Zenell Brown
It’s a season of celebration in the legal community, and I implore every law school student, graduate, practitioner and judge to celebrate to the fullest.
Case in point: 31 years ago, I graduated from law school. Life was “lifing” as they say, and I didn’t attend the graduation ceremony. I was just grateful to be graduating — the school could mail the degree. No regrets. Since then, my focus for celebration has always been the swearing-in ceremonies of new lawyers.
But this month, a graduate invited me to attend her law school ceremony —f rom the same school I graduated from. It was a workday, and she didn’t have an extra ticket, so I figured I’d just catch up with her later. Then, three days before the event, Georgé A. Cole found an extra ticket. I rearranged my schedule and headed to downtown Detroit.
At the parking garage, the cashier asked if I was there for a graduate. “Yes — my niece,” I told her. I proudly hold honorary auntie status in the Detroit legal community so I have probably 70 nieces and nephews in law school or recently admitted to the Bar. The cashier waved me through without charging me the $35 for parking.
However, when I reached the ticket window, I was told all of Georgé A.’s tickets had been claimed. Georgé A. didn’t answer her phone when I called. I started walking toward Buddy’s Pizza to wait out the traffic. I’d just celebrate with her another time. But something told me to turn back — and when I did, one ticket had just been returned.
In the auditorium, I took my seat in the back on the first level and watched Georgé A. walk across the stage with the dean and board of directors. On May 12, 2025, in front of the full house of Wayne Law School graduates, faculty, and guests, Georgé A. said, “We must all remember the wise words of attorney Zenell Brown: Lift as we climb.”
I let out a Detroit westside whoop and holler, and church lady “Amen!”
Thirty-one years later and my name was being called out in the Wayne State Law commencement ceremony. Yes, it does matter that we take time for celebrations. Life will always be “lifing,” but it is only once in life that someone will call your name to receive your degree. If you are thinking about just skipping over that moment, don’t. In fact, don’t skip over any opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments with your family and friends. Your celebration is also an acknowledgment of their support in helping you cross the challenges you encountered while reaching the goal.
I look forward to seeing the new lawyers at the Detroit Bar’s June swearing in ceremony because that is special, but it’s all the more sweeter now that I was able to metaphorically finally turn my tassel from right to left.
Case in point: 31 years ago, I graduated from law school. Life was “lifing” as they say, and I didn’t attend the graduation ceremony. I was just grateful to be graduating — the school could mail the degree. No regrets. Since then, my focus for celebration has always been the swearing-in ceremonies of new lawyers.
But this month, a graduate invited me to attend her law school ceremony —f rom the same school I graduated from. It was a workday, and she didn’t have an extra ticket, so I figured I’d just catch up with her later. Then, three days before the event, Georgé A. Cole found an extra ticket. I rearranged my schedule and headed to downtown Detroit.
At the parking garage, the cashier asked if I was there for a graduate. “Yes — my niece,” I told her. I proudly hold honorary auntie status in the Detroit legal community so I have probably 70 nieces and nephews in law school or recently admitted to the Bar. The cashier waved me through without charging me the $35 for parking.
However, when I reached the ticket window, I was told all of Georgé A.’s tickets had been claimed. Georgé A. didn’t answer her phone when I called. I started walking toward Buddy’s Pizza to wait out the traffic. I’d just celebrate with her another time. But something told me to turn back — and when I did, one ticket had just been returned.
In the auditorium, I took my seat in the back on the first level and watched Georgé A. walk across the stage with the dean and board of directors. On May 12, 2025, in front of the full house of Wayne Law School graduates, faculty, and guests, Georgé A. said, “We must all remember the wise words of attorney Zenell Brown: Lift as we climb.”
I let out a Detroit westside whoop and holler, and church lady “Amen!”
Thirty-one years later and my name was being called out in the Wayne State Law commencement ceremony. Yes, it does matter that we take time for celebrations. Life will always be “lifing,” but it is only once in life that someone will call your name to receive your degree. If you are thinking about just skipping over that moment, don’t. In fact, don’t skip over any opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments with your family and friends. Your celebration is also an acknowledgment of their support in helping you cross the challenges you encountered while reaching the goal.
I look forward to seeing the new lawyers at the Detroit Bar’s June swearing in ceremony because that is special, but it’s all the more sweeter now that I was able to metaphorically finally turn my tassel from right to left.
Georgé A. Cole
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