Detroit Mercy Law student Ian Wilson has set his future career sights on a judicial position.
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Ian Wilson became fascinated with the law when he participated in a high school mock trial. “The system itself and acting as a lawyer was very interesting as I didn't have much experience with courts or the legal world,” he says.
Also active in robotics, Wilson originally set his sights on engineering, but went on to earn his undergrad degree in criminal justice from the University of Michigan-Flint.
“Becoming a lawyer actually seemed exciting,” Wilson says. “This led me down the rabbit hole of criminal justice.”
But Wilson fell off the law track after a particularly bad outing for mock trial.
“I did so poor with my objections that the opposing counsel ran laps around me,” he says. “However, my flame got reignited when one of my professors encouraged me in undergrad. I had her for a random science lab, and she wanted me to help with research for the next several years. While I was unable to help due to scheduling conflicts, she encouraged me to chase my dreams—and that she could tell I was capable of great things. This completely renewed my desire to become a lawyer.”
Accepting a scholarship for Detroit Mercy Law, Wilson also enjoys the school’s location.
“I thought Detroit and the school itself was cool to be around,” he says. “It’s been awesome to see and be a part of Detroit's revitalization these last couple of years. The diversity of our law school really illustrates this as well considering the people from different walks of life that make the city what it is.”
He particularly appreciates his fellow students and faculty.
“I think we have insanely knowledgeable professors and our school offers so many amazing opportunities,” he says. “Our school isn't very flashy, but I think the school does everything right where it counts. That goes for the students all the way up to the administrators. Everyone feels like they're firing on all cylinders.”
Wilson is serving as the 2025-2026 Executive Articles Editor for Law Review.
“Other people in Law Review think I'm crazy, but I love editing articles,” he says. “I wasn't all that interested in writing my own article when I joined Law Review. What I wanted to do was help other articles get published! I joined the editorial board for this purpose. I think I pay great attention to detail so I enjoy catching errors and making minor improvements.”
Last year, Wilson externed for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, working with Magistrate Judge Curtis Ivy in Flint.
“I thought it was great,” he says. “I think we make a great deal about looking professional and being formal with one another, but my experience with federal court was far from that. Don't get me wrong—the people I dealt with were extremely qualified for their positions, they were just much more relaxed than I would've thought. It just shows how you can do your job well without being overly uptight.
“The externship also gave me a great look into what typical proceedings look like. It’s rather disheartening to see the many people that go through the courts every week, but it's the reality of our profession. That experience was necessary for my legal career.”
Wilson is passionate about his legal calling.
“It's especially hackneyed amongst lawyers, but I truly want to make a difference and help others,” he says. “There are so many people in the world that need help with the law or they will face serious consequences. Our profession inspires some individuals to do underhanded things in order to ruin the lives of people they don't like. I would like to be the opposite of that. I want to help protect people under attack from those who use courts as a game rather than a form of justice.
“I've always leaned toward the less desirable forms of lawyering—this being family law or criminal defense,” he adds. “Both areas feature people in dire need of legal aid, which I would like to one day help with.”
Wilson has also set his future sights on a judicial position.
“I think I'm an incredibly fair person and that I'm able to separate my own feelings from my work—this, in my opinion, would make me an excellent judge,” he says.
Wilson’s father is a school administrator and his mother is a social worker; and his family includes his sister, stepmother, and two stepbrothers.
“I love them dearly and try to visit when I'm not buried under law school,” Wilson says. “Special shoutout to my aunt and uncle who let me stay with them during law school.”
Away from his legal studies Wilson loves watching anything sports or anything live.
“Not knowing the outcome of things and then learning them will always be exciting to me,” he says. “I rarely play games by myself, but when I hang out with friends and family it seems like that’s all I do. I love playing cards when I have the time and enough people to play with. That’s how I prefer spending my free time—seeing my friends and family in person and having a great time.”
Legal News
Ian Wilson became fascinated with the law when he participated in a high school mock trial. “The system itself and acting as a lawyer was very interesting as I didn't have much experience with courts or the legal world,” he says.
Also active in robotics, Wilson originally set his sights on engineering, but went on to earn his undergrad degree in criminal justice from the University of Michigan-Flint.
“Becoming a lawyer actually seemed exciting,” Wilson says. “This led me down the rabbit hole of criminal justice.”
But Wilson fell off the law track after a particularly bad outing for mock trial.
“I did so poor with my objections that the opposing counsel ran laps around me,” he says. “However, my flame got reignited when one of my professors encouraged me in undergrad. I had her for a random science lab, and she wanted me to help with research for the next several years. While I was unable to help due to scheduling conflicts, she encouraged me to chase my dreams—and that she could tell I was capable of great things. This completely renewed my desire to become a lawyer.”
Accepting a scholarship for Detroit Mercy Law, Wilson also enjoys the school’s location.
“I thought Detroit and the school itself was cool to be around,” he says. “It’s been awesome to see and be a part of Detroit's revitalization these last couple of years. The diversity of our law school really illustrates this as well considering the people from different walks of life that make the city what it is.”
He particularly appreciates his fellow students and faculty.
“I think we have insanely knowledgeable professors and our school offers so many amazing opportunities,” he says. “Our school isn't very flashy, but I think the school does everything right where it counts. That goes for the students all the way up to the administrators. Everyone feels like they're firing on all cylinders.”
Wilson is serving as the 2025-2026 Executive Articles Editor for Law Review.
“Other people in Law Review think I'm crazy, but I love editing articles,” he says. “I wasn't all that interested in writing my own article when I joined Law Review. What I wanted to do was help other articles get published! I joined the editorial board for this purpose. I think I pay great attention to detail so I enjoy catching errors and making minor improvements.”
Last year, Wilson externed for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, working with Magistrate Judge Curtis Ivy in Flint.
“I thought it was great,” he says. “I think we make a great deal about looking professional and being formal with one another, but my experience with federal court was far from that. Don't get me wrong—the people I dealt with were extremely qualified for their positions, they were just much more relaxed than I would've thought. It just shows how you can do your job well without being overly uptight.
“The externship also gave me a great look into what typical proceedings look like. It’s rather disheartening to see the many people that go through the courts every week, but it's the reality of our profession. That experience was necessary for my legal career.”
Wilson is passionate about his legal calling.
“It's especially hackneyed amongst lawyers, but I truly want to make a difference and help others,” he says. “There are so many people in the world that need help with the law or they will face serious consequences. Our profession inspires some individuals to do underhanded things in order to ruin the lives of people they don't like. I would like to be the opposite of that. I want to help protect people under attack from those who use courts as a game rather than a form of justice.
“I've always leaned toward the less desirable forms of lawyering—this being family law or criminal defense,” he adds. “Both areas feature people in dire need of legal aid, which I would like to one day help with.”
Wilson has also set his future sights on a judicial position.
“I think I'm an incredibly fair person and that I'm able to separate my own feelings from my work—this, in my opinion, would make me an excellent judge,” he says.
Wilson’s father is a school administrator and his mother is a social worker; and his family includes his sister, stepmother, and two stepbrothers.
“I love them dearly and try to visit when I'm not buried under law school,” Wilson says. “Special shoutout to my aunt and uncle who let me stay with them during law school.”
Away from his legal studies Wilson loves watching anything sports or anything live.
“Not knowing the outcome of things and then learning them will always be exciting to me,” he says. “I rarely play games by myself, but when I hang out with friends and family it seems like that’s all I do. I love playing cards when I have the time and enough people to play with. That’s how I prefer spending my free time—seeing my friends and family in person and having a great time.”
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