Detroit Mercy Law student Ebony Daniels received the Laurel F. McGiffert Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship given by Plunkett Cooney.
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Detroit Mercy Law student Ebony Daniels first became passionate about law when she began to understand and recognize the seriousness of the underrepresentation of African American attorneys and the overrepresentation of African Americans in the criminal justice system.
“My passion deepened when I realized that law is not confined to the courtroom,” she says. “Legal advocacy can begin long before someone becomes involved in the criminal justice system.
I discovered this when I became a Youth Advocate through the Adolescent Diversion Program at Michigan State University. I was paired with a youth in Ingham County who was considered at-risk, on the verge of entering the juvenile justice system. I advocated for the child’s needs and quickly learned criminal behavior often stems from deeper, unaddressed issues. This insight applies not only to youth but also to adults, whose underlying challenges frequently go unresolved, contributing to cycles of criminal behavior.”
Daniels also served as a Restorative Justice Facilitator, helping wrongdoers understand the impact of their actions on others.
Daniels took a gap year and interned for two years at the Washtenaw County Office of Public Defender, before heading to Detroit Mercy Law two years ago.
She interned last summer at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Up until that point, I’d worked as a paralegal and interned with a practicing attorney, but I wanted to explore the other side of the legal system—specifically, how j udicial decisions are made,” she says. “I was curious about what goes into a judge’s reasoning and the day-to-day responsibilities of the role.
“I gained valuable insights by drafting orders, observing trials, witnessing the execution of search warrants, and assisting with the preparation of preliminary hearings. It was a unique experience that deepened my understanding of the judicial process and further solidified my interest in pursuing a career in law.”
At Legal Services of South Central Michigan, where she works in housing and in elder law, she has gained traditional legal skills such as legal research, drafting pleadings, and litigation.
In contrast, her law clerk position at the Coalition for Property Tax Justice for the past 10 months has shown her non-traditional ways to use a law degree, including community organizing and mobilizing.
Daniels is vice president of the school’s Black Law Students Association; the Chapter was honored with the BLSA Chapter of the Year Award for 2024–2025 at this year’s MWBLSA 57th Convention in Chicago.
“Serving helped me step out of my comfort zone and become more involved in the African American legal community,” she says. “I’ve especially enjoyed building connections with both the African American community and other communities throughout Detroit. One meaningful partnership has been with the Umoja Debate League, a nonprofit organization that teaches Detroit youth life skills through debate. In recent years, our BLSA members have served as judges for their debate competitions
This past year, Daniels served as a fellow with the Black Women’s Health Imperative, where she focused on learning about and educating Black women on the health risks and predatory marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.
“For decades, Big Tobacco companies have targeted African American communities using billboards and ads specifically designed to appeal to Black audiences or placing them in predominantly Black neighborhoods where lung health issues are already prevalent, falsely promoting tobacco as a remedy to soothe these health concerns,” she says.
“Although traditional cigarette use has declined in recent years, Big Tobacco has rebranded itself through products like e-cigarettes and hookah, making them more appealing, especially to younger audiences. While African American women tend to start smoking later in life, they face a higher risk of tobacco-related health complications. Tobacco use remains widespread in communities facing significant socioeconomic inequality.
“As part of our fellowship, we spent a summer lobbying the House of Representatives to support a bill banning menthol cigarettes,” she adds. “I also had the opportunity to design a pilot curriculum aimed at educating young adults on college campuses about the dangers of tobacco use.”
Daniels has a particular legal interest in a few areas of law: sports and entertainment, criminal justice, family law, and tax law. After completing law school, she plans to obtain her Sports Agent License and pursue a career as a sports agent.
“I want to use my law degree in ways that go beyond traditional legal practice,” she says. “In addition to representing athletes, I aim to engage in scholarly writing and contribute research in areas of law that are often overlooked. My goal is to use my legal education not only to advocate for clients but also to influence broader conversations and policies within the legal field.”
Daniels was honored this year with the Laurel F. McGiffert Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship given by Plunkett Cooney.
“I’m very grateful for receiving the DEI scholarship from Plunkett Cooney,” she says.
