By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Mackenzie Beckett’s first taste of the law was in American History classes at Cranbrook Kingswood High School — and she went on to earn her undergraduate degree in political theory and constitutional democracy from James Madison College at Michigan State University, with a minor in European studies.
During her senior year of high school, she worked for Adam Devlin of Bingham Farms, a fellow Cranbrook alum.
“Adam is more of a general practitioner, so I was able to see many different areas of law,” she said. Beckett then spent close to three years at Potter, DeAgostino, & Clark in Auburn Hills, working for her father’s friend Steve Potter.
“I started off as a file clerk, which I genuinely enjoyed. I was able to look through all of the files and get a basic understanding of what happens,” Beckett said. “I continued to work for him for the next five years, and eventually worked my way to a law clerk of sorts. I’m extremely thankful to have been able to work from the ground up at a law firm, which gives me an extreme appreciation for supporting staff at law firms.”
For eight months before law school, she worked part-time as a legal assistant at Herman Law and even spent five months as a substitute teacher in Troy.
“What I really learned from it was the new generation of kids is nothing like my generation,” she said. “There is definitely a gap with expectations, but they are extremely creative and forward thinking because they have so much more access than I did.
“I had a great time being around and trying to teach the next generation but they definitely made me feel old because I had no idea the terms they were using.”
Beckett, who will graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law next year, has appreciated the close-knit feel of the law school — and the added convenience of everything in one building, with professors only a few steps away.
She also has relished the opportunities to gain real world experience, and has taken the Trademark and Entrepreneurship clinic — returning for the winter semester as an advanced clinician — and alternative dispute resolution.
“I’m passionate about the law because not everything has an answer,” Beckett said. “My mind has always been A + B = C, that’s why I’ve always excelled at math. But the law is challenging and ever-changing, and I have the chance to be part of the change.”
Beckett said she’s drawn to a law career because she will be able to help people “in a meaningful way — I’ll have the ability to help people who don’t have the answer or are scared of the future. “Whatever I do next, I know that I will be using my education and everything my mom taught me to help others in any way possible.”
In last year’s summer internship with Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard Caretti, Beckett helped draft decisions for the Business Court, reading the briefs attached to the parties’ motions and writing a memorandum regarding the arguments presented before the motion calls.
“I really enjoyed being able to read what comes into the court, and I believe it helped me decide that the most important thing about practicing law is reading over your documents and using spell check,” Beckett said.
Serving on the Moot Court Board of Advocates helped her overcome a fear of public speaking.
“Moot Court taught me that as long as you’re prepared and know what you are talking about, you’ll be fine,” Beckett said. “I’m currently serving the education and outreach part of Moot Court, and I’m just excited I get to help those who might have the same fear, or the fear they will be embarrassed in some way.”
While she currently does not have a specific legal field of interest, she knows she will always want to give back.
“Whether I’m a public servant, or work in private practice, I will always donate my time and skills to help those less fortunate,” Beckett said. “My goal is to become the best at what I do. I want to focus on one area of law and practice so much, that I’m the number one person in my field. I know it will take a lot of time and energy, but I’m willing to do it to achieve my goal. Now what that field is, I don’t know yet.”
Originally from Troy, Beckett currently lives in Birmingham, and enjoys spending time with her sisters Jaimee and Hayley, and nephews JJ, 7, and Asher, 5.
She pays particular tribute to her parents.
“My dad, Jeffery Beckett was at every single sporting event, and everywhere else I needed hi,” she said. “When I was struggling mentally, he would sit and talk —my mom was also the best at this. I ‘ve always been able to count on my dad and everyone else in my family.”
She calls her mother, Connie Skandalaris, “the most amazing woman to have ever walked this earth.”
“She started working with Variety when I was younger and started Variety Feeds Kids when I was in fifth grade,” Beckett said. “She has never stopped helping the community and is currently starting Variety Being You Being Strong with her friend David King.”
The newest launch, she said, teaches the importance of mental health.
“Having the mother I had, volunteering your time was not an option, it’s a way of life and second nature. My mom has been heavily involved in Variety the Children’s Charity for as long as I can remember.”
Beckett spent every birthday it at the Variety Bike Party, helping run games, face paint, and hand out bikes. She also attended meetings at the Variety Myoelectric Center, where she met the first child to receive a prosthetic arm.
When Beckett was in elementary school, her mother and a friend started Variety — Kids Helping Kids, a 5-kilometer fund-raiser. And when she was in fifth grade, her mother and friend launched Variety Feeds Kids, that has helped children in Pontiac, with donations from Meijer and volunteers from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and trustees from the Oakland County Jail.
“This has been the program that has affected me the most,” Beckett said. “There was a huge distrust and gap between the law enforcement and these kids. But, as time went on, every student hugged and gave high-fives to the police officers, thanking them for the food and being a smiling face in the hallway.”
