A former officer in the Michigan Army National Guard, Christopher Stone now is studying law.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Stone
Former Army officer aims for a career in law
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Christopher Stone previously worked in the field of human resources, first in the Army National Guard then with MB Aerospace in Warren. Tackling thorny H.R. issues daily—sometimes with the assistance of the company attorney— he developed a keen interest in the legal aspects. With the support of hisfamily and colleagues, he took a career plunge and dedicated himself full time to earning a law degree.
A 2L student at Detroit Mercy Law, Stone enjoys studying alongside classmates and faculty from diverse cross-sections of society and feels a strong connection to the service-oriented values of the law school.
“I’m looking forward to opportunities to learn in a clinical setting, providing real assistance to those without full access to the legal system,” he says.
While his previous work experience draws him to the field of labor and employment law, he is exploring other practice areas as he gains more knowledge and exposure to the profession.
Recently selected for junior membership on the Moot Court team, Stone also was nominated to represent the law school as a UDM Presidential Ambassador, representing the Office of the President and participating in special events attended by alumni, trustees, major donors and other University friends.
In a four-month internship with the Hon. Christopher M. Murray at the Michigan Court of Appeals, Stone researched and wrote bench memos and drafted judicial opinions for a criminal and civil case.
“The judge or his law clerk reviewed my work and provided valuable feedback on all aspects,” he says. “Judge Murray also took time out of each day to talk with me about current legal issues and other topics. I was pleasantly surprised by the regular interaction with other judges and personnel of the court. One particularly memorable experience was observing oral arguments and afterwards discussing some of the cases with the panel of judges.”
A magna cum laude graduate of Davenport University with a bachelor’s degree in business, Stone aims to excel in law school, and nail the bar exam on his first try.
“From there, my goal is to find a firm where I can contribute to a winning team and exceed the expectations of my colleagues and clients,” he says. “Ideally, my work would allow time for pro bono opportunities assisting the veteran community to ensure every benefit earned is a benefit received.”
In his leisure time, Stone enjoys travel, outdoor activities such as camping and kayaking, and cooking.
“I’m currently trying to master an Italian dish called Cacio e Pepe, which involves little more than spaghetti, cheese, and pepper. However, I’ve learned that the dish is deceptively simple and that attention to detail in each step makes the difference between good and great,” he says.
A Detroit native who spent most of his childhood in Capac, Stone lives in Royal Oak with Laurie, his wife and sweetheart since middle school, who is a brand leader with an advertising agency in Southfield. The couple’s son, Ryan, is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force stationed in San Antonio, with his wife and young daughter.
Stone has held leadership roles on a variety of committees and fundraising teams over the years, supporting organizations such as the Mid-Michigan Capital Area Combined Federal Campaign, American Red Cross, and the National World War II Memorial. He proudly served as the planning committee chair for the Michigan National Guard Adjutant General’s fund-raiser supporting military families and a children’s orphanage near Riga, Latvia; and most recently, organized a charity golf outing to raise funds for families of deployed Michigan National Guard soldiers.
His own service in the Army National Guard was a rewarding experience that included serving as a Recruiting Operations and Training Officer in Lansing, and as a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Civil Support Team Operations Officer at Fort Custer in western Michigan.
“I enjoyed being a part of something greater than myself,” he says. “I valued knowing my time and energy was devoted to preparing to assist those in need during times of crisis.”
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