By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Law student Zvy Ponce de Leon got her first taste of the legal field by earning an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, along with her high school diploma, from Washtenaw Technical Middle College in Ann Arbor, after attending Wayne-Westland schools through her freshman year of high school.
With her interest in the law sparked, she went on to earn a B.Sc. degree in legal assistant/paralegal studies from Eastern Michigan University.
“At this point, I knew law school was an option, but I wasn’t quite sure this was something that I wanted to do—as a first-generation college student, graduate school seemed daunting,” she said.
What flipped the coin was an undergrad internship at the EMU Legal Resource Center in the Washtenaw County Trial Court in Ann Arbor, where de Leon and her peers provided court forms and general information about the court system to the public.
“We encountered many individuals and families — most of whom could not afford attorneys — and most of whom were going through probate, divorce, and custody cases,” she said. “These encounters moved me and made me realize the outcomes of many of these families’ cases were limited because of their lack of legal representation.
“This is when I began seriously considering law school — I felt limited as a student and paralegal as to the help I could provide, and desired to have a more lasting impact.”
She spent two years as a paralegal in the Ford Credit Legal Office, working with an attorney supporting commercial transactions by drafting legal and loan documents for North American Ford dealers and intercreditor agreements with third party lenders.
Heading to Detroit Mercy Law in August, with a Fellows Award that covers 100 percent of tuition was influenced both by her experience at the Legal Resource Center, and by her faith.
“My experience at the Legal Resource Center weighed heavy on my heart, which prompted me to turn to my faith more seriously,” she said. “After countless hours of praying for the families I encountered, and praying about the decision to apply to law school, I came to the realization I wanted to leverage my talents and abilities to serve the community, and ultimately, to serve God. Detroit Mercy Law is unique in that it is founded on the Jesuit and Mercy traditions. I’m thankful I can ground my legal education on my Catholic faith.”
She appreciates the invaluable advantage of having had previous real-world experience.
“Having the practical knowledge now crossed with the conceptual knowledge has helped some things ‘click,’” de Leon said. “Also, the skills of discipline and attention to detail that my job molded me to have are invaluable assets to me as a law student.”
“Her past experiences have made de Leon passionate about the law: her education, her legal experience, and, most importantly, her hard-working parents, who encouraged their five children to pursue challenges and reach outside their comfort zones.
“Although it was difficult to leave my job at Ford to pursue law school full time, I know there’s much work to be done in the world, and our community members are waiting on our ‘Yes’ to serve them,” she said. “The unwavering support I received from my parents and family was what ultimately allowed me to pursue this passion.”
Although uncertain what area of law she would ultimately like to pursue, de Leon currently is interested in immigration law and/or business law; and also hopes to become involved with the law school’s St. Thomas More Society.
“I want to ensure I use this generous scholarship to bear fruit in our society, whatever legal capacity that may be,” she said. “I’m reminded that, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’
“In the long run, my goal is to be a mother. I plan to use my experience at Detroit Mercy Law to become a great lawyer and balance these areas of life. I hope to be an example for my future children, along with my husband.”
de Leon and her husband, Steven Ortega, married in July, make their home in the Oakland County city of Auburn Hills.
A Detroit native, she is a graduate of Wayne-Westland Community Schools, where during high school she volunteered as secretary of the nonprofit Windrose Project, Detroit Chapter, an organization that served to inspire young Americans to become active and informed leaders in their community.
“Our student-led team organized monthly service projects, seminars, and fellowship activities for adolescents and young adults,” de Leon said. “Although Windrose is not around anymore, I’m thankful for this experience because it challenged me to grow in leadership and shaped my world view.”
Legal News
Law student Zvy Ponce de Leon got her first taste of the legal field by earning an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, along with her high school diploma, from Washtenaw Technical Middle College in Ann Arbor, after attending Wayne-Westland schools through her freshman year of high school.
With her interest in the law sparked, she went on to earn a B.Sc. degree in legal assistant/paralegal studies from Eastern Michigan University.
“At this point, I knew law school was an option, but I wasn’t quite sure this was something that I wanted to do—as a first-generation college student, graduate school seemed daunting,” she said.
What flipped the coin was an undergrad internship at the EMU Legal Resource Center in the Washtenaw County Trial Court in Ann Arbor, where de Leon and her peers provided court forms and general information about the court system to the public.
“We encountered many individuals and families — most of whom could not afford attorneys — and most of whom were going through probate, divorce, and custody cases,” she said. “These encounters moved me and made me realize the outcomes of many of these families’ cases were limited because of their lack of legal representation.
“This is when I began seriously considering law school — I felt limited as a student and paralegal as to the help I could provide, and desired to have a more lasting impact.”
She spent two years as a paralegal in the Ford Credit Legal Office, working with an attorney supporting commercial transactions by drafting legal and loan documents for North American Ford dealers and intercreditor agreements with third party lenders.
Heading to Detroit Mercy Law in August, with a Fellows Award that covers 100 percent of tuition was influenced both by her experience at the Legal Resource Center, and by her faith.
“My experience at the Legal Resource Center weighed heavy on my heart, which prompted me to turn to my faith more seriously,” she said. “After countless hours of praying for the families I encountered, and praying about the decision to apply to law school, I came to the realization I wanted to leverage my talents and abilities to serve the community, and ultimately, to serve God. Detroit Mercy Law is unique in that it is founded on the Jesuit and Mercy traditions. I’m thankful I can ground my legal education on my Catholic faith.”
She appreciates the invaluable advantage of having had previous real-world experience.
“Having the practical knowledge now crossed with the conceptual knowledge has helped some things ‘click,’” de Leon said. “Also, the skills of discipline and attention to detail that my job molded me to have are invaluable assets to me as a law student.”
“Her past experiences have made de Leon passionate about the law: her education, her legal experience, and, most importantly, her hard-working parents, who encouraged their five children to pursue challenges and reach outside their comfort zones.
“Although it was difficult to leave my job at Ford to pursue law school full time, I know there’s much work to be done in the world, and our community members are waiting on our ‘Yes’ to serve them,” she said. “The unwavering support I received from my parents and family was what ultimately allowed me to pursue this passion.”
Although uncertain what area of law she would ultimately like to pursue, de Leon currently is interested in immigration law and/or business law; and also hopes to become involved with the law school’s St. Thomas More Society.
“I want to ensure I use this generous scholarship to bear fruit in our society, whatever legal capacity that may be,” she said. “I’m reminded that, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’
“In the long run, my goal is to be a mother. I plan to use my experience at Detroit Mercy Law to become a great lawyer and balance these areas of life. I hope to be an example for my future children, along with my husband.”
de Leon and her husband, Steven Ortega, married in July, make their home in the Oakland County city of Auburn Hills.
A Detroit native, she is a graduate of Wayne-Westland Community Schools, where during high school she volunteered as secretary of the nonprofit Windrose Project, Detroit Chapter, an organization that served to inspire young Americans to become active and informed leaders in their community.
“Our student-led team organized monthly service projects, seminars, and fellowship activities for adolescents and young adults,” de Leon said. “Although Windrose is not around anymore, I’m thankful for this experience because it challenged me to grow in leadership and shaped my world view.”
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