Canadian native pursues a dual J.D. degree at Detroit Mercy
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Athena Portokalidis enjoys studying the law from the perspectives of two differing legal traditions simultaneously in the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program at Detroit Mercy Law and the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.
“I feel it gives me a unique approach to tackling legal issues as I’ve learned to approach legal analysis from two different standpoints,” she says. “International law is becoming vastly important with ever-growing relations between Canada and the United States, which makes having training in both jurisdictions invaluable.”
The rising 3L has noticed that the U.S. has many more laws and rules compared to her native Canada, where it seems things are mostly case-law based.
“This is probably partly due to the fact that the U.S. has a much more expansive history than Canada does, at least legally,” she says. “I think another important difference is how each country gained independence from the U.K., which appears to have greatly shaped the way laws were written in each country. It’s so fascinating being able to study these legal traditions side-by-side.”
Portokalidis commutes from her home in Windsor to the law school in downtown Detroit with her friend Aruna Vithiananthan.
“Luckily, our commute is fairly short save any unusual delays at the border,” she says. “We usually don’t have much time to discuss our studies, but there have definitely been times we’ve gone over some of the more interesting or confusing cases or concepts we came across in our independent studies.”
Drawn to the law by the desire to help people, Portokalidis learned early on that navigating the legal system can be tricky, especially for people with limited resources.
“That sparked the desire to do something about that, so studying the law seemed natural,” she says.
“I wanted to provide accessible legal services to vulnerable groups in my community, and I think this still remains the most prominent career goal for me,” she adds. “It would also be ideal for me to write the Bar and be able to practice in both Ontario and Michigan, and to be able to use both of my degrees as a practicing lawyer.”
She is enjoying her studies at Detroit Mercy Law.
“I love the environment – everyone there including staff, students, and alumni, are a great group of very welcoming people,” she says. “It’s a very supportive and helpful community, which makes going to school that much easier. It’s hard to walk through the school and leave without a smile on your face.”
Service as a Presidential Ambassador has been a great experience, she says.
“It’s given me the opportunity to meet alumni and notable members of the legal community in Detroit who are either just starting out their legal careers or are already well-established. It’s inspiring to see how far a seemingly humble three years of law school can take you.”
Serving as a Peer Mentor for Windsor Law is just as great, but for different reasons, she adds.
“It’s given me the opportunity to see how far I’ve come since starting law school and to act as a support system for incoming and prospective law students. I’m so honored to have been given both of these fulfilling opportunities, and so grateful for everything I’ve learned from both.”
Portokalidis writes for The Oyez, a satirical magazine run by law students in Windsor.
“It’s a great form of comedic relief from my studies, both as an audience member and a staff writer,” she says. “There’s something stress-relieving, and almost soothing, in having a deadline to write a satirical legal piece twice a semester. It’s my time to stow away my serious law face and put on my silly law face for a little while. I have the honor of serving as one of the editors during the next school year and I couldn’t be more excited.”
The daughter of European immigrants, Portokalidis grew up in Scarborough, a city in the Greater Toronto area.
“It was truly inspiring to grow up watching my parents build a better life for themselves in Canada, especially given the struggles they faced back home and the sacrifices they made to get where they are today,” she says. “I’m so thankful for everything they have done for my sister and me, and I hope to make them proud by taking full advantage of the opportunities they fought so hard to provide me with.”
Portokalidis stayed close to home to earn her undergrad degree from the University of Toronto.
“So it was quite the leap for me to leave home to study at two law schools that are a four-hour drive away,” she says. “I’ve really been enjoying experiencing Windsor, and I love how close it is to such a bustling city like Detroit. It amazes me every day I look out my window that a whole other country is just across the river. I still have difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that I cross an international border to get to class every other day, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
During the school year her free time is mostly dedicated to activities that allow her to “de-stress and give my brain a break,” she says.
“I love exploring the city and hope to see more of Detroit in the coming year.”
She also makes a point to spend time with friends, watch movies and TV shows, and keep in touch with family. In summer, she loves to travel, read, and brush up on or learn new languages.
Following her parents’ example of community involvement, she has volunteered at a hospital, a men’s shelter, and other charitable events in Toronto, and hopes to continue.
“I love that students at Detroit Mercy Law have the ability to volunteer at the Warming Center in Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, right next to our school, and I hope to volunteer there next year,” she says.
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