Legal News
Detroit Mercy Law 1L student Daelin Ruetz earned her undergraduate degree in criminal justice and criminology from Loyola University in Chicago, where she was a member of the pre-law society, Leading Women of Tomorrow, and Kappa Kappa Gamma.
“The degree offered aspects of both learning how our criminal justice system is designed while also learning how real people interact and are impacted by the system,” Ruetz said.
“From the time I was a young girl, I always knew I would end up working in the criminal justice system, I just didn’t know where.
“Pursuing a degree in criminal justice showed me where I believe I could make the most impact.”
During undergraduate studies, Ruetz worked as a legal assistant for Nozari Legal LLC, in Evanston, Ill., a law firm offering services in the areas of real estate, business law, employment law, and mediation.
“I didn’t want to go to law school without having some actual experience working with the law,” Ruetz said, “because I knew how big of a commitment law school was and I didn’t want to have any regrets about my choice.”
Ruetz added that her boss, Neda Nozari, “became such a mentor to me and she showed me the positive impacts lawyers can have on the people in their communities.
“By the time I moved back to Detroit, I knew I wanted to go to law school, but I wanted to save some money before I went. I ended up working as a paralegal at the Law Offices of Miller & Miller, P.C. and my boss Gordon Miller exposed me to so many different types of law and really encouraged me to attend law school.”
Both jobs showed Ruetz, who continues working at Miller & Miller, the experiences of working in a law firm and if this was a career field she would enjoy.
“Paralegal work is a great way to do real legal work and see the type of problems attorneys face on a daily basis,” she said. “Most of the work I do is drafting documents for ongoing cases.
“A lot of my job is working directly with clients and creating a trusting working relationship with them. I’ve learned so much about different aspects of the law. I really enjoy case management and working closely with my employers, as they’ve given me so much guidance and knowledge about how the law works in real life.”
What drew Ruetz to law school was the desire to give back to her community.
“I’ve have absolutely loved working in law firms, so I knew becoming an attorney would be the best way to achieve my goal,” she said. “I loved the sense of community I felt when I toured UDM Law. I was really drawn to their commitment to their values of social justice and service to others.
Ruetz has found her prior legal experience a definite advantage in her studies.
“Having some familiarity in basic legal concepts, legalese, and experience with some of the topics allows me to understand the real-world applications of what I’m learning in law school,” she said.
Ruetz is a volunteer at the Children's Center of Wayne County, and the two areas of law that most interest her are prosecuting child abusers or working at a public defender office.
She hopes at some point to work for the Child Abuse Unit or the Conviction Integrity Unit at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
“I’m passionate about the law because I believe it serves as a foundation for fairness and justice, ensuring every individual, regardless of background, is treated equally,” she said. “My passion particularly lies in defending our youth, as they are often vulnerable and unable to advocate for themselves.
“I feel children deserve the highest level of protection and compassion, and I’m driven by the desire to ensure their rights are defended.
“Equally important to me is delivering justice to those who abuse or exploit children. Holding wrongdoers accountable is critical for both preventing further harm and ensuring victims can begin to heal. This belief has inspired me to pursue a career where I can make a real difference in their lives, using the law as a tool for positive change.”
Originally from Allen Park, she now makes her home in the historic Corktown neighborhood in downtown Detroit.
“Detroit has a lot to offer, and it’s so fun to live in — here is so much culture and history in the city that you get to experience through museums, food, music, and art,” she said. “Also, with Detroit sports teams doing so well, attending games is more fun than ever, and living here through this time feels very special.”
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