Maggie Simons is a 1L student at Wayne Law, on a full-ride merit scholarship.
By Julie Freer
Legal News
From a young age, Maggie Simons had an interest in science, which she followed with curiosity throughout her primary and secondary educations.
Simons, 22, grew up in East Detroit (now known as Eastpointe) and was raised by a single mom who put her education above everything else.
“She chose to enroll me in a school of choice that was far from both home and her work for the sole purpose of me receiving a good education,” said Simons. “She provided me with the groundwork to work hard for the things that matter in life.”
That foundation allowed Simons to flourish. She attended the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center, an advanced magnet program while in high school, and recently graduated from Kettering University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a minor in biochemistry and pre-law.
In July, Simons began work as an Intellectual Property intern with Howard & Howard Attorneys in Royal Oak after spending more than three years with the firm as a part of Kettering’s Co-op Program, where students gain real-world work experience while completing their degree.
Through her work at Howard & Howard, Simons is building her foundation in IP law. This fall, she will begin law school at Wayne State University on a full-ride merit scholarship.
A passion and curiosity for science
While in high school, Simons knew she wanted to use her science skills in a future career, but she wasn’t sure what that would be yet. Her role model in her youth – and still today – is Gordon Ramsay, the celebrity chef and restauranteur.
“Gordon has a fierce drive towards challenges, and I have always looked up to that,” said Simons. “He approaches his cooking like I approach my career; learn everything you can about it, become an expert, apply it, and always be open to new opportunities. Gordon has a great passion towards his work, and so do I. He taught me if you are going to do something, you should do it wholeheartedly.”
At the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center, Simons performed a research project on the antibiotic resistance growth in E. Coli using tetracycline and various levels of heat, comparing the growth of both the E. Coli and the antibiotic-resistant strains in the E. Coli.
“While this project may seem a bore to some, I was excited every day to come into the lab and work on something that mattered,” said Simons.
Simons credits her science education in high school with fostering her interest in chemical engineering at Kettering.
She won Kettering’s Outstanding Thesis Award for her project - “Improving Drafting Efficiency for Patent Applications Using Generative Artificial Intelligence,” which focused on using large language models to generate technically accurate text that conforms to legal best practices in intellectual property, thereby shortening the process of obtaining patent rights.
“I chose this topic because artificial intelligence is a growing technology that is quickly being integrated into various industries,” said Simons. “Utilizing the skills artificial intelligence has to offer is my way of understanding artificial intelligence and growing other technology with it.”
Simons has been involved with the Society of Women Engineers since 2021, which she credits with helping her gracefully navigate spaces where women often have less representation.
“The Society of Women Engineers provided me the toolkit to handle interpersonal and professional conflicts civilly,” said Simons. “I was fortunate enough to receive the Lillian Moller Gilbreth Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to an individual who has accomplishments reflecting qualities that Dr. Gilbreth, often referred to as the ‘First Lady of Engineering,’ exemplified throughout her career. Receiving both personal and financial support from the Society of Women Engineers has crafted my education and work experience in an irreversibly positive way.”
A future in IP law
As Simons transitions her work at Howard & Howard from the Kettering Co-Op Program to serving as an IP intern, many of the same responsibilities will continue with more independence.
“I will be drafting more patent applications on my own, conducting more patentability and state of the art searches with less direction, and providing further educated and informed opinions on cases,” said Simons, who also represents Howard & Howard on two committees related to IP.
On the Artificial Intelligence, Data & New Emerging Technologies committee, members study how the increased use of AI in generating documents poses potential challenges to the patent prosecution process.
On the Green Intellectual Property committee, the group studies how IP law can affect the environment when counterfeit products are incinerated or landfilled.
As Simons heads to WSU Law School this fall, she is grateful for her experiences with Kettering University and Howard & Howard Attorneys.
“Having the opportunity to work at a law firm before even starting law school assured me that I was pursuing a path that was right for me both professionally and personally,” said Simons. “My original career of choice was to become a researcher, but because of the opportunities afforded to me, I came to realize how much the field of intellectual property law has to offer.”
As she establishes her career as an IP lawyer, Simons has a particular interest in assisting inventors who are innovating in the medical field or in green technologies.
No stranger to a heavy work load, Simons finds balance by staying social and finding time to do the things she loves like hiking and reading. Progress keeps her motivated.
“You don’t see your progress right away, but when you look back on your accomplishments, you can appreciate how far you have already come and how much further you can go,” said Simons.
