Law: Jobs Landed

I am a junior attorney in a busy immigration law firm. I decided that I would be well situated to the field of immigration law because of my background and the opportunity working in this position would allow me to connect with my community here in Metro Detroit. I recently moved back into the area after living in the Lansing area for a few years and was thrilled to find something close to Detroit and the area I grew up around. I took a step outside the box and decided to draft a cover letter that really connected with why I wanted to be an Immigration Attorney and how I thought I would be well suited for the area. I had little experience in the Immigration Law Field and knew it would be a long shot but I sent my resume around to what seemed like every Immigration Attorney and Law Firm in the Detroit area. Instantly responses of support, and regret that there were no opportunities flowed in, as well as some requests for more information and eventually interviews. I was willing to start at the bottom and work my way up, having little experience and just starting out in the legal profession I was ready to do what I had to do, especially in this economy. I am currently working at a busy and knowledgeable Immigration Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan. We serve clients in a variety of Immigration law related issues. From family based to corporate immigration law and we can provide our services worldwide, which was very appealing to me.

The Senior Attorneys at my firm have more than 20 years experience and have been great in offering me comprehensive training and opportunity for professional growth. I am very happy with my decision to remain in Metro Detroit, and look forward to the opportunity to grow as a young professional with this great state and metropolitan area.

I have advocated before the American Arbitration Association and the National Association of Securities Dealers (now known as FINRA).  Currently, I serve as a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, and has arbitrated three cases since my admission to the commercial roster.  I am also qualified to serve as a mediator, and is eligible for admission to Michigan state court rosters. Attorney Akinyemi is an active member of the National Bar Association's Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.  I am also a member of the American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution and the State Bar of Michigan's Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.

I am a workers' compensation and medical malpractice defense lawyer.  I found my job by being scouted by an attorney based upon my professional appearance and positive reputation despite limited experience.  I believe it is important to always dress like the profession you desire and have an optimistic outlook which leads to open doors.   I truly enjoy the law and incorporating my business degree by representing corporations and non-profit entities.  I see the great growth that has taken place in Detroit in my lifetime and think we are riding the wave of a great resurgence in our region.  I also relish opportunities to give back to the community by participating on committees and boards for some of the transformative projects currently underway and I encourage other young professionals to do the same.  In doing so, we continue to create a climate that is rich in business growth and culture that will attract and retain more  talent to Detroit and its surrounding areas.  The other benefit to giving back is it allows you to connect to the most dynamic business leaders in our area which leads to further job opportunity and individual growth.

While attending Wayne State University and working as an intern at Berg Muirhead (Detroit-based PR agency) I quickly learned I wanted my public relations career to be with an agency. I thoroughly enjoy the fast-paced culture and opportunities to grow, and utilize a variety of skills while working with a diverse set of clients.

I found out about my current job through a few different resources; a friend and former colleague emailed me the job listing and it was posted on the Public Relations Society of America Detroit chapter's website. I began working at Lambert, Edwards and Associates in February 2011. As an associate at LE&A, I support the firm's health care practice and work on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and DTE accounts. LE&A is Michigan's only state-wide firm with offices in Grand Rapids, Troy and Lansing. I enjoy being able to work with large companies that are Michigan-based and help tell their stories. The best part about working at LE&A is the people; the agency has a hard-working, team-oriented and fun culture with smart and passionate professionals.

When I moved to the Detroit area about four and a half years ago, I came here with the mentality of just needing to complete my bachelor's degree and then leave to go back home to Northern Virgina and work in D.C. or another big city. But, I unexpectedly fell in love with Detroit and the people. I quickly learned that while there's a lot of competition in the job market, it's a small town and you need to just be well-prepared and open minded. Detroit can offer so many great opportunities that you wouldn't get the chance to have in other big cities. 

I was born and raised in southeastern Michigan, so staying in Michigan as a professional seemed only natural.  I’ve seen Michigan go from its glory days to times when “struggling” was the nice way to describe what we were going through.  I believe in Michigan and I believe in Metro-Detroit.  
 
I found my job through networking.  I worked for The Health Law Partners, PC as a summer associate during the Summer 2009 and, at the end of the summer, I was extended an offer as a full-time attorney for after I graduated and took the bar exam.  
 
