Celebrating Success:
MSU College of Law Marks a Milestone as Host of Swearing-In Ceremony
Michigan State University College of Law was in the spotlight as host of a momentous event—the Swearing-In Ceremony for five graduates who successfully passed the bar exam. The backdrop for the ceremony was the Law College’s Moot Courtroom where 30th Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilia presided over the life-changing occasion.
In opening remarks and the introduction of Judge Aquilina, Dean Linda Sheryl Greene said, “We are here to celebrate you and all your hard work and tremendous accomplishments. Walt Disney once said ‘If you can dream it, you can do it. Three years ago, you entered the Law College as 1Ls with a dream of becoming a legal professional. You chose the MSU College of Law to achieve that dream. Congratulations on fulfilling your dream.”
Photo Gallery
Frank Harrison; Kyle Gough; Kristina Bilowus, Assistant Director of Career Development; Zachary Wolfer; Dylan Arruda; Lauren Nicholson, Lauren’s Sponsor
Taking the Oath of Attorney
Front row: Alexander Rusek, MSU Alumni Association; Lauren Kissell, President-Elect, Ingham County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section; Dean Greene
Back row: Professor Kevin Douglas and Career Services Office Assistant Dean Alana Glass and Assistant Director Michelle Mitchell
Judge Aquilina and Dean Greene
Kyle, Zachary, Judge Aquilina, Dean Greene, Lauren, Frank, Dylan
The presence of Judge Aquilina added a special flair to the ceremony. The first female JAG Officer in the Michigan Army National Guard, Judge Aquilina added a sense of honor and pride to the occasion, highlighting the strong ties that bind the university, its alumni, and the legal profession.
She shared her sentiments about witnessing the transition of students to lawyers. “It is as if they are my children, seeing them grow from student to lawyer and being able to work with them is amazing. It is as if I am raising a family of lawyers.”
The Judge’s sentiment about the nurturing and supportive environment fostered within the MSU College of Law was echoed by two of the new lawyers. Lauren Nicholson and Dylan Arruda shared their thoughts on the transformative journey from law students to lawyers. Also sworn in were Kyle Gough, Frank Harrison, and Zachary Wolfer.
“The experiential learning at Michigan State Law is second-to-none,” said Ms. Nicholson. She emphasized the invaluable experience of understanding the legal field before entering it. Ms. Nicholson expressed gratitude for the unexpected bonds formed with professors, stating, “MSU was a great experience for me because I was able to form good relationships with all my professors, which is not something I expected when going into Law School.”
Newly minted lawyer Mr. Arruda says he chose MSU Law because of its renowned reputation. “I came to MSU because it had name recognition. The school’s reputation is earned and recognized.” He highlighted the MSU Law faculty, whom he now considers friends. “The faculty here is fantastic. They’re people I grew very close with when I was studying here, and I still consider them friends to this day. It’s a very supportive and open environment.”
During the ceremony, these newly sworn-in lawyers reinforced a recurring theme of commitment to creating a better world through their legal practice. Their dedication to justice, ethics, and making a positive impact on society was evident in their words and actions. Judge Aquilina responded to their collective commitment to shaping a better future as legal professionals, “We cannot wait to see where these new lawyers go.”