An ordained minister, Detroit Mercy Law student Kelsey Sill was the minister at a wedding this summer for a friend’s mother.
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Sill
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
During her undergrad years at Michigan State University, Kelsey Sill interned with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Macomb County. The experience of working with youngsters in foster care ignited an interest in pursuing a career in family and juvenile law.
“I worked with a great mentor who counseled foster youth in establishing their future plans and navigating assistance programs,” says Sill, a graduate of the International Academy of Macomb. “I also shadowed Child Protective Services social workers during house visits and attended child protection court hearings for foster youth.”
Now a 2L student at Detroit Mercy Law School, Sill’s career goals include working as an attorney with a focus on family law, and eventually becoming a family court judge.
“I’m interested in representing children and young adults because I feel they deserve advocacy as much as adults,” she says. “Children’s rights are often overlooked in the legal field. I want to prevent children from a life of hardship and be the advocate for them.”
Before starting law school, Sill got a taste of the legal life by clerking for the Lillie Labor Law Firm in East Lansing, assisting solo practitioner Bruce Lillie with public and private sector labor and employment matters. She drafted memoranda on labor law issues, including union rights, employment contracts, and contract negotiations, and conducted legal research to assist Lillie with preparing for arbitration hearings.
The experience only furthered her interest in entering the legal profession.
“I’m passionate about advocating for those who are going through a rough time and I feel a law career will enable me to work for communities that feel oppressed,” she says.
Sill enjoys the variety of classes and different perspectives at Detroit Mercy Law.
“The professors and fellow students are helpful and positive—I always feel I can ask questions and gain support,” she says.
Serving as treasurer for the Detroit Mercy OutLaws group, she enjoys the presentations by guest speakers and professors.
“Being a part of the Detroit Mercy minority community, I feel welcomed and comfortable,” she says. “I love being a leader within the LGBTQ+ legal community because I want to support my community by offering resources to other LGBTQ+ future attorneys.”
She also serves as treasurer for the Women’s Law Caucus, where she appreciates networking and learning in a supportive community.
This past summer, Sill clerked at the 16th Circuit Court in Mt. Clemens with Judge Matthew Switalski, and observed family court and criminal court motions, arraignments, and trials. She conducted legal research on domestic issues such as divorces, attorney’s fees, and child abuse and neglect cases; and drafted an opinion and order for a motion requesting attorney’s fees in a divorce matter, which was later issued as the court’s opinion.
A life-long resident of Clinton Township in Macomb County, Sill is the youngest of three children.
“My mother and father are inspirations as their own hard work and focus is what drives me to stay focused on my goals,” she says. “One of my biggest accomplishments is that I will be the first in my family to have a professional degree.”
An ordained minister since 2012, Sill was the minister at a wedding this summer for the mother of a long-time friend.
She also loves working with animals.
“I love working with all kinds of animals and feel passionately about helping homeless animals,” she says.
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