Serena Gupta, a 3L Detroit Mercy Law student, is president of the school’s Outlaws organization and is working in Detroit Mercy Law’s Family Law Clinic. Gupta is a Dean’s Fellow who also is interested in marijuana law.
(Photo courtesy of Serena Gupta)
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Detroit Mercy Law student Serena Gupta serves as president of the school’s OutLaws organization that serves the needs of the LGBTQ+ community at Detroit Mercy Law.
The group recently held a bake sale to raise funds for the Ruth Ellis Center, a Detroit area social services agency that serves the needs of runaway, homeless and at-risk LGBTQ+ youth.
The OutLaws also took part in a panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault in Michigan. Other groups involved in the event were the Criminal Law Society, the Family Law Society and Lawyers Lending Hands.
“I would recommend it for anyone who is curious about family law or criminal justice,” Gupta said. “We also are looking into our annual Drag Queen Bingo event, the proceeds of which will be donated to an organization that will be determined soon.
“I’m very happy at all the new members we have gained this year, as well as the continued efforts and hard work of the old members. I hope to leave Detroit Mercy Law knowing that OutLaws will continue to be in good hands.”
Gupta started her academic studies by earning a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Mandarin from Michigan State University.
“I was never really good at any other subjects growing up —math, science, history, basically any other core subject came hard to me,” she said. “The only class I liked was English, because there were no such thing as wrong answers and you wouldn’t be shamed for having a different conclusion — similar to how in law, things can be argued both ways, although sometimes you’re just objectively wrong.”
Gupta started learning Mandarin as a second language in high school.
“I had spoken a little when I was younger, but my teachers and peers quashed it out of me pretty early — ‘We speak English here’ mentality, and all that,” she said.
“However, I got tired of not being able to speak to my grandparents or relatives overseas so I decided that since it was being offered, I might as well take it.”
Although she attended the MSU College of Education with the aim of becoming a teacher, she eventually nixed that plan.
“Lot of disagreements between myself and my professors in the College of Education at my university, particularly on how the education system ignores the voices of minorities and how the curriculums don’t translate well to those on the outside of the dominant group,” she said.
Gupta left the college “with 75 percent of a degree in English literature, but luckily,” she added, “law school doesn’t require a specific degree.”
As a junior in college with one year to go — and no future plans after leaving the College of Education — Gupta felt she did not have many options. But when Lady Justice called her name, she switched her focus to legal studies, and is now in her 3L year at Detroit Mercy Law School.
“Little did I know, the years of studying writings and reading hundreds of pages a night would finally come in handy with law school,” she said.
Prior to law school, Gupta dipped a toe into legal waters by clerking for a law firm that dealt with product liability and corporate litigation.
“It was a pretty general legal experience that taught me things like document review, proofreading motions and prepping for depositions,” she said. “My second position was at a legal aid clinic — I wanted to go the opposite direction from my first law clerk position so as to get as much of a rounded experience as I could. This was more contact with clients, drafting my own memos and motions, and appearing on the record in court.
Gupta’s said her current position “is somewhat of a return to the first position in that it is a business firm, but it’s smaller and deals with a very new area of Michigan law — marijuana.
“So think of it as a corporate firm, but in a constantly changing and exciting field,” she said. “I like the marijuana industry — it’s a very exciting time to be in the legal field due to the relatively recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Michigan.”
Gupta would also like to keep up with family law, as a good skill to have and is currently working in the law school’s Family Law Clinic.
Her eventual career goal?
“Superhero for sure, but I’d also like to stay in the marijuana legal field for a while,” she said. “Maybe one day open up a Micro Grow of my own and have a farm-to-table marijuana business that people can come and hang out at.”
Gupta’s advice to other students is to focus on whatever area they want to go in.
“If you aren’t interested in litigation, don’t stress about judicial clerkships,” she said. “Similarly, if you see yourself in a courtroom one day, try to get as much courtroom experience and trial preparation in ahead of time.
A native of Rochester Hills who currently makes her home in Sterling Heights, Gupta readily admits she found online studies during the pandemic to be a challenge.
“I tend to focus better in-person and at school — I’m just too easily distracted at home,” she said. “Work was the same — I almost cried with relief knowing my current law clerk position would be in person. Some people really thrive during at-home work and school — I wish they would teach me their ways.”
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