the truth.” 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. During the ceremony, Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath thanked staff and students, as well as those who supported them throughout the school year. He noted that April 21 was also World Creativity and Innovation Day, which was established by the United Nations to recognize that human progress requires knowledge and imagination. In his remarks, McGrath explained how this connection relates to law students and the legal profession. “Some people might think that creativity has no place in a lawyer’s work. But I believe the opposite is true,” said McGrath. “I believe that lawyers who forget it are the ones who stop being useful in creating positive changes in the law. The law is a living system, every landmark decision you all studied began with a lawyer who looked at the existing framework and asked, ‘does this actually serve justice?’ Every statute you parsed was once a draft that someone had the imagination to write. And every deal that didn’t collapse into litigation was shaped by a lawyer creative enough to find language that both sides of the deal could live with. “You have the knowledge, you’ve earned it,” he added. “But I want you to hold onto something that your training may have tried to squeeze out of you. It’s that willingness to ask ‘why,’ to imagine ‘what if?’ and to believe that the law in the right hands can be an instrument of genuine human creativity; not just constraint, but construction.” Additionally, Cooley Professor Florise Neville-Ewell was presented with the Stanley E. Beattie Award for excellence in teaching. She was chosen by members of the graduating class for the honor. Watch the full Cooley Law School Tampa Bay campus graduation here.

  • Cooley Law School Graduates Honored in Florida Bar Swearing-In Ceremony
    Cooley Law School Graduates Honored in Florida Bar Swearing-In Ceremony

    Cooley Law School Graduates Honored in Florida Bar Swearing-In Ceremony

    TAMPA BAY, FLA. — Cooley Law School graduates who passed the most recent Florida bar exam had the opportunity to be sworn in by Judge Nick Nazaretian of 13th Judicial Circuit Court.

  • Cooley Law School Hosts Michigan Attorney General for Career-Focused Student Event
    Cooley Law School Hosts Michigan Attorney General for Career-Focused Student Event

    Cooley Law School Hosts Michigan Attorney General for Career-Focused Student Event

    LANSING, MICH. — On April 9, Cooley Law School welcomed Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to its Lansing campus for an engaging career-focused event, “Insights & Opportunities with Attorney General Dana Nessel,” held at the Cooley Center Lobby. Hosted as part of programming supported by the law school’s Career and Professional Development Office, the event provided students with a valuable look into career paths within public service, including internship and post-graduate opportunities with the Michigan Department of Attorney General. During the event, Nessel shared insights into the important work performed across the department’s various divisions and discussed the wide range of legal careers available within the office. She also took time to answer student questions, offering practical advice and perspective on entering public service. Following her remarks, representatives from several departments within the Attorney General’s Office connected directly with students, discussing their roles and responsibilities and conducting on-the-spot interviews with interested attendees. “It was a great opportunity for our students to engage directly with leaders in public service and gain a deeper understanding of the impactful work being done within the Attorney General’s Office,” said Karen Poole, director of Career and Professional Development at Cooley Law School. “Programs like this are essential in helping our students explore career pathways, build professional connections, and take meaningful steps toward their future careers.” The event drew strong student participation and provided an informative and interactive experience for those interested in pursuing careers in government and public service.

  • Cooley Law School Hosts Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer During Sports and Entertainment Law Society Event
    Cooley Law School Hosts Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer During Sports and Entertainment Law Society Event

    Cooley Law School Hosts Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer During Sports and Entertainment Law Society Event

    TAMPA, Fla. — On March 25, Cooley Law School’s Sports & Entertainment Law Society hosted an event, “The Law Behind the Lights: Where Sports, Entertainment and Law Intersect,” at the Cooley Event Center on its Tampa campus, featuring Jimmy DuBose, a former NFL running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The event also featured, Shawuki Hilton, Esq., Cooley Law School alumnus and founding attorney of The Hilton Law Firm, and a poetry performance from Everkesia Taylor of I Am Poetry. “As a former professional athlete and present treasurer of the local National Football League Players Association, I am aware of amateur and professional athletes’ need for competent legal assistance,” said DuBose. “I was pleased to see the number of Cooley Law School students who have an interest in providing legal assistance to athletes in the future.” DuBose, an alumnus of the University of Florida Gators, was the first UF running back to rush for a 1,000 yards in a single season. He was named SEC Player of the Year in 1975, and selected to the Associated Press All-American team, and the Tampa Tribune All-Century Team in 1999. Additionally, DuBose was inducted into UF’s Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame in 2018. He played four years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became the first player in franchise history to rush for a hundred yards before getting injured and retiring from the NFL. Outside of football, DuBose worked in education for 22 years as a teacher, football coach, dean, and assistant principal in Hillsborough, Orange, and Pasco counties. He is currently the treasurer of the local chapter of the NFL Players Association leadership, where he has served in various capacities for over 20 years. “I’d like to say that it was an amazing event and I’m grateful for having been invited to participate,” said Hilton. “I look forward to future opportunities to work with SELS.” Hilton, who practices sports law, represents professional athletes within the Canadian Football League. Before graduating cum laude from Cooley, Hilton served as the justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, vice president of entertainment of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and associate editor of the Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law. He has served a diverse client base on matters related to business law, contract law, consumer protection, estate planning, intellectual property, and real estate. “Our goal was to bring together professionals from sports and the arts to give students a real, firsthand look at how law shapes each path — from NFL players to emerging artists building their dreams,” said Kimberly Ayala, SELS president. “It was an incredibly powerful experience, and if you weren’t there, you truly missed something special.” Cooley Law School’s Sports & Entertainment Law Society hosted an event, “The Law Behind the Lights: Where Sports, Entertainment and Law Intersect,” on March 25 at the Cooley Event Center on its Tampa campus. Pictured from left to right: Daniel Podboy- Navarro, Cooley Law School SELS vice president; Jim Hicks, SELS faculty advisor; Kimberly Ayala, SELS president; Shawuki Hilton; Renalia DuBose, Cooley professor; Jimmy DuBose, former NFL player; Everkesia; John Johnson, SELS public relations; and Giani Villalba, SELS secretary.

