Events and Calendars
Detroit Mercy Law hosts numerous educational and social events throughout the year for prospective and current students, alumni and friends, legal scholars, and community members. We invite you to view our calendars, register to attend upcoming events, and view videos from past events below.
Please note that at this time, all events are virtual due to COVID-19. Please visit our COVID-19 page for more information.
Upcoming Admissions Events
For additional information about admissions events, please contact lawadmissions@udmercy.edu.
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January 7: Virtual Open House
Friday, January 7, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. EST via ZOOM
The Virtual Open House is an interactive experience to meet one-on-one with professors, current law students, staff, and alumni and learn about the advantages of Detroit Mercy Law. Launch your legal career at the only law school in the heart of Downtown Detroit and immerse yourself in the region's largest legal community.
RSVP>>
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Upcoming Alumni and Community Events
For additional information about alumni and community events, please contact Sunny Kerschenheiter, Events Coordinator, at kerschsc@udmercy.edu.
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December 1: Tips from the Bench
Tips from the Bench
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Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. EST via Zoom
During this virtual panel discussion, Michigan judges (and Detroit Mercy Law alumni) will note common mistakes made by lawyers, share tips for success in the courtroom and in practice, and answer questions from the audience.
Featured panelists
Hon. Christopher Murray '90, Chief Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals
Hon. Denise Langford Morris '82, Judge, Oakland County Circuit Court
Hon. Kristina Robinson Garrett '10, Judge, 36th District Court - Detroit
Past Community Events
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Post-Inauguration Town Hall
The Post-Inauguration Town Hall took place January 21 at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. A conversation with Professor Richard Broughton, Professor Nick Schroeck, and Professor Leslie Scott about the inauguration and the possible priorities of the new Biden Administration.
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Violence and Disorder at the Nation’s Capitol: The Legal Issues
Violence and Disorder at the Nation’s Capitol: The Legal Issues took place on January 14, 2021. Professor Richard Broughton and Professor Jelani Jefferson Exum discussed impeachment along with the 25th Amendment and 14th Amendment, the pending and future criminal prosecutions and sentencing prospects, potential uses of the President's pardon power, and scope of the right to protest.
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Bending the Arc Toward Justice
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law hosted Bending the Arc Toward Justice on Jan. 30, an event to kickoff Black History Month that included a portrait unveiling of Henry H. Tarrant ’22, the first known African American graduate of Detroit Mercy Law; remarks by Godfrey J. Dillard, a civil rights trailblazer and one of the lawyers who represented the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) in their lawsuit against the university in the early 1980s; the launch of the new Henry H. Tarrant Award for Black Student Excellence; and an introduction of the Association of Black Law Alumni (ABLA), led by Judge Terrance A. Keith ’84, and ABLA’s new scholarship for African American students, the David Williams II and Gail Carr Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Bending the Arc Toward Justice Photo Gallery
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Commencement Ceremony
To view current and past Commencement Ceremonies, Baccalaureate Mass' and Hooding Ceremonies, visit our Graduation Events page.
The 2020-2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony took place on Friday, May 14
Click here to view the program book.Watch the Class of 2021 Virtual Commencement.
The 2020-2021 Virtual Baccalaureate Mass took place on Thursday, May 13
Click here to view the program book.
Watch the 2021 virtual Baccalaureate.The 2020-2021 On-Campus Hooding Ceremony took place on Friday, May 14
Watch the 2021 Hooding Ceremony -
McElroy Lecture on Law & Religion
The McElroy Lecture on Law & Religion provides a forum for prominent thinkers to address fundamental issues of law and religion. This is an annual event that Detroit Mercy Law presents every year.
2020
The Ironies of Religious Liberties Litigation, presented by Professor Cathleen Kaveny of Boston College Law School, examined the legal victories of religious believers and how they are premised on our own rights instead of what we owe others with different beliefs.
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Dewitt C. Holbrook Lecture on Social Justice
The Dewitt C. Holbrook Lecture on Social Justice is an annual event that Detroit Mercy Law presents every year. The lecture provides prominent leaders in the legal profession a forum to address issues on law and policy related to social justice. It is made possible through a grant from the Dewitt C. Holbrook Memorial Trust.
2021
On March 2, 2021, the 3rd annual lecture was presented by Professor Ruqaiijah Yearby of Saint Louis University School of Law. The lecture titled “Now or Never: Eradicating Structural Racism in the Government’s Pandemic Response” was via Zoom.
About the Speaker
Professor Ruquiijah Yearby, J.D., M.P.H., is a Professor of Law and member of the Center for Health Law Studies at Saint Louis University School of Law. She is also co-founder and Executive Director of Saint Louis University's Institute for Healing Justice and Equity. Professor Yearby is an expert in racial health disparities, who advocates for equal access to quality health care and fair wages for racial and ethnic minorities, women, and the poor. Her work has been published in the American Journal of Bioethics, Health Affairs, and the Oxford Journal of Law and the Biosciences and been used in law and medical schools, and social science classes at universities such as Harvard, NYU, Fordham, and the University of California Berkeley.
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Patrick A. Keenan Appellate Advocacy Tournament
The Patrick A. Keenan Appellate Advocacy Tournament is held annually in honor of the late Patrick A. Keenan, a beloved Detroit Mercy Law professor who taught at the School for over 30 years. Keenan’s wife, Marge, and other Keenan family members attended the final round of this year’s competition.
2020
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Red Mass
Our annual Red Mass dates back to 1877, when Detroit College, as the University was then known, began its first year with a mass at Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church to ask the blessing of the Holy Spirit on the coming year’s work. The School of Law continued the tradition when it opened in 1912, again hosting the Red Mass on behalf of the Archdiocese of Detroit at Saints Peter and Paul through the present. Today, the Red Mass is attended by judges, lawyers, civic leaders, faculty, and law students of all faiths, asking God to bless, strengthen, and enlighten us, so that in cooperation and mutual trust we may effectively achieve justice.
2020
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Law Review Symposium
2021: Pandemic: From Disparity to Equity
For the 105th Law Review Symposium, it took place on Friday, March 5, 2021, the Symposium was VIRTUAL. All panel sessions and keynote address was hosted via Zoom.
Symposium Program
Symposium Virtual Program Video
Calendars
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Master Calendar
Master Calendar
View dates for events and more.
Questions? Contact Sunny Kerschenheiter, Events Coordinator, at kerschsc@udmercy.edu. -
Academic Calendar
Academic Calendar 2021-2022
View key dates throughout the academic year.
Questions? Contact the Registrar’s Office. -
Room Scheduling Calendar
Room Scheduling Calendar
Use this to request a room reservation at the law school.
Questions? Contact Sunny Kerschenheiter, Events Coordinator, at kerschsc@udmercy.edu.
Plan an Event
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Event Request Form
Before planning a virtual event, please review the above calendars to avoid date conflicts and then submit an event request form. Please direct questions about planning an event to Sunny Kerschenheiter, Events Coordinator, at kerschsc@udmercy.edu.