Education has always meant more to me than lectures and textbooks. At its best, it is about learning how to think critically, how to weigh competing values, and how to understand our responsibility to one another. Throughout my career, I have tried to bridge the gap between what students learn in theory and how the law affects real people in everyday life. Teaching at the University of Michigan has given me the opportunity to do exactly that.
Standing in front of a classroom reminds me that the law is not just a profession. It is a public trust. My goal has never been simply to teach doctrine, but to help students understand how legal decisions shape communities, protect dignity, and promote inclusion.
The Classroom as a Place to Ask Hard Questions
I see the classroom as a place where ideas are tested and values are examined. Students are encouraged to ask difficult questions and challenge assumptions. We talk about legal frameworks, but we also talk about the human consequences of legal decisions.
Through discussion, case studies, and practical exercises, students confront issues they will face in practice. Civil rights. Access to public spaces. Fairness in government decision making. These conversations help them see that the law does not exist in isolation. It lives in the world around us.
Teaching Responsibility Alongside Law
I often remind students that leadership in law carries responsibility. Success is not measured only by professional achievement. It is measured by integrity, judgment, and a willingness to stand up for those whose voices are too often ignored.
In class, I challenge students to think about how their future decisions might affect real people. How do you balance competing rights? How do you apply the law fairly when the outcome deeply impacts someone’s life? These questions are not theoretical. They are the heart of ethical legal practice.
Showing How Law Creates Change
Throughout my career, I have been involved in cases that advanced accessibility and disability rights. I share these experiences with students not to focus on outcomes, but to show how the law can be used thoughtfully to create meaningful change.
Cases involving public transportation, stadium access, and municipal infrastructure illustrate how legal advocacy can improve daily life. Students begin to see that careful legal reasoning, when paired with empathy and persistence, can leave a lasting impact on society.
Encouraging Students to Challenge Injustice
A central part of my teaching is helping students recognize injustice when they see it. Legal systems can feel abstract, but they matter most when applied to real lives. I encourage students to view the law as a tool for protecting dignity and expanding opportunity.
Our discussions often explore the tension between ideals and reality. We talk about how civil rights are enforced, where systems fall short, and what it takes to push for reform. Through these conversations, students develop both the analytical skills and the empathy needed to become effective advocates.
Learning From My Students
Teaching is not a one way exchange. I learn as much from my students as they learn from me. Their questions and perspectives challenge me to think more deeply about the law and its role in society.
Those classroom conversations stay with me. They influence how I approach cases, how I evaluate precedent, and how I think about the human side of legal disputes. The exchange between classroom and courtroom strengthens both.
A Shared Commitment to the Future
Whether I am teaching or serving on the bench, the principles that guide me remain the same. Justice must be pursued with care and rigor. Inclusion must be intentional. Advocacy requires both courage and compassion.
By helping students develop strong analytical skills, ethical grounding, and confidence in their voice, we prepare them to carry these values forward. The future of justice depends on lawyers and leaders who understand that the law is not just about rules, but about people.
Education has the power to shape not only minds, but conscience. When students leave the classroom with a deeper sense of responsibility and purpose, the impact reaches far beyond any single case. The classroom becomes a starting point for a more inclusive and thoughtful society, built one conversation and one committed advocate at a time.