By Debra Talcott
Legal News
In recent weeks, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer has been working the talk show circuit to pitch her “Lean In” program to encourage women to take on leadership roles in the workplace. Long before the idea of leadership became a program with a name, however, Washtenaw Community College instructor and Cooley Law School student Kimberly Shepherd has been putting that philosophy into action.
As if it were not enough to be a second-year law student while working full time, Shepherd has embraced the idea of taking on extra responsibilities by getting involved in Cooley’s Moot Court program, where she serves as co-chair of the Educational Committee. Her group sponsors the student court at Ypsilanti High School, where students who have violated school policy have the opportunity to restore their positions within the school community.
The Ypsilanti High School Student Court was started in January 2012 by Associate Dean Joan Vestrand from Cooley’s Ann Arbor campus. The program trains students in American Government classes to serve in the roles of clerk, bailiff, and jurors in the students’ cases. The primary goal of the program is to support students as they accept responsibility for their actions and work to get back on track.
“I have loved working on that project and getting to know the students as they get a glimpse into the legal process,” says Shepherd. “My involvement in this project has re-awakened my desire to work with community members and engage them with more knowledge about the law.”
As a full time instructor at WCC and divorced mother of three, Shepherd takes advantage of the flexibility of Cooley’s part-time program. She also appreciates that Cooley Law School’s philosophy is in alignment with her own.
“The flexible schedule has been extremely helpful. However, one of the reasons I chose Cooley was for their commitment to education and the community,” says Shepherd. “As an educator, I find their philosophy of education spot on. Everyone deserves the opportunity to follow their dreams, and much like we do at WCC, Cooley offers that to students who might not be given a chance elsewhere. In addition, they support students and encourage us to challenge ourselves and respect the legal profession. Cooley instills in its graduates the importance of giving back to the community by using our knowledge of the law to help others. This is something that has always been part of my personal philosophy.”
Inspired to start law school by her long-time fascination with how the legal system works, Shepherd is eager to learn more about the development of our American political and legal systems.
“Over the years, I’ve become more interested in politics and the Constitution. I might also want to try for a career in politics once my kids are grown. Having the knowledge and ability of an attorney would help me realize these dreams.”
An instructor at Washtenaw Community College since 2002, Shepherd currently teaches Composition II and African American Literature. She earned her B.A. in English from Michigan State University, her M.A. in Teaching Reading and Language Arts from Oakland University, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland. On track to receive her J.D. in 2015, Shepherd has not yet decided which area of the law will be her focus.
“I am toying with the idea of starting my own practice and focusing on family law. However, I have a passion for appellate practice and am interested working as a judicial clerk. These two areas require a lot of research and writing, which I enjoy.”
Shepherd is able to share with her students at Washtenaw how her training as an English teacher helps her take written exams, write briefs and memos, and, of course, read analytically. She inspires them to hone their own writing skills by explaining how her background in language arts has prepared her for law school and an eventual career in the law.
“The best part of teaching is watching my students grow,” says Shepherd. “In just one semester, their writing can advance in such a pronounced way. I like to see them push themselves to try new ways of writing and researching.”
And now Shepherd is taking on a leadership role in her department by working on a new course in legal research and writing that will introduce students to the intricacies of legal writing.
This course will prepare them to write legal memoranda and briefs to be used by attorneys in practice. It will also teach them the differences between various legal sources and their persuasiveness to legal arguments.
“There has been talk of creating a pre-law program at WCC, so this writing course would be a requirement. It would also prepare students for a paralegal studies program, such as the one offered at Eastern Michigan University. I have designed the course after meeting with key players at EMU, so my hope is to earn curriculum approval and make the course available in the Winter 2014 semester.”
Chair of the English Department at WCC, Carrie Krantz, considers the department fortunate to have Shepherd as a member.
“Kim has been a great asset to the department, taking on leadership roles with various projects. Last year she coordinated film screenings for Women’s History Month—one concerning images of women in the media and the other concerning domestic abuse. She also coordinates the English Department’s efforts for the World in a Basket fund-raiser for Washtenaw Literacy. Her energy is amazing to me!”
Those who interact with Shepherd on a regular basis know her as a positive and upbeat person who is always ready for the next opportunity to be a leader. As Shepherd reflects on her younger self, she realizes leadership has been important to her from the beginning.
“I suppose you could say I’ve always been a leader. After all, in elementary school I created my own newsletter, and I organized the first fifth grade graduation at my school,” Shepherd quips.
Whether she is acting in the role of teacher, student, or parent, Shepherd is someone who enjoys sharing ideas and challenging herself and the people in her life to engage in meaningful discussions that question the way the world works. As a mom, Shepherd connects with and “educates” her own children, ages 11–17, through travel.
“I love to hang out with my kids and take road trips. We’ve driven all over this beautiful country and have been amazed by its diverse, natural wonders. We’ve seen the purple mountains of Utah as well as the amber waves of grain in the Midwest. We’ve stared in wonder at the beauty of the Pacific Ocean on a cool day in San Francisco. It’s been a wonderful experience.”
With papers to grade, papers to write, and a family to nurture, Shepherd is often asked for her “secret” to juggling her various roles and standing out as a leader in the process. Her
response is not necessarily novel, but it is worth repeating:
“Be organized. Take care of your health. Realize that school is a marathon, not a sprint. I learned a long time ago that the only moment that truly matters is now and that being present is the single most-important gift we can give ourselves.”
Shepherd also sees the value in taking a break from what she calls her “cerebral life” to spend time that is enriching, even if it will never be deemed “productive” by conventional standards.
“I love going to church and spending time with other Christian ladies. I love cooking—and have been called ‘fierce’ in the kitchen. I love watching movies and TV. And I’ll even admit to letting my mind veg out from time to time with ‘The Real Housewives’ and ‘The Kardashians.’”
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