By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Law student Livia Khemmoro loves her summer internship at Rock Central in Detroit. A member of the litigation team, she has been looped in on cases, completed legal research and writing projects, and attended meetings with attorneys, including outside counsel.
“Rock Central sent me technology to be able to work from home, and bi-weekly care packages to enhance my internship experience,” she says. “I’ve had the opportunity to learn about mortgage litigation and how to conduct a cost-benefit analysis. I’m excited to see what knowledge the rest of the summer will bring me!”
Khemmoro started her career trajectory with a degree in business administration and management from Walsh College, before entering law school in 2018.
“When I was 17, I had a life-changing experience that taught me you only have one life to do everything you’ve dreamed of and that experience brought me to law school,” she says. “I’ve always been passionate about advocating for people who don’t necessarily know their rights.”
Khemmoro particularly relishes the versatility of the legal field.
“I started law school as an aspiring litigator, anxious to get inside of the court room, and zealously represent my clients,” she says. “Although I do still enjoy litigation, my experience in house at Rock Central has shown me that I could be just as happy as an in-house attorney or practicing a different area of law.”
For the first five months of this year, she externed for the Attorney General’s office, involved with the Flint Water Crisis investigation.
“I thoroughly enjoyed learning from a team of lawyers, composed of zealous advocates, who were passionate about restoring justice to the Flint community,” she says. “Although the pandemic put a dent on my experience, I was glad I was able to complete my externship virtually.”
Prior to law school, a job with Dobreff & Dobreff P.C., a general plaintiff’s litigation law firm , solidified Khemmoro’s love for the law and her decision to go to law school.
One of her most meaningful experiences has been Moot Court. “Participating has given me a taste of what a career as a litigator would be like and I love every second,” she explains. “The adrenaline of oral argument is my favorite part. I’m excited to compete in Keenan this fall and hopefully represent Detroit Mercy Law at Nationals in the winter.”
During her 1L year, Khemmoro was a student attorney in the Experiential Clinic, where she was trained to assist attorneys with counseling indigent guests of the Pope Francis Warming Center, including researching court records and determining subject-matter jurisdiction.
Khemmoro also will be a member of Law Review. “I look forward to spending many hours doing precisely the kind of in-depth, meticulous legal research and writing that will be required of me as an attorney,” she says.
Khemmoro says that while difficult, the unique challenges of online studies during the pandemic have better prepared her to overcome obstacles as she transitions into the practice of law.
“My parents are Chaldean immigrants who came to America in their late 20s with nothing but hope for a better life,” she adds. “My dad taught me the secret to success is hard work and my mom taught me the value in studying hard. I have an older and a younger sister who are my best friends. My family is life’s ultimate gift to me.”
Khemmoro has happy memories of her 2019 opportunity to participate in the Vanderbilt University Law School Study Abroad program, in Venice.
“Every day was like living a dream,” she says.
“I would wake up, walk out of my Airbnb to the most beautiful and peaceful scenic view, and take a boat to class every morning. My study abroad experience provided me the perfect mix of academics and leisure.
“The opportunity to learn, live, and breathe the Venetian culture made this one of my most memorable law school experiences. I learned to make the most of the world around me and gained diverse perspectives on legal issues.”
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