Strategic thinking helped in career planning

By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News

Hannah Bloomfield took her first entrepreneurial leap at the age of 11, opening “Hannah’s Dreams LLC.” Her passion for creating handmade quality jewelry quickly grew into a business venture where she gained invaluable experience managing and operating a small company.  

From countless craft shows to running an Etsy shop, her jewelry business exposed her firsthand to the various aspects of entrepreneurship — pricing, marketing, and customer relations — while also encountering the legal obligations that come with owning a business.

In high school, Bloomfield’s  jewelry was featured in StyleLine Magazine and showcased on the Dream Runway Fashion Show, both Detroit-based platforms — opportunities that not only expanded her business, but also deepened her connection to the city.

Running and growing her business also made her cognizant of the extensive laws that influence and facilitate companies.  

“From tax laws to business laws, I became fascinated with the intricate legal frameworks that allow businesses to operate smoothly and grow effectively,” Bloomfield said.  

Those early experiences led Bloomfield to earn her B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing, summa cum laude, from Southern New Hampshire University, sharpening her understanding of corporate structures, financial strategies, and the market dynamics that drive business success.

“It also enhanced my ability to think strategically — skills that will be invaluable in my future legal career,” she said..

During college, Bloomfield helped manage a start-up business in Atlanta, overseeing daily business operations, including inventory management, strategic product placement, and client relations. The experience reinforced her passion to help businesses grow. In her youth, the only profession Bloomfield could visualize herself truly enjoying was law — but it wasn’t until college she realized this dream could become a reality.

Since moving home to Michigan in January 2022, she has worked as a legal assistant at Helmkamp, Ellis, Abraham, and Engerer in Livonia, enjoying the extensive roles and responsibilities of working in a law firm.  

The work has exposed her to a diverse array of cases, including those involving contract and real estate disputes as well as criminal matters.  A highlight was working alongside one of the criminal defense attorneys on a domestic assault case, and researching statutes, drafting motions, and reviewing discovery documents.  

“Our client was the defendant, which compelled me to demonstrate a compassionate heart and maintain a lens of empathy for their circumstances,” Bloomfield said. “During the preliminary court hearing, I had the opportunity to speak with the judge directly and assist in presenting our client’s case. Although brief, the hearing was a powerful experience that refined my understanding of the legal field and deepened my appreciation for the impact of thoughtful legal strategy.  This experience further confirmed to me that the legal field is where I belong.”

Bloomfield’s time as a business owner, coupled with her academic background and legal work experience, laid the foundation of her interest in transactional law—and to her studies at Detroit Mercy Law, where she is a Dean’s Scholar, on the Dean’s List, and recipient of a Spirit of Detroit Mercy Law Award.  

“I want to help businesses thrive just as mine did,” she said. “My journey from entrepreneurship to law reflects a passion for both business strategy and legal solutions, and I look forward to merging these interests in transactional law.”

Bloomfield spent this past summer as a judicial intern for Judge Linda Parker at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Delving into federal litigation procedures, Bloomfield researched complex legal issues and wrote bench memoranda and court opinions on a wide range of cases, including constitutional challenges, employment disputes, and discrimination cases.  
“One of the most rewarding aspects was observing courtroom proceedings — witnessing powerful advocacy in action and attending hearings where strategies unfolded in real time,” she said.

A junior member of Law Review, she has enjoyed engaging deeply with legal scholarship and contributing to the advancement of legal knowledge.  

“Being part of the editorial process is not only a privilege but also a rewarding challenge that sharpens my analytical and writing skills,”Bloomfield said.

Bloomfield is looking forward to next year’s position as a summer associate at Foley & Lardner LLP in Detroit, an opportunity that aligns with her long-term goal of pursuing a career in transactional law.  

“I look forward to gaining invaluable experience where I can further develop the skills necessary to help businesses grow and thrive through strategic transactions,” she says. “I’m passionate about the role transactional law plays in shaping and supporting growth, and I’m eager to bring the same entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic to my legal career.”

Bloomfield, who has been involved with Oak Pointe Canton Student Ministry at Oak Pointe Church in Canton, also fondly recalls volunteering at FriendSpeak, an English as a Second Language (ESL) program in Knoxville. She worked each week with a student from South Korea to develop conversational fluency, vocabulary, and reading skills.

“This experience was eye-opening as I had a front row seat to their struggles as an immigrant, and the way they faced each challenge with courage and perseverance made an indelible impression on me,” she said.

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available