Being in healthcare law right now couldn’t be a better fit for me.  At the beginning of my career, the world of healthcare law is just beginning to bloom and I get to be at the forefront of all of it, watching it develop and unfold into something new every day. 

I love being an attorney because I have the chance to help people and communities. My main areas of practice are land use, municipal, and real estate with an emphasis on leasing and community associations. The southeast Michigan region and particularly Detroit are full of opportunity for economic development and innovative land use planning. Detroit is wide open for reinvention. It is a blank slate just waiting to be reshaped by creative, passionate people.

I have always been interested in community development and local government. As a law student, I was pulled toward municipal law because it is primarily where land use planning decisions are made. I was fortunate to find very talented and experienced mentors that helped me focus my job search and helped open doors for me in the local legal community. My firm is the perfect fit for my practice area interests.

I typically deal with people who are looking to secure loans and find that their credit scores are too low to qualify. A loan officer, real estate agent or insurer will tell a potential client that, while they would like to do business with them, it's not possible at this time and that if they were interested, there is someone who can help: me. The process of improving a credit score isn't hugely complicated, but it is daunting for the average person and can take some time. I make sure that the biggest score increase is achieved in the shortest time possible so that the client can then be eligible for the loan they wanted. When I do my job, everyone ends up winning.

Kelly Law Registry (KLR) is a specialty service of Kelly Services, Inc., a leader in providing workforce solutions.  We are a premier legal staffing firm specializing in the placement of legal professionals experienced in nearly every facet of the law. We offer a wide range of temporary and direct hire positions from litigation attorneys, partners, general counsel, and senior counsel to legal administrators, paralegals, and administrative assistants.  We also provide legal project teams throughout the United States and internationally, experienced in many specialties, including large document reviews, trial consulting and preparation, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property law. 

Our Detroit-based KLR team works closely with law firms, corporate legal departments, HR departments, and other professional corporations in the Midwest to determine their hiring needs. As Recruitment Director and attorney, I identify and place top talent on projects, contracts, and direct hire positions for our clients. I also serve as a career consultant to legal professionals looking for new opportunities in the Midwest. I'm an active member of the metro Detroit legal, human resources, and charitable communities and love providing career guidance and advice.

I am responsible for managing the intake, placement and follow-up on legal matters referred to pro bono attorneys, ensuring the quality of pro bono and direct representation to CLR’s nonprofit client organizations, and evaluating and reporting on program activities and outcomes to Executive Director and Board of Directors. I also research policies and strategies to assist nonprofit organizations who serve the low-income community and coordinate Health Care Legal Team Project to bring great medical access to un/underinsured patients. In addition, I participate in “think tank” discussions to eliminate poverty, deal with foreclosures and vacant properties.

Detroit is fun.  I moved into the City because when I lived in the suburbs, I spent all my time in the City anyway.  There is great music, culture and people here.  Not to mention beautiful houses and parks.  And there is a lot of people with energy, enthusiasm, and vision to create a world class American City from the ashes.

I provide legal research and writing services on a freelance or as-needed basis to attorneys and small law firms in need of assistance with their legal documents. I LOVE my job. I love the freedom, challenge, and versatility of working with many types of attorneys. I also enjoy learning various aspects of the law as I am able to help them with their legal practice. I have a great level of satisfaction in working for myself, and I am constantly seeking new opportunities to grow, learn, and adapt to the ever-changing legal environment.

I work in Patent Prosecution, Trademarks and Licensing.

Grand & Grand PLLC is a full service creditor's rights and civil litigation law firm. Our practice areas include general civil litigation, construction litigation, collections, insurance subrogation, landlord/tenant, mortgage priority disputes, foreclosures, and bankruptcy. We represent banks, private lenders, landlords, small businesses, and individuals. We also negotiate structured settlement sales. These practice areas are thriving in Michigan and the work is interesting. My role at the firm involves mostly writing motions and briefs, as well as appearing on behalf of clients at motion hearings and landlord/tenant hearings.

As an associate attorney I serve as plaintiff's counsel for clients ranging from national corporations to small businesses.  The majority of my time is spent in the court room handling all aspects of litigation.