Judge Wendy Potts presided over the 2025 swearing-in ceremony, administering the oath to Colleen Entenman after Dykema attorney Sean Darke made the motion for her admission to the State Bar of Michigan.
Following the ceremony, Judge Potts was kind enough to appear in a keepsake photo with the Entenman family, including (l-r) Jacob, Joe, Colleen, and Mark.
By Catherine Ticer
For Colleen Raftrey Entenman, becoming a lawyer was never about checking a box or reaching a milestone on a traditional timeline. It was about service, family, and a lifelong respect for the law – values that ultimately led her to take and pass the bar exam in three separate states, beginning at age 60.
Entenman’s Michigan roots run deep. She earned a bachelor of arts in economics from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, followed by a master of business administration from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Those academic foundations shaped a successful corporate and nonprofit leadership career and later proved invaluable when she turned to the study and practice of law.
She grew up surrounded by family, many of whom still live in the state. Michigan has always remained central to her identity, even as her professional life unfolded elsewhere.
Entenman attended law school at night while working full-time at Quinnipiac University School of Law in Connecticut, where she was already a senior leader. Returning to the classroom after decades away, Entenman graduated magna cum laude during the pandemic at age 59, earning multiple academic honors including Superior Classroom Performance; Excellence in Clinical Legal Education; Distinguished Academic Achievement in Legal Skills, Internet Law, Trial Practice, Elder Law, and Entertainment Law; and concentration honors in Tax Law, Family Law, Civil Advocacy & Dispute Resolution.
Like many in the class of 2020, her graduation was virtual; her family watching online after airline tickets were canceled and in-person celebrations disappeared overnight.
At age 60, Entenman passed her first bar exam and was admitted in Connecticut, where she lives and practices elder law and estate planning. Her swearing-in reflected the unusual times: held in a parking lot, with her husband Mark and two sons, Joe and Jacob, standing proudly by her side.
Her decision to take additional bar exams was deeply personal and practical. Entenman next pursued admission in New York, where her adult children live and where she envisioned the possibility of future work or retirement. New York’s proximity to Connecticut made licensure there both logical and meaningful. She was sworn into the New York Bar virtually, this time from the comfort of her Connecticut living room.
Michigan, however, was different.
Entenman chose to pursue admission to the Michigan Bar not out of convenience, but out of connection. With much of her family living in the state, and with Michigan law presenting its own distinct rules and requirements, she wanted to understand the legal framework affecting the people she loves. Reciprocity is not an option for newly admitted lawyers in Connecticut, New York, and Michigan, requiring her to complete separate admissions processes, including additional coursework and extensive character references.
In July 2025, that effort culminated in an extraordinary moment during a large family reunion in Birmingham. When relatives learned that Entenman had recently passed the Michigan Bar, family friend and Detroit Legal News Editor-in-Chief Tom Kirvan arranged for a last-minute swearing-in ceremony.
In less than 24 hours, retired Oakland County Circuit Judge Wendy Potts graciously agreed to administer the oath, despite not knowing Entenman personally. Judge Potts, who now is enjoying a second career as a mediator for JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) in Detroit, arrived at the home of Entenman’s sister and conducted a ceremony that family members describe as deeply personal and unforgettable.
More than 60 members residing in seven states from Entenman’s extended family were present, including her cousin, attorney Sean Darke of Dykema, who made the motion for admission. Judge Potts’ remarks were a highlight of the reunion, with Entenman later describing the former chief judge as one of the most gracious individuals she has encountered in her life and career. Judge Potts made the ceremony meaningful not only for Entenman, but for every family member in attendance; turning a spontaneous moment into a lasting memory.
Today, Entenman practices at Allaire Elder Law with a focus on helping individuals and families navigate estate planning, asset protection, and long-term care. Her pro bono work includes successfully representing a young Afghan client in an asylum petition; a case she describes as life-changing for both attorney and client.
Throughout her journey, Entenman credits her family for making the impossible possible. With a demanding career of his own, her husband took over household responsibilities during law school, preparing meals and managing daily life while she attended night classes. Her children, siblings, niece, nephews, and extended family stood beside her through canceled graduations, unconventional swearings-in, and the demanding process of returning to school later in life.
