Career Transitions: From the Classroom to the Courtroom, Detroit Mercy Law student uses educational background in law studies

Deloris Retland ’24 had her first job working with children when she was a teenager. From there, she went on to receive her degree in elementary education and her master's in education administration.  

“Teachers wear a lot of hats in and out of the classroom setting. This includes staying up to date on issues within the field of education. The more I learned about issues in education, especially in Michigan, the more intrigued I became with law,” she said.  

Retland was a teacher in Detroit Public Schools for a decade before deciding the pursue a law degree.

“As an aspiring attorney, I believe learning the law is much like learning concepts to present to the students in the classroom,” explained Retland. “Right now, I’m learning the essential aspects of the law so that I can effectively communicate to clients, other attorneys, and judges.”  

Retland chose to attend Detroit Mercy Law because of the dedication to educating the complete lawyer. “An aspect of early childhood education is the focus of developing the whole child. I attended an Open House at Detroit Mercy Law and heard a representative talk about developing the complete lawyer. I was excited to hear that the philosophy at Detroit Mercy Law aligned with what I have been taught and what I have practiced as an elementary teacher.”