Detroit Mercy Law School student Jasmine Truley, recipient of the Justice Harris Bolden Scholarship, is pictured with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and former UDM Law Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum.
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
According to Jasmine Truley, her decision to attend law school was a “no brainer.”
“I enjoy higher education– thanks to the UCLA VIPS program,” says Truley, a 3L at Detroit Mercy Law School. “I also understand the impact the law has on society. I believe it’s essential to use my education to advocate and empower groups to ensure their voices are heard and receive true justice. Plus, it also helped having the unwavering support of family.”
The Pasadena High School alumna earned her undergrad degree in philosophy at UCLA, where she was a member of the Black Pre-Law Association.
“I was drawn to the ethical frameworks in philosophy—it covered a lot of areas that required a deeper analytical approach,” she says. “I’ve taken classes on the philosophy of morals, love, logic, and mind versus body and I absolutely loved the theories. It challenged my perception of the world around me by fostering a deeper understanding of complex issues.”
Passionate about empowering marginalized voices, she chose gender studies as a minor.
“I didn’t know much about the various gendered experiences so I wanted to learn more about allyship, privilege, and social responsibility,” she says. “It helped me assess the cultural narratives and norms that influence our identities.”
After graduation, she spent nine months teaching English at CEIP Antonio Machado in Madrid, Spain, an experience she calls one of the most remarkable in her life.
“I moved out of the country without knowing a single person, barely knowing the language. It taught me how to adapt to new unfamiliar spaces,” she says. “It also sparked my love for traveling—Paris, Vatican, Rome, Venice, London, Lisbon, Morocco and more— and experiencing new cultures.”
Returning to her hometown of Los Angeles, she worked as a legal assistant for the Clarkson Law Firm.
“I enjoyed the collaborative environment with amazing co-workers who share a passion for advocacy,” she says. “Being a part of a firm who supports the underdog allowed me to feel a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. Not only was I able to develop my legal skills in researching, writing and drafting agreements, it allowed me to contribute to meaningful results.”
The experience set the groundwork for heading to Detroit Mercy Law in August 2022.
“UDM Law is one of the best places for me to hone in on my skills,” she says. “The tight-knit community and the resources to ensure I’m becoming the ‘complete lawyer’ made me comfortable in my decision to be at UDM. Besides the amazing community and supportive colleagues, I thoroughly enjoy the practical experiences UDM gives each student. Being able to apply the legal theories I’ve learned my first-year to actual hands-on experience helps me get the full picture.”
Although Truley is open to exploring all areas of law, she has a particular passion to work in entertainment law, real estate law, and youth justice; and her career goals include opening her own private practice and an after-school program for low-income neighborhoods that provides resources, scholarships, and access to mentorship.
“The stark representation of African Americans in the legal field—less than 5 percent—has been both a challenge and a source of inspiration for me,” she says. “It drives my commitment to ensure the voices of marginalized communities are heard and valued in our legal systems. I believe everyone deserves a full and fair opportunity to achieve their dreams and have representation in practice and advocacy.”
Truley also felt “honored and blessed” to receive the Ven Johnson Scholarship, Hon. Lawrence Paul Zatkoff Memorial Scholarship, and the Law School Endowed Scholarship—offsetting some of the cost of pursuing her law degree.
In addition, Truley enjoys the community of the Black Law Students Association.
“BLSA alumni always lend a helping hand and make sure that future attorneys' needs are met whether it’s resources, affirmations or scholarship,” she says.
She also belongs to the Hispanic and Latinx Law Student Association; was a junior member of the Moot Court Board of Advocates, and is now an associate board member of Moot Court.
Moot Court helped her develop effective advocacy skills through practice in oral arguments and legal writing.
“I used to be frightened of public speaking but moot court as a junior member provided helpful skills and made it fun. Now as an associate board member, it’s allowed me to encourage others to gain this experience and practice,” she says. “This experience taught me the art of persuasive communication while practicing public speaking.”
Truley and her partner Jared make their home in Bloomfield Hills, with their 11-month-old son Skyler. Other family members include her older sister Courtney who motivates her daily; and her parents, Gregory and Stephanie, who constantly speak words of wisdom to her.
“My grandmother, who recently passed away this semester, always pushed me to perfect my legal craft,” she says. “And my Pacoo has always been supportive of my dreams.”
In her leisure time, Truley enjoys travel and trying out new food spots, and also is a member of Grammy U, that provides opportunities for emerging music industry professionals and creatives through events, networking opportunities and more.
Membership has allowed her to network and attend events such as MasterClass, featuring Grammy nominee Halle Bailey, and conferences around the nation.
“It’s giving me a lot of experiences that align with my passion for the arts,” she says. “I think it’s a great organization to be a part of.”
Passionate about dance, and a former pupil of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, Truley was on her school dance team and made it to nationals.
“Dance competition taught me the importance of repetition, team accountability, and timing is everything,” she says.
A track star in high school, Truley says track remains one of her favorite sports.