  • Cooley Law School Holds Spring Honors Convocation in Lansing
    Cooley Law School Holds Spring Honors Convocation in Lansing

    Cooley Law School Holds Spring Honors Convocation in Lansing

    LANSING, MICH. — Cooley Law School’s Lansing campus recognized students for their achievements during the spring honors convocation on March 19. William Bowman and Toren Chenault were presented the Leadership Achievement Award. Bowman and Aimee Lorencz each received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Student Award. The Leadership Achievement Award acknowledges those students who have consistently, comprehensively, and effectively provided leadership in a variety of capacities. The award is intended to be the culmination of the recipient’s participation in leadership activities at Cooley. The Alumni Association’s Distinguished Student Award is given to selected graduating students based on academic accomplishments, professionalism and ethics, leadership, extracurricular activities, and post-graduation plans. The recipients are selected by the Scholarship and Awards Committee of the Cooley Alumni Association. Recipients are presented with a diploma frame from the law school. Bowman is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. At Cooley, he served as president of the Student Bar Association and as a Dean’s Fellow with the Academic Resource Center. Bowman competed in Moot Court competitions and served as chairperson for the Moot Court. He is a member of the Mock Trial Board, Christian Legal Society, and the American Constitution Society. Chenault, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, has participated in several organizations. He served as treasurer for the Black Law Student’s Association, editor-in-chief of the Cooley Law Review, and as a Student Bar Association mentor. Chenault was also selected as an Academic Resource Center Dean’s Fellow. Lorencz earned a Bachelor of Science in biology with forensics concentration at Ferris State University. At Cooley, she worked on case screening and evaluated post-conviction cases for strong evidence of factual innocence for the Innocence Project. Lorencz serves as a teaching assistant and as a Dean’s Fellow. Lorencz has represented the law school as a National Moot Court competitor and has devoted significant time to student leadership, serving as president of the Organization of Women Law Students, vice president of Criminal Law Students, and as a 3L senator and member of the Alumni and Professional Development Committee of the Student Bar Association.

  • Cooley Law School Innocence Project Secures Release of Dell Crawford
    Cooley Law School Innocence Project Secures Release of Dell Crawford

    Cooley Law School Innocence Project Secures Release of Dell Crawford

    JACKSON, Mich. March 24, 2026 – Cooley Law School’s Innocence Project, in partnership with the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit, has secured the release of Dell Crawford, of Detroit, after spending 17 years in prison for being wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder. On March 24, Wayne County Circuit Judge Tracy Green vacated Crawford’s second-degree murder conviction and sentence, and dismissed the charge without prejudice. Crawford is represented by Cooley Innocence Project attorneys Jessa Webber and Niquole Caringi. While speaking to the court Caringi said that DNA evidence excluded Crawford from the crime. “Mr. Crawford has served 17 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections for a crime he did not commit,” said Caringi. “At the time of trial, there was no physical evidence implicating Mr. Crawford, and the case was based largely on the changing statements of a witness. The DNA exclusion under the victim’s fingernails demonstrates what Mr. Crawford has been telling us for the last 17 years: That he had nothing to do with this crime.” “We can’t give you back that time, but we can certainly try to do the best that we can to right wrong,” said Judge Green. “Your conviction was not the only tragedy here. There is perhaps someone out there who has gotten away with the murder of Miss Williams and that is almost has disturbing as the amount of time you have spent in prison as an innocent man.” During the hearing in Green’s courtroom, Crawford spoke via video conference from Jackson State Prison.

