Ethan Loch, a law clerk with Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski in Jackson, graduated summa cum laude from Cooley Law School and is studying for the February bar exam.
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Growing up around a law firm in Lansing, where his mother Heather Kimbrell was a legal assistant, Ethan Loch was inspired by the dedication of great attorneys who were not only skilled professionals but also exceptional individuals.
“My passion for law stems from my love of learning, and I believe there's no better way to expand my knowledge than by engaging with the brilliant minds in the legal field,” he says.
A recent summa cum laude graduate of Cooley Law School, and studying for the bar exam in February, Loch is working as a law clerk at Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski in Jackson, where his mother now works.
“I love working with my mom,” he adds. “Growing up, I always told her I was going to try to get a job at her firm when I was an attorney. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity that I do. That aside, I still don’t know whether to call her mom or Heather at work.”
Loch enjoyed his legal studies at Cooley, where highlights included serving on the Law Review’s Editorial Board, receiving the Dawn C. Beachnau award for his contributions and dedication; and gaining valuable practical experience as a student attorney in the Sixty Plus, Inc. Elder Law Clinic, where he assisted senior citizens with their estate planning needs.
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with my fellow Law Review members, who were truly outstanding individuals,” he says. “I also learned an immense amount from the brilliant academics and professionals who submitted their work to the journal.
“In the Elder Law Clinic, it was rewarding to work with clients and play a part in providing an estate plan and, more importantly, peace of mind about the future.
“My most enjoyable experiences at Cooley stemmed from the dedicated professors who were genuinely invested in my success and learning—they fostered an environment where I felt supported,” he adds. “Additionally, the great peers I collaborated with enriched the journey, and the practical legal education equipped me with essential skills for my future career.”
Loch, who grew up in Leslie, between Jackson and Lansing, currently makes his home in Ann Arbor, with his girlfriend Athena.
“We live right around the Big House—even though we’re both Spartans fans,” he says. “We love exploring the city, finding new restaurants, and trying new things.”
But he also owes allegiance to the Lansing and Jackson areas. “It’s so nice to be able to experience other parts of the places where I grew up,” he says. “It’s comforting to be near familiar places while also experiencing their vibrant communities.”
Loch comes from a large family, with six sisters including his twin Hailee and Mia, Sadie, Penny, Cristin, and Elaina.
“And I only had to wait 13 years for my one brother, Eric, to be born,” he says with a smile.
His mother, Heather, and stepdad, Jack, live in Mason, and his father, Tom, and stepmother, Mary, live in Okemos.
“And, of course, I can’t forget about my cat, Beedle, who currently lives with my twin sister out in Maryland,” he says.
In his downtime, Loch enjoys watching Detroit Lions and MSU Spartan football, and is an avid pickleballer. “I recently got a Blackstone grill, so I am planning on mastering that, too,” he says.
Travel is another passion, and he often visits his sister in Maryland; and also makes an annual visit to the beautiful Pipestem State Park in West Virginia.
His favorite travel experience was visiting the historic Palace of Versailles—the 17th century palace of the French king Louis XIV—with his grandmother and sister after high school. A history buff, with undergrad degree in history from Michigan State University, Loch notes he had many great history teachers growing up who made history come to life, and sparked his desire to study history.
“I enjoy history because it satisfies our innate curiosity about where we come from—it’s the foundation of our present and the lens through which we understand our future,” he says.
Legal News
Growing up around a law firm in Lansing, where his mother Heather Kimbrell was a legal assistant, Ethan Loch was inspired by the dedication of great attorneys who were not only skilled professionals but also exceptional individuals.
“My passion for law stems from my love of learning, and I believe there's no better way to expand my knowledge than by engaging with the brilliant minds in the legal field,” he says.
A recent summa cum laude graduate of Cooley Law School, and studying for the bar exam in February, Loch is working as a law clerk at Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski in Jackson, where his mother now works.
“I love working with my mom,” he adds. “Growing up, I always told her I was going to try to get a job at her firm when I was an attorney. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity that I do. That aside, I still don’t know whether to call her mom or Heather at work.”
Loch enjoyed his legal studies at Cooley, where highlights included serving on the Law Review’s Editorial Board, receiving the Dawn C. Beachnau award for his contributions and dedication; and gaining valuable practical experience as a student attorney in the Sixty Plus, Inc. Elder Law Clinic, where he assisted senior citizens with their estate planning needs.
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with my fellow Law Review members, who were truly outstanding individuals,” he says. “I also learned an immense amount from the brilliant academics and professionals who submitted their work to the journal.
“In the Elder Law Clinic, it was rewarding to work with clients and play a part in providing an estate plan and, more importantly, peace of mind about the future.
“My most enjoyable experiences at Cooley stemmed from the dedicated professors who were genuinely invested in my success and learning—they fostered an environment where I felt supported,” he adds. “Additionally, the great peers I collaborated with enriched the journey, and the practical legal education equipped me with essential skills for my future career.”
Loch, who grew up in Leslie, between Jackson and Lansing, currently makes his home in Ann Arbor, with his girlfriend Athena.
“We live right around the Big House—even though we’re both Spartans fans,” he says. “We love exploring the city, finding new restaurants, and trying new things.”
But he also owes allegiance to the Lansing and Jackson areas. “It’s so nice to be able to experience other parts of the places where I grew up,” he says. “It’s comforting to be near familiar places while also experiencing their vibrant communities.”
Loch comes from a large family, with six sisters including his twin Hailee and Mia, Sadie, Penny, Cristin, and Elaina.
“And I only had to wait 13 years for my one brother, Eric, to be born,” he says with a smile.
His mother, Heather, and stepdad, Jack, live in Mason, and his father, Tom, and stepmother, Mary, live in Okemos.
“And, of course, I can’t forget about my cat, Beedle, who currently lives with my twin sister out in Maryland,” he says.
In his downtime, Loch enjoys watching Detroit Lions and MSU Spartan football, and is an avid pickleballer. “I recently got a Blackstone grill, so I am planning on mastering that, too,” he says.
Travel is another passion, and he often visits his sister in Maryland; and also makes an annual visit to the beautiful Pipestem State Park in West Virginia.
His favorite travel experience was visiting the historic Palace of Versailles—the 17th century palace of the French king Louis XIV—with his grandmother and sister after high school. A history buff, with undergrad degree in history from Michigan State University, Loch notes he had many great history teachers growing up who made history come to life, and sparked his desire to study history.
“I enjoy history because it satisfies our innate curiosity about where we come from—it’s the foundation of our present and the lens through which we understand our future,” he says.
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