Legal News
Mackenzie Beckett’s first taste of the law was in American History classes at Cranbrook Kingswood High School — and she went on to earn her undergraduate degree in political theory and constitutional democracy from James Madison College at Michigan State University, with a minor in European studies.
During her senior year of high school, she worked for Adam Devlin of Bingham Farms, a fellow Cranbrook alum.
“Adam is more of a general practitioner, so I was able to see many different areas of law,” she said. Beckett then spent close to three years at Potter, DeAgostino, & Clark in Auburn Hills, working for her father’s friend Steve Potter.
“I started off as a file clerk, which I genuinely enjoyed. I was able to look through all of the files and get a basic understanding of what happens,” Beckett said. “I continued to work for him for the next five years, and eventually worked my way to a law clerk of sorts. I’m extremely thankful to have been able to work from the ground up at a law firm, which gives me an extreme appreciation for supporting staff at law firms.”
For eight months before law school, she worked part-time as a legal assistant at Herman Law and even spent five months as a substitute teacher in Troy.
“What I really learned from it was the new generation of kids is nothing like my generation,” she said. “There is definitely a gap with expectations, but they are extremely creative and forward thinking because they have so much more access than I did.
“I had a great time being around and trying to teach the next generation but they definitely made me feel old because I had no idea the terms they were using.”
Beckett, who will graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law next year, has appreciated the close-knit feel of the law school — and the added convenience of everything in one building, with professors only a few steps away.
She also has relished the opportunities to gain real world experience, and has taken the Trademark and Entrepreneurship clinic — returning for the winter semester as an advanced clinician — and alternative dispute resolution.
“I’m passionate about the law because not everything has an answer,” Beckett said. “My mind has always been A + B = C, that’s why I’ve always excelled at math. But the law is challenging and ever-changing, and I have the chance to be part of the change.”
Beckett said she’s drawn to a law career because she will be able to help people “in a meaningful way — I’ll have the ability to help people who don’t have the answer or are scared of the future. “Whatever I do next, I know that I will be using my education and everything my mom taught me to help others in any way possible.”
In last year’s summer internship with Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard Caretti, Beckett helped draft decisions for the Business Court, reading the briefs attached to the parties’ motions and writing a memorandum regarding the arguments presented before the motion calls.
“I really enjoyed being able to read what comes into the court, and I believe it helped me decide that the most important thing about practicing law is reading over your documents and using spell check,” Beckett said.
Serving on the Moot Court Board of Advocates helped her overcome a fear of public speaking.
“Moot Court taught me that as long as you’re prepared and know what you are talking about, you’ll be fine,” Beckett said. “I’m currently serving the education and outreach part of Moot Court, and I’m just excited I get to help those who might have the same fear, or the fear they will be embarrassed in some way.”
While she currently does not have a specific legal field of interest, she knows she will always want to give back.
“Whether I’m a public servant, or work in private practice, I will always donate my time and skills to help those less fortunate,” Beckett said. “My goal is to become the best at what I do. I want to focus on one area of law and practice so much, that I’m the number one person in my field. I know it will take a lot of time and energy, but I’m willing to do it to achieve my goal. Now what that field is, I don’t know yet.”
Originally from Troy, Beckett currently lives in Birmingham, and enjoys spending time with her sisters Jaimee and Hayley, and nephews JJ, 7, and Asher, 5.
She pays particular tribute to her parents.
“My dad, Jeffery Beckett was at every single sporting event, and everywhere else I needed hi,” she said. “When I was struggling mentally, he would sit and talk —my mom was also the best at this. I ‘ve always been able to count on my dad and everyone else in my family.”
She calls her mother, Connie Skandalaris, “the most amazing woman to have ever walked this earth.”
“She started working with Variety when I was younger and started Variety Feeds Kids when I was in fifth grade,” Beckett said. “She has never stopped helping the community and is currently starting Variety Being You Being Strong with her friend David King.”
The newest launch, she said, teaches the importance of mental health.
“Having the mother I had, volunteering your time was not an option, it’s a way of life and second nature. My mom has been heavily involved in Variety the Children’s Charity for as long as I can remember.”
Beckett spent every birthday it at the Variety Bike Party, helping run games, face paint, and hand out bikes. She also attended meetings at the Variety Myoelectric Center, where she met the first child to receive a prosthetic arm.
When Beckett was in elementary school, her mother and a friend started Variety — Kids Helping Kids, a 5-kilometer fund-raiser. And when she was in fifth grade, her mother and friend launched Variety Feeds Kids, that has helped children in Pontiac, with donations from Meijer and volunteers from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and trustees from the Oakland County Jail.
“This has been the program that has affected me the most,” Beckett said. “There was a huge distrust and gap between the law enforcement and these kids. But, as time went on, every student hugged and gave high-fives to the police officers, thanking them for the food and being a smiling face in the hallway.”
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