  • Cooley Law School Holds Spring Honors Convocation in Tampa Bay
    Cooley Law School Holds Spring Honors Convocation in Tampa Bay

    Cooley Law School Holds Spring Honors Convocation in Tampa Bay

    TAMPA BAY, FLA, — Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay campus recognized students for their achievements during the spring honors convocation on March 18. Dylan Sanchez was presented the Leadership Achievement Award. Sanchez and Julisa Inoa each received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Student Award. The Leadership Achievement Award acknowledges those students who have consistently, comprehensively, and effectively provided leadership in a variety of capacities. The award is intended to be the culmination of the recipient’s participation in leadership activities at Cooley. The Alumni Association’s Distinguished Student Award is given to selected graduating students based on academic accomplishments, professionalism and ethics, leadership, extracurricular activities, and post-graduation plans. The recipients are selected by the Scholarship and Awards Committee of the Cooley Alumni Association. Recipients are presented with a diploma frame from the law school. Sanchez is a native of Charlotte, NC. At Cooley, he served as president and historian for Phi Delta Phi international legal honor society; interim managing manuscript editor and executive manuscript editor for Law Review; senator-at-large and a 2L senator on the Student Bar Association, and treasurer of the Mock Trial Board. Inoa hales from Hillsborough County, Florida, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology at the University of South Forida. While at Cooley, she served two terms as president of the Hispanic Organization of Legal Advocates and six consecutive terms as a senator-at-large for the Student Bar Association. She also served as public relations officer for Cooley’s chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and as a senior intern in the Cooley’s Debt Relief Clinic. Her academic success earned her a position as a Dean’s Fellow. Inoa’s commitment to service is reflected in her active participation in the Young Adult Ministry through Alive Church and her volunteer work with Metropolitan Ministries. She was recently selected for the United States Air Force JAG Corps—an honor extended to only about five percent of applicants nationwide.

  • Cooley Law School to Host Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer During Sports and Entertainment Law Society Event
    Cooley Law School to Host Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer During Sports and Entertainment Law Society Event

    Cooley Law School to Host Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer During Sports and Entertainment Law Society Event

    TAMPA, Fla. — On March 25, Cooley Law School’s Sports & Entertainment Law Society will host an event, “The Law Behind the Lights: Where Sports, Entertainment and Law Intersect,” at the Cooley Event Center on its Tampa campus. Event will feature Jimmy DuBose, a former NFL running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the late 1970s, and Shawuki Hilton, Esq., Cooley Law School alumnus and founding attorney of The Hilton Law Firm. DuBose, an alumnus of the University of Florida Gators, was the first UF running back to rush for a 1,000 yards in a single season. He was named SEC Player of the Year in 1975, and selected to the Associated Press All-American team, and the Tampa Tribune All-Century Team in 1999. Additionally, DuBose was inducted into UF’s Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame in 2018. He played four years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became the first player in franchise history to rush for a hundred yards before getting injured and retiring from the NFL. Outside of football, DuBose worked in education for 22 years as a teacher, football coach, dean, and assistant principal in Hillsborough, Orange, and Pasco counties. He is currently the treasurer of the local chapter of the NFL Players Association leadership, where he has served in various capacities for over 20 years. Hilton, who practices sports law, represents professional athletes within the Canadian Football League. Before graduating cum laude from Cooley, Hilton served as the justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, vice president of entertainment of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and associate editor of the Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law. He has served a diverse client base on matters related to business law, contract law, consumer protection, estate planning, intellectual property, and real estate. Additionally, Everkesia Taylor of I Am Poetry, will perform at the event. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Everkesia is the author of six poetry books and the creative force behind the I Am Poetry apparel line. Through I Am Poetry, she curates immersive experiences – from open mic shows to large-scale festivals. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

  • Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus Retired Brigadier General Michael McDaniel Honored by Center for Homeland Defense and Security
    Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus Retired Brigadier General Michael McDaniel Honored by Center for Homeland Defense and Security

    Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus Retired Brigadier General Michael McDaniel Honored by Center for Homeland Defense and Security

    LANSING, Mich. – Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus Retired Brigadier General Michael McDaniel was honored by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Naval Postgraduate School for his commitment to homeland security education. McDaniel received the Christopher Bellavita Educator Award during the 2026 CHDS Alumni Professional Exchange Continuing Education Workshop in February. Named after Christopher Bellavita, former CHDS director of academic programs who was instrumental in developing the Master's program, the award recognizes individuals for innovation in advancing the homeland defense and security mission and is a distinction within the CHDS at the Naval Postgraduate School. McDaniel, who retired from Cooley in 2025, served the law school as professor, dean and director of Cooley’s Homeland and National Security Law LL.M. Program for 13 years. As a former state Homeland Security Advisor and member of Michigan’s National Guard, he was named co-chair of the state's task force on terrorism by Governor John Engler and Attorney General Jennifer Granholm following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Additionally, McDaniel’s leadership and homeland security knowledge was paramount in the Flint Water Crisis, as well as helping Lansing restore power to 96,000 residents – 40 percent of Lansing’s Board of Water and Light's customers – who had been without power for 11 days following a massive ice storm in 2013.