Photos courtesy of Olivia Oliveros Leiva
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Olivia Oliveros Leiva was drawn to the Dual JD program offered by Detroit Mercy Law School and the University of Windsor for the future opportunities to serve cross-border and international clients.
“I love that law is everywhere around us, and affects so much of what we do,” she says.
Oliveros Leiva earned her undergrad degree in criminology and history from the University of Toronto, where she had the opportunity to study in Oxford, England, and at the University of Seville, Spain.
“My decision to study criminology was rather sudden,” she says. “For a very long time I thought I wanted to pursue a career in the medical sciences, but I had a change of heart in my final year of high school. I’ve always been curious about social, political and justice systems and as an interdisciplinary field, criminology seemed like a great opportunity to explore those interests.
“I chose history because having been raised in Cuba, I grew up with a lack of information about the world. As someone who loves to travel and was considering a career in law, I felt it was important to understand the issues and events that have impacted people around the globe.”
Oliveros Leiva, who intends to experience many different areas of law before narrowing her focus, is currently doing an externship in the Michigan Department of Attorney General, where she prepares research memos and drafts pleadings for state and federal court in the Civil Rights Division.
During her 1L year, she was a student researcher in the Windsor chapter of Pro Bono Students Canada, where she researched tenant rights and responsibilities in Ontario and created a resource booklet for the Windsor Youth Centre. As 2L Dual JD vice president of the Student Bar Association, she has interacted with a number of students and faculty members.
“Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and helpful,” she says. “I also love that Detroit Mercy Law has great experiential learning opportunities such as externships and a variety of legal clinics.”
During the remote learning environment, Oliveros Leiva jokes her family has been experiencing law school as much as she has.
“My parents and I are very close, so even though I wish we were back in the classroom, I’ve really enjoyed being able to lean on them for support, both figuratively and literally,” she says. “And this year would not have been the same without the countless Zoom calls and support from my group of friends.”
She has also made an effort to participate in a number of student initiatives on both sides of the border so she can feel connected to the law school community—including the Student Bar Association, Pro Bono Students Canada, the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Windsor Law Mediation Competition, and most recently she became a junior member of Detroit Mercy Law Moot Court Board of Advocates.
A native of Havana, Cuba, where she lived until the age of 12, Oliveros Leiva currently lives in Pickering, Ontario, east of Toronto. She will be moving to Windsor soon, and looks forward to exploring and familiarizing herself with Detroit.
In her leisure hours, she enjoys dancing, travelling, listening to music, collecting art and spending time with her canine buddy, a Cocker Spaniel.
Between undergrad and law school, Oliveros Leiva did a 32-month gig as a member of J FORCE, the in-game promotions and fan entertainment team for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
“As a long-time fan, having the opportunity to work with the organization was an incredible experience,” she says. “I was able to interact with people from all over Canada and the world while combining my passions for baseball and dance. Besides being a lot of fun, this experience helped strengthen my confidence and ability to think on my feet in a fast-paced environment. I met some of my closest friends during my time with the Blue Jays, and I will always be grateful for the experience.”
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