By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Myia Davis was inspired at the tender age of 6 for a future career in law, after seeing famed feminist attorney Gloria Allred in action on TV, and being told by her grandmother that Allred was a great lawyer.
"Ever since then I knew that I wanted to be like her," Davis says. "Growing up watching Gloria Allred and Johnny Cochran in the courtroom not only planted a seed, but helped it grow into a love for litigation."
Davis's interest in criminal justice started in her high school years, and strengthened when she earned her undergrad degree in that major from Wayne State University. The passion of Professor Marvin Zalman about the criminal justice system, wrongful convictions and disproportionate incarceration rates, opened her eyes to various issues within the legal system and helped solidify her choice to focus on criminal defense work.
Davis-who also earned a master's degree in criminal justice from Boston University-is in her 3L year at University Detroit Mercy School of Law, and still is passionate about criminal defense work.
"It helps ensure our constitutional rights are protected," she says. "There is a stigma around criminal defense work, but I often look at it as the job is not to defend the crime, but to defend our rights-to make sure the prosecutor and judge are abiding by the Constitution, and giving everyone a fair chance to defend themselves."
Her career goal is to become a solo practitioner, focusing on criminal defense-and to eventually grow her firm into a larger practice covering a wide array of legal services, including criminal defense, real estate transactions, personal injury, and other contractual legal services.
Davis is gaining experience by clerking at the Law Offices of Vassal N. Johnson II in Southfield, getting a first-hand look on various defense and litigation techniques.
"He teaches us about each step of the process, from client intake up until trial prep," she says. "Also, I appreciate that he accepts and encourages my contribution to all legal projects, including my thoughts on relevant defenses."
Davis also is interning at Lakeshore Legal Aid, that offers free legal aid services for various civil matters such as landlord/tenant disputes, divorce, custody, estate planning, and consumer matters; and at Dolenga & Dolenga PLLC, a Farmington Hills firm focusing on civil litigation and that handles such cases as medical malpractice defense, product liability, insurance disputes, and automobile negligence.
"Although I love criminal law, I believe it's important to not only learn, but work in various areas of law, to hone my legal skills, especially since I want to run my own firm one day," she says.
Davis is thoroughly enjoying her experience at Detroit Mercy Law, noting it is a very close community.
"It's not just the student body, but faculty and alumni. It's a family-style community and I think that's very important, especially when you're in a very demanding program such as law school," she says. "The Detroit Mercy community provides an abundance of support which I've experienced from my fellow classmates, faculty members and alumni as well."
Davis is proud to serve as an executive director for the Moot Court Board of Advocates.
"I knew I was going to be a part of Moot Court before I chose a law school," she says. "I'm happy to be a part of something I'm very passionate about, and to be in a position where I can express my ideas for the organization and we as a board can enhance them and make them happen."
She also enjoys serving on the executive board of the school's Community W.E.B. organization, whose mission is to foster an inclusive environment by breaking down legal barriers, cultivating long-lasting relationships among law students, and enhancing member mental health.
"The organization was created to promote inclusion and build long lasting relationships, which is very important to have in law school, especially now because we're experiencing a non-traditional way of learning, due to the pandemic," Davis says. "It's harder to build relationships and feel included when a lot of us have never met in person.
"My term as treasurer for the Immigration Law Association has ended, but I enjoyed my term and the ability to bring awareness to issues within immigration law and promote employment opportunities to our members."
Davis was fortunate to have about a semester and a half of in-person studies before the pandemic forced a switch to remote learning.
"So, I was able to build friendships that are very important to me," she says. "I keep in contact with my classmates on a regular basis, as we're all enduring the same struggles of battling law school in a manner that no one could have expected, and we connect in that way.
"During these unprecedented times, I rely heavily on loved ones and keeping in communication with them," she adds. "When times do not allow for us to see one another in person we communicate by video chat, and when times allow us to see each other in person, I take advantage of such."
A Detroit native, Davis moved to Redford at the age of 8, attending school there from 2nd to 12th grade and graduating from Redford Union High School in 2009.
She is a big fan of the Motor City, and prior to the pandemic outbreak loved commuting to the law school campus, in the heart of the city.
"In the future-hopefully not too far-I'd like to either move or expand my firm downtown," she says. "I love Detroit! I enjoy and appreciate how the city is multi-faceted. There are so many gems within the city. I love how you can enjoy a nice restaurant on the 72nd floor of the Renaissance Building, hang out at a local piano bar, or enjoy the artwork at The Skip. Detroit has so many things to offer, not to mention the three universities within the city itself. You can literally do anything in the city."
After losing her mom to breast cancer in 2012, Davis became cognizant of the importance of early breast cancer detection. She participates in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure that is held downtown.
"I lost my mom to breast cancer in 2012, so breast cancer research is something that is near and dear to my heart," she says. "I get involved by participating in the walk and collecting donations for the organization."
Davis is a single mother, with daughters ages 10 and 11.
"They're my world," she says. "I have a lot of support from my family and friends who are more than willing to help me. I'm trying my best to show my girls that anything is possible and that hard work and dedication is key.
"I'm further trying to instill in them the importance of an education and show them they can go far in life and accomplish whatever goal they may have set for themselves."
Davis also has a background in real estate, obtaining her real estate license in 2017. After working at Keller Williams, she worked for Keystone Commercial Real Estate, assisting with commercial property management, before starting law school.
In her leisure time, she enjoys finding and visiting new karaoke spots; and enjoys playing volleyball, and watching her oldest daughter play AAU volleyball.
"After the bar exam, I have every intention on setting up my volleyball net at the beach somewhere and play with my friends," she says.