“With DEI being under attack in the recent months it reminded me that advancing minorities in the legal space still remain a core value to some.”
Legal News
Detroit Mercy Law student Ebony Daniels first became passionate about law when she began to understand and recognize the seriousness of the underrepresentation of African American attorneys and the overrepresentation of African Americans in the criminal justice system.
“My passion deepened when I realized that law is not confined to the courtroom,” she says. “Legal advocacy can begin long before someone becomes involved in the criminal justice system.
I discovered this when I became a Youth Advocate through the Adolescent Diversion Program at Michigan State University. I was paired with a youth in Ingham County who was considered at-risk, on the verge of entering the juvenile justice system. I advocated for the child’s needs and quickly learned criminal behavior often stems from deeper, unaddressed issues. This insight applies not only to youth but also to adults, whose underlying challenges frequently go unresolved, contributing to cycles of criminal behavior.”
Daniels also served as a Restorative Justice Facilitator, helping wrongdoers understand the impact of their actions on others.
Daniels took a gap year and interned for two years at the Washtenaw County Office of Public Defender, before heading to Detroit Mercy Law two years ago.
She interned last summer at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Up until that point, I’d worked as a paralegal and interned with a practicing attorney, but I wanted to explore the other side of the legal system—specifically, how j udicial decisions are made,” she says. “I was curious about what goes into a judge’s reasoning and the day-to-day responsibilities of the role.
“I gained valuable insights by drafting orders, observing trials, witnessing the execution of search warrants, and assisting with the preparation of preliminary hearings. It was a unique experience that deepened my understanding of the judicial process and further solidified my interest in pursuing a career in law.”
At Legal Services of South Central Michigan, where she works in housing and in elder law, she has gained traditional legal skills such as legal research, drafting pleadings, and litigation.
In contrast, her law clerk position at the Coalition for Property Tax Justice for the past 10 months has shown her non-traditional ways to use a law degree, including community organizing and mobilizing.
Daniels is vice president of the school’s Black Law Students Association; the Chapter was honored with the BLSA Chapter of the Year Award for 2024–2025 at this year’s MWBLSA 57th Convention in Chicago.
“Serving helped me step out of my comfort zone and become more involved in the African American legal community,” she says. “I’ve especially enjoyed building connections with both the African American community and other communities throughout Detroit. One meaningful partnership has been with the Umoja Debate League, a nonprofit organization that teaches Detroit youth life skills through debate. In recent years, our BLSA members have served as judges for their debate competitions
This past year, Daniels served as a fellow with the Black Women’s Health Imperative, where she focused on learning about and educating Black women on the health risks and predatory marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.
“For decades, Big Tobacco companies have targeted African American communities using billboards and ads specifically designed to appeal to Black audiences or placing them in predominantly Black neighborhoods where lung health issues are already prevalent, falsely promoting tobacco as a remedy to soothe these health concerns,” she says.
“Although traditional cigarette use has declined in recent years, Big Tobacco has rebranded itself through products like e-cigarettes and hookah, making them more appealing, especially to younger audiences. While African American women tend to start smoking later in life, they face a higher risk of tobacco-related health complications. Tobacco use remains widespread in communities facing significant socioeconomic inequality.
“As part of our fellowship, we spent a summer lobbying the House of Representatives to support a bill banning menthol cigarettes,” she adds. “I also had the opportunity to design a pilot curriculum aimed at educating young adults on college campuses about the dangers of tobacco use.”
Daniels has a particular legal interest in a few areas of law: sports and entertainment, criminal justice, family law, and tax law. After completing law school, she plans to obtain her Sports Agent License and pursue a career as a sports agent.
“I want to use my law degree in ways that go beyond traditional legal practice,” she says. “In addition to representing athletes, I aim to engage in scholarly writing and contribute research in areas of law that are often overlooked. My goal is to use my legal education not only to advocate for clients but also to influence broader conversations and policies within the legal field.”
Daniels was honored this year with the Laurel F. McGiffert Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship given by Plunkett Cooney.
“I’m very grateful for receiving the DEI scholarship from Plunkett Cooney,” she says.
“With DEI being under attack in the recent months it reminded me that advancing minorities in the legal space still remain a core value to some.”
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