Cooley Law School

Helping clients through life-changing moments is one of the most rewarding parts of practicing law. Cooley Law School graduate and attorney Shane Goodale (Hilligan Class, 2012) recently helped his friends navigate the adoption process and grow their family. Read more about their story and the impact of his work in this Legal News feature: https://hubs.ly/Q04kYT0d0.

Congratulations to Cooley Alumnus Jon Cooper (Fellows Class, 1997) who was named the 2026 Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL's top coach.

Cooper of Lightning wins Jack Adams Award as top NHL coach | NHL.com Guided Tampa Bay to 50-win season, 9th straight playoff berth

Inside the Innocence Movement
A Panel Discussion with the Freed and Exonerated
Featuring Exonerees George and Melvin DeJesus and Dell Crawford
Sunday, June 14, 1 p.m.
Cooley Law School – Lobby
300 S Capitol Ave.
Lansing, MI 48933

George DeJesus and Melvin DeJesus were exonerated on March 22, 2022, after 25 years in prison, while Crawford was exonerated on March 24 after serving 17 years in prison.

This event is free and open to the public.

Visit https://hubs.ly/Q04kgkWh0 to learn more about the Cooley Innocence Project.

Recent Cooley Law School graduate Aimee Lorencz is turning years of professional experience and a passion for justice into a future career in criminal law. In a feature published by Legal News, Lorencz reflects on her journey from working as a correctional officer and CPS investigator to earning her law degree while balancing family, work, and leadership responsibilities.

As a weekend/blended student, Lorencz immersed herself in hands-on learning opportunities including externships, moot court competitions, the Cooley Innocence Project, and student leadership roles. Her experiences strengthened her passion for criminal law, ethics, and advocacy.

Read more about Aimee's story here: https://hubs.ly/Q04jghg70.

Photo: Aimee Lorenz at graduation with her father Jeffrey Thueme.

The Cooley community mourns the loss of Gordon Boardman while celebrating a life rich in achievement, creativity and service.

Gordon C. Boardman (Marston Class, 1978) helped shape the essence of Cooley Law School from its earliest days as a pioneer in the school’s founding era, a dedicated alumnus, and a gifted artist whose generosity and creativity left a lasting mark on the institution and all who knew him.

Boardman attended Cooley when the law school was just beginning its mission of expanding access to legal education. Like many of Cooley’s earliest graduates, he laid the foundation of the law school’s character and legacy through his intellect, determination, and commitment to community.

While Boardman built a distinguished legal career, he was equally recognized for his remarkable talent as an artist. His work was exhibited from Detroit to New York and earned praise from respected critics across the country. Yet despite his accomplishments, Boardman remained deeply connected to the Cooley community.

Learn more about Gordon Boardman's lasting legacy: https://hubs.ly/Q04j2wx90.

We invite you to join us for the 35th Annual Cooley Cup: Cooley Golf Classic on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at The Emerald Golf Course in St. Johns, MI.

35th Annual Cooley Cup: Cooley Golf Classic
Thursday, June 25, 2026
10:00 a.m. Shotgun Start
The Emerald Golf Course, 2300 West Maple Rapids Road, St. Johns, MI 48879

FOUR-PERSON TEAM – $600
INDIVIDUAL GOLFER – $150
EXCLUSIVE HOLE SPONSOR – $600

REGISTER NOW: https://hubs.ly/Q04hhVCC0

If you have questions regarding sponsorship opportunities or registration, please contact the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office at [email protected].

With heavy hearts, we remember Polly Brennan and reflect on the lasting impact she made on the Cooley community.

Few individuals have embodied the story and spirit of Cooley Law School more profoundly than Polly Brennan. While generations of graduates have come to know the vision and determination of Cooley’s founder, the late Michigan Supreme Court Justice Thomas E. Brennan Sr., those closest to the law school recognize that behind that vision stood a steadfast partner whose belief, sacrifice, and encouragement helped turn an ambitious dream into a lasting institution.

To many in the Cooley community, Polly was far more than the wife of the school’s founder. She was a witness to the law school’s earliest moments, a trusted advisor during its most uncertain days, and a constant source of encouragement for those who supported her husband’s vision. Judge Brennan himself often referred to her lovingly as his “sainted wife, Polly,” a tribute that reflected both his affection and his deep appreciation for her unwavering support.

Learn more about Polly Brennan's incredible influence among the thousands of Cooley graduates whose lives have been transformed by the opportunities she helped make possible: https://hubs.ly/Q04hwHWd0.

From leading the Student Bar Association to mentoring fellow students as Lead Dean’s Fellow, Cooley Law School graduate William Bowman built a law school experience centered on leadership, collaboration, and community.

Now beginning his career in civil litigation, Bowman reflects on the professors, classmates, and hands-on opportunities that helped shape his path to practice.

Read more about his journey in Legal News. https://hubs.ly/Q04hb-wG0

Congratulations to our newest attorneys, Chelsea Orito and Joshua Pang, who took part in a bar swearing-in ceremony on May 18 with the Hon. Rosemarie Aquilina, of the 30th Circuit Court in Lansing. Your dedication, perseverance, and hard work have led to this important milestone, and the Cooley Community is proud to celebrate this achievement with you.

This year, we’re proud to honor the 25th anniversary of the Cooley Innocence Project and celebrate 25 years of advocacy, exonerations, and impact across Michigan.

“For 25 years, the Cooley Innocence Project has helped prove the innocence of Michigan residents who have been wrongly convicted by our justice system,” said Ann Garant, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project. “Our staff and student interns strongly believe in the Cooley Innocence Project’s mission of restoring freedom to the wrongfully incarcerated and raising public awareness through advocacy and education.”

In honor of its 25th anniversary, the Cooley Innocence Project is hosting a gala on Sept. 19 at Grewal Hall in Lansing. The event, featuring NBC Dateline Producer Dan Slepian, an advocate for the innocence movement, as the keynote speaker will begin at 6 p.m. More information about purchasing tickets to the gala or supporting the work of the Cooley Innocence project can be found at https://hubs.ly/Q04fZnv90. Organizations interested in scheduling the Cooley Innocence Project for speaking engagements can contact Ann Garant at [email protected].

Watch the video and read the story to learn more about the people, cases, and mission: https://hubs.ly/Q04fZF7D0.

Cooley Innocence Project 25th Anniversary Cooley Law School will host a 25th Anniversary Gala honoring the legacy and impact of the Cooley Innocence Project on Sat, Sept 19, 2026, at Grewal Hall in Lansing, Michigan.