Wayne Law ­student continuing a family tradition in legal field

By Sheila Pursglove Legal News Nicole Lockhart's family sports several members in the field of law most notably her cousin, Wayne County Probate Court Judge Terrance Keith, nephew of 6th Circuit United States Court of Appeals Judge Damon J. Keith. "My cousin has been an inspiration, and has helped me cultivate and maintain my interest in the legal field," Lockhart says. After earning a bachelor's degree in persuasive writing and rhetoric from Oakland University, Lockhart is now a rising 3L at Wayne Law School. "I enjoy the amount of unique opportunities the school offers for example, the corporate counsel externship," she says. "I have an interest in going in-house, and not many schools offer a program for students with that interest." Lockhart, whose ultimate career goal is to be a part of a general counsel with a publishing or a major movie production company, is involved in the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and the Women's Law Caucus. "Being a part of these organizations has helped me cultivate a network, and they offer amazing opportunities including mentorship programs and networking events," she says From 2011 to 2014, Lockhart was a summer intern in Michigan's 36th District Court, under the supervision of lawyer and mediator Joyce Reasonover. "I was able to experience the courtroom setting, and I enjoyed the liveliness of the courthouse," she says. "I also enjoyed the face-to-face interaction with clients, and learning how to properly interact with judges and lawyers." Last year, a summer associate position with the Office of the General Counsel for DTE Energy Co., provided Lockhart with invaluable business techniques from her mentor, DTE General Counsel Karissa Holmes. "This was my first clerkship of my 1L summer so I had lots to learn," she says. "Coming straight from undergrad this was my first professional job so I did enjoy having my own office, and I enjoyed the numerous projects and depositions I was able to be a part of." During winter semester 2016, Lockhart was given a variety of research assignments in her externship in the WSU Office of the General Counsel where she learned how the law and the university come together to make policies and how it deals with students. This summer, she is working for Sommers Schwartz PC in Southfield, where she specializes in commercial litigation. "I enjoy the independence I have and the trust they give me with the assignments," she says. "I really feel I've gained some great experience. My supervisor, Tad Roumayah, has been giving me lots of assignments dealing with labor and employment law. I produce demand letters and have done several research memorandums discussing FMLA and ADA discriminations." In June, Lockhart was honored with the A. Kay Stanfield Spinks Law Student Scholarship at the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association's annual Trailblazer Award and Scholarship Dinner. The award, presented annually to African-American students pursuing a law degree, honors the memory of Straker, who in 1890 became the first African-American attorney to argue a case before the Michigan Supreme Court, and Spinks, a former magistrate in Southfield who founded the Straker Bar Foundation and established the scholarship award. "I'm honored to be a Spinks scholarship recipient," she says. "I'm really proud of what the Straker Bar Association has done for the minority law community, and I'm proud to be a part of the legacy." A native of Bloomfield Hills, who currently makes her home in Westland, Lockhart is very involved with her church, New Hope Tabernacle in Detroit. "My grandfather founded the church, so it's close to my heart," she says. "As a youth leader, I help put on community events, I sing with the Praise and Worship Team, and our sanctuary choir." A survivor of the chronic, autoimmune disease lupus, Lockhart is very involved with the Lupus Foundation, and she and her mother recently put on a charity golf event to raise money for the Michigan Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. Her leisure time pursuits include playing golf, attending live theatre productions, writing songs, and travel. She also enjoys spending time in the Big D. "I'm a huge Motown fan, so I enjoy that the Motown museum is pretty close to my school," she says. "I also love art and theatre so I like to visit the DIA. The amazing restaurants are a plus as well." Published: Wed, Jul 27, 2016