“I still incorporate the coaching advice in my daily life especially with law school,” she says. “Track taught me to pace myself, understand my individuality, and what works for me.”
Legal News
According to Jasmine Truley, her decision to attend law school was a “no brainer.”
“I enjoy higher education– thanks to the UCLA VIPS program,” says Truley, a 3L at Detroit Mercy Law School. “I also understand the impact the law has on society. I believe it’s essential to use my education to advocate and empower groups to ensure their voices are heard and receive true justice. Plus, it also helped having the unwavering support of family.”
The Pasadena High School alumna earned her undergrad degree in philosophy at UCLA, where she was a member of the Black Pre-Law Association.
“I was drawn to the ethical frameworks in philosophy—it covered a lot of areas that required a deeper analytical approach,” she says. “I’ve taken classes on the philosophy of morals, love, logic, and mind versus body and I absolutely loved the theories. It challenged my perception of the world around me by fostering a deeper understanding of complex issues.”
Passionate about empowering marginalized voices, she chose gender studies as a minor.
“I didn’t know much about the various gendered experiences so I wanted to learn more about allyship, privilege, and social responsibility,” she says. “It helped me assess the cultural narratives and norms that influence our identities.”
After graduation, she spent nine months teaching English at CEIP Antonio Machado in Madrid, Spain, an experience she calls one of the most remarkable in her life.
“I moved out of the country without knowing a single person, barely knowing the language. It taught me how to adapt to new unfamiliar spaces,” she says. “It also sparked my love for traveling—Paris, Vatican, Rome, Venice, London, Lisbon, Morocco and more— and experiencing new cultures.”
Returning to her hometown of Los Angeles, she worked as a legal assistant for the Clarkson Law Firm.
“I enjoyed the collaborative environment with amazing co-workers who share a passion for advocacy,” she says. “Being a part of a firm who supports the underdog allowed me to feel a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. Not only was I able to develop my legal skills in researching, writing and drafting agreements, it allowed me to contribute to meaningful results.”
The experience set the groundwork for heading to Detroit Mercy Law in August 2022.
“UDM Law is one of the best places for me to hone in on my skills,” she says. “The tight-knit community and the resources to ensure I’m becoming the ‘complete lawyer’ made me comfortable in my decision to be at UDM. Besides the amazing community and supportive colleagues, I thoroughly enjoy the practical experiences UDM gives each student. Being able to apply the legal theories I’ve learned my first-year to actual hands-on experience helps me get the full picture.”
Although Truley is open to exploring all areas of law, she has a particular passion to work in entertainment law, real estate law, and youth justice; and her career goals include opening her own private practice and an after-school program for low-income neighborhoods that provides resources, scholarships, and access to mentorship.
“The stark representation of African Americans in the legal field—less than 5 percent—has been both a challenge and a source of inspiration for me,” she says. “It drives my commitment to ensure the voices of marginalized communities are heard and valued in our legal systems. I believe everyone deserves a full and fair opportunity to achieve their dreams and have representation in practice and advocacy.”
Truley also felt “honored and blessed” to receive the Ven Johnson Scholarship, Hon. Lawrence Paul Zatkoff Memorial Scholarship, and the Law School Endowed Scholarship—offsetting some of the cost of pursuing her law degree.
In addition, Truley enjoys the community of the Black Law Students Association.
“BLSA alumni always lend a helping hand and make sure that future attorneys' needs are met whether it’s resources, affirmations or scholarship,” she says.
She also belongs to the Hispanic and Latinx Law Student Association; was a junior member of the Moot Court Board of Advocates, and is now an associate board member of Moot Court.
Moot Court helped her develop effective advocacy skills through practice in oral arguments and legal writing.
“I used to be frightened of public speaking but moot court as a junior member provided helpful skills and made it fun. Now as an associate board member, it’s allowed me to encourage others to gain this experience and practice,” she says. “This experience taught me the art of persuasive communication while practicing public speaking.”
Truley and her partner Jared make their home in Bloomfield Hills, with their 11-month-old son Skyler. Other family members include her older sister Courtney who motivates her daily; and her parents, Gregory and Stephanie, who constantly speak words of wisdom to her.
“My grandmother, who recently passed away this semester, always pushed me to perfect my legal craft,” she says. “And my Pacoo has always been supportive of my dreams.”
In her leisure time, Truley enjoys travel and trying out new food spots, and also is a member of Grammy U, that provides opportunities for emerging music industry professionals and creatives through events, networking opportunities and more.
Membership has allowed her to network and attend events such as MasterClass, featuring Grammy nominee Halle Bailey, and conferences around the nation.
“It’s giving me a lot of experiences that align with my passion for the arts,” she says. “I think it’s a great organization to be a part of.”
Passionate about dance, and a former pupil of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, Truley was on her school dance team and made it to nationals.
“Dance competition taught me the importance of repetition, team accountability, and timing is everything,” she says.
A track star in high school, Truley says track remains one of her favorite sports.
“I still incorporate the coaching advice in my daily life especially with law school,” she says. “Track taught me to pace myself, understand my individuality, and what works for me.”
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