Change of Plans
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Law student Kraig McAllister launched his career trajectory with his first passion, the business world, earning an undergrad degree in advertising from Western Michigan University. When his “Introduction to Business” class was taught by the head of the WMU advertising department, he knew he had found his calling.
After graduation, McAllister took a job as an assistant media planner with Carat in Detroit, involved with advertising for Chevy and then for Cadillac; and mostly involved with tracking how brands were performing in the south-central portion of the U.S.
But Lady Justice always had McAllister in her sights.
“Law school had been something I’d considered for a while, but decided to test my feet in corporate America for a little bit after undergrad,” he says.
Unfortunately, his department was laid off 18 months later.
“It was a serious moment of self-reflection as I contemplated what exactly I wanted to do with my professional life moving forward,” he says.
“It was around this time I started to take some of the practice LSAT exams and see what I could do. I had fun with it and decided to give the test a try. Next thing I know, I’m applying for law school. Funny how life comes at you like that.”
Now a 1L student at Detroit Mercy Law, McAllister is enjoying the experience.
“The thing I enjoy most so far is the people—I’ve been really lucky to align myself with some amazing classmates who are helpful, kind, and beyond intelligent,” he says.
“I also have had some excellent guidance from my TAs as well as the counseling staff.
“Being a Dean’s Fellow is beyond a huge honor in my eyes,” he adds. “When I first started applying to law school, I had no idea this opportunity would even present itself. It’s truly a privilege to stand next to the other Fellows and represent this school.”
Although McAllister is keeping an open mind about what type of law he will eventually practice, his current interest is the field of sports and entertainment law.
“The sports cases and arbitration debacles in my contracts class are some of my favorite topics,” he says.
He is interested in Moot Court and Law Review; and in finding an internship, although that process is on hold during the pandemic crisis. Adjusting to classes online has been a bit of a difficult transition, he says.
“It was always nice to be able to talk to your professors one-on-one in their office,” he says. “Not having to worry about Internet connections was also nice — my feed always seems to cut out just as the professor is getting to the height of the argument.”
After graduation and passing the bar, McAllister would like to work at a firm in Detroit or the Metro Detroit to stay close to family.
McAllister’s father served in the U.S. Navy and the family moved around a fair bit. McAllister was born in Virginia Beach, Va., and spent boyhood years there, before the family moved to Saratoga Springs in New York State. After his father left the Navy, the family moved to Taylor, where McAllister still makes his home, owning his own house and living with a former college roommate.
In his leisure time, McAllister enjoys sports, engaging in fantasy sports as much as possible, as well as real-life athletic endeavors, including disc golf.
He volunteers for food banks, donates to the Salvation Army, helps his mother and sister in their volunteer work with a women’s shelter; and the whole family takes part in Adopt-A-Family each December.
“We buy presents for those who would otherwise not have much of a Christmas—it’s a fun way of paying it forward and getting into the holiday,” he says.
McAllister’s parents and sister live in Monroe, where his father is a nuclear operator for Fermi. McAllister’s sister Amber, who has a degree in supply chain management and works for an electrical distributor in Michigan, is studying to take the LSAT with a view to a possible legal career.
“They’ve all been an incredible support system and I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me,” McAllister says. “I would not be where I am today without them in my corner and I firmly believe that.
“My close friends in law school are a great support system and make me a better person as well. Law school has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to my limits at times. Despite this, the staff and my professors have been helpful and encouraging in my journey to become a better student and person. As always, Go Titans!”
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