Asked what advice she offers others considering law school at a non-traditional age, Entenman is direct: “Don’t wait until you think you’re ready,” she declared, noting that the barriers are often self-imposed.
“Support will come. Help will appear,” Entenman said.
For Colleen Raftrey Entenman, becoming a lawyer was never about checking a box or reaching a milestone on a traditional timeline. It was about service, family, and a lifelong respect for the law – values that ultimately led her to take and pass the bar exam in three separate states, beginning at age 60.
Entenman’s Michigan roots run deep. She earned a bachelor of arts in economics from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, followed by a master of business administration from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Those academic foundations shaped a successful corporate and nonprofit leadership career and later proved invaluable when she turned to the study and practice of law.
She grew up surrounded by family, many of whom still live in the state. Michigan has always remained central to her identity, even as her professional life unfolded elsewhere.
Entenman attended law school at night while working full-time at Quinnipiac University School of Law in Connecticut, where she was already a senior leader. Returning to the classroom after decades away, Entenman graduated magna cum laude during the pandemic at age 59, earning multiple academic honors including Superior Classroom Performance; Excellence in Clinical Legal Education; Distinguished Academic Achievement in Legal Skills, Internet Law, Trial Practice, Elder Law, and Entertainment Law; and concentration honors in Tax Law, Family Law, Civil Advocacy & Dispute Resolution.
Like many in the class of 2020, her graduation was virtual; her family watching online after airline tickets were canceled and in-person celebrations disappeared overnight.
At age 60, Entenman passed her first bar exam and was admitted in Connecticut, where she lives and practices elder law and estate planning. Her swearing-in reflected the unusual times: held in a parking lot, with her husband Mark and two sons, Joe and Jacob, standing proudly by her side.
Her decision to take additional bar exams was deeply personal and practical. Entenman next pursued admission in New York, where her adult children live and where she envisioned the possibility of future work or retirement. New York’s proximity to Connecticut made licensure there both logical and meaningful. She was sworn into the New York Bar virtually, this time from the comfort of her Connecticut living room.
Michigan, however, was different.
Entenman chose to pursue admission to the Michigan Bar not out of convenience, but out of connection. With much of her family living in the state, and with Michigan law presenting its own distinct rules and requirements, she wanted to understand the legal framework affecting the people she loves. Reciprocity is not an option for newly admitted lawyers in Connecticut, New York, and Michigan, requiring her to complete separate admissions processes, including additional coursework and extensive character references.
In July 2025, that effort culminated in an extraordinary moment during a large family reunion in Birmingham. When relatives learned that Entenman had recently passed the Michigan Bar, family friend and Detroit Legal News Editor-in-Chief Tom Kirvan arranged for a last-minute swearing-in ceremony.
In less than 24 hours, retired Oakland County Circuit Judge Wendy Potts graciously agreed to administer the oath, despite not knowing Entenman personally. Judge Potts, who now is enjoying a second career as a mediator for JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) in Detroit, arrived at the home of Entenman’s sister and conducted a ceremony that family members describe as deeply personal and unforgettable.
More than 60 members residing in seven states from Entenman’s extended family were present, including her cousin, attorney Sean Darke of Dykema, who made the motion for admission. Judge Potts’ remarks were a highlight of the reunion, with Entenman later describing the former chief judge as one of the most gracious individuals she has encountered in her life and career. Judge Potts made the ceremony meaningful not only for Entenman, but for every family member in attendance; turning a spontaneous moment into a lasting memory.
Today, Entenman practices at Allaire Elder Law with a focus on helping individuals and families navigate estate planning, asset protection, and long-term care. Her pro bono work includes successfully representing a young Afghan client in an asylum petition; a case she describes as life-changing for both attorney and client.
Throughout her journey, Entenman credits her family for making the impossible possible. With a demanding career of his own, her husband took over household responsibilities during law school, preparing meals and managing daily life while she attended night classes. Her children, siblings, niece, nephews, and extended family stood beside her through canceled graduations, unconventional swearings-in, and the demanding process of returning to school later in life.
Asked what advice she offers others considering law school at a non-traditional age, Entenman is direct: “Don’t wait until you think you’re ready,” she declared, noting that the barriers are often self-imposed.
“Support will come. Help will appear,” Entenman said.
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