Legal News
From a young age, Maggie Simons had an interest in science, which she followed with curiosity throughout her primary and secondary educations.
Simons, 22, grew up in East Detroit (now known as Eastpointe) and was raised by a single mom who put her education above everything else.
“She chose to enroll me in a school of choice that was far from both home and her work for the sole purpose of me receiving a good education,” said Simons. “She provided me with the groundwork to work hard for the things that matter in life.”
That foundation allowed Simons to flourish. She attended the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center, an advanced magnet program while in high school, and recently graduated from Kettering University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a minor in biochemistry and pre-law.
In July, Simons began work as an Intellectual Property intern with Howard & Howard Attorneys in Royal Oak after spending more than three years with the firm as a part of Kettering’s Co-op Program, where students gain real-world work experience while completing their degree.
Through her work at Howard & Howard, Simons is building her foundation in IP law. This fall, she will begin law school at Wayne State University on a full-ride merit scholarship.
A passion and curiosity for science
While in high school, Simons knew she wanted to use her science skills in a future career, but she wasn’t sure what that would be yet. Her role model in her youth – and still today – is Gordon Ramsay, the celebrity chef and restauranteur.
“Gordon has a fierce drive towards challenges, and I have always looked up to that,” said Simons. “He approaches his cooking like I approach my career; learn everything you can about it, become an expert, apply it, and always be open to new opportunities. Gordon has a great passion towards his work, and so do I. He taught me if you are going to do something, you should do it wholeheartedly.”
At the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center, Simons performed a research project on the antibiotic resistance growth in E. Coli using tetracycline and various levels of heat, comparing the growth of both the E. Coli and the antibiotic-resistant strains in the E. Coli.
“While this project may seem a bore to some, I was excited every day to come into the lab and work on something that mattered,” said Simons.
Simons credits her science education in high school with fostering her interest in chemical engineering at Kettering.
She won Kettering’s Outstanding Thesis Award for her project - “Improving Drafting Efficiency for Patent Applications Using Generative Artificial Intelligence,” which focused on using large language models to generate technically accurate text that conforms to legal best practices in intellectual property, thereby shortening the process of obtaining patent rights.
“I chose this topic because artificial intelligence is a growing technology that is quickly being integrated into various industries,” said Simons. “Utilizing the skills artificial intelligence has to offer is my way of understanding artificial intelligence and growing other technology with it.”
Simons has been involved with the Society of Women Engineers since 2021, which she credits with helping her gracefully navigate spaces where women often have less representation.
“The Society of Women Engineers provided me the toolkit to handle interpersonal and professional conflicts civilly,” said Simons. “I was fortunate enough to receive the Lillian Moller Gilbreth Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to an individual who has accomplishments reflecting qualities that Dr. Gilbreth, often referred to as the ‘First Lady of Engineering,’ exemplified throughout her career. Receiving both personal and financial support from the Society of Women Engineers has crafted my education and work experience in an irreversibly positive way.”
A future in IP law
As Simons transitions her work at Howard & Howard from the Kettering Co-Op Program to serving as an IP intern, many of the same responsibilities will continue with more independence.
“I will be drafting more patent applications on my own, conducting more patentability and state of the art searches with less direction, and providing further educated and informed opinions on cases,” said Simons, who also represents Howard & Howard on two committees related to IP.
On the Artificial Intelligence, Data & New Emerging Technologies committee, members study how the increased use of AI in generating documents poses potential challenges to the patent prosecution process.
On the Green Intellectual Property committee, the group studies how IP law can affect the environment when counterfeit products are incinerated or landfilled.
As Simons heads to WSU Law School this fall, she is grateful for her experiences with Kettering University and Howard & Howard Attorneys.
“Having the opportunity to work at a law firm before even starting law school assured me that I was pursuing a path that was right for me both professionally and personally,” said Simons. “My original career of choice was to become a researcher, but because of the opportunities afforded to me, I came to realize how much the field of intellectual property law has to offer.”
As she establishes her career as an IP lawyer, Simons has a particular interest in assisting inventors who are innovating in the medical field or in green technologies.
No stranger to a heavy work load, Simons finds balance by staying social and finding time to do the things she loves like hiking and reading. Progress keeps her motivated.
“You don’t see your progress right away, but when you look back on your accomplishments, you can appreciate how far you have already come and how much further you can go,” said Simons.
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