DETROIT (May 13, 2009) - Second-year Wayne State University Law School student Sarah McElwaney received a $2,500 scholarship from the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) at the Chapter's annual seminar held at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham on May 7, 2009.
Wayne Law Professor Joan Mahoney nominated McElwaney for the award. Michael Robbins, '81, president of the Michigan Chapter of the AAML, selected her as the recipient due to her strong interest in family law.
"Every year, the Fellows of the Michigan Chapter of the AAML award a $2,500 scholarship to one worthy law student in the state who has shown exemplary dedication to his or her studies and a strong interest in family law," Robbins said. "This year, we found our perfect candidate in Ms. McElwaney. As a Wayne Law alumnus, I am especially proud of Ms. McElwaney and her accomplishments and am glad we are able to assist her in reaching her educational goals."
McElwaney, a resident of Royal Oak, Mich., earned her undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in 2006. Upon graduation from Wayne Law, she plans to pursue a career in family law.
"It is encouraging to be awarded a scholarship by an organization so committed to furthering matrimonial law," McElwaney said. "I appreciate this opportunity and look forward to specializing in family law. I am truly honored to be a recipient of this scholarship."
The Michigan Chapter of the AAML is part of the national American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, which has more than 1,500 members in all 50 states. The Michigan Chapter has just over 40 members consisting of the premier family law attorneys in this state.
According to the AAML website, the organization's purpose is "to encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the cause of matrimonial law, to the end that the welfare of the family and society be protected."
For information about Wayne Law, please visit the Law School online at www.law.wayne.edu. For more information regarding the AAML, please visit http://www.aaml.org/.
About Wayne Law
Wayne Law University Law School has educated and served the Detroit metropolitan area since its inception as Detroit City Law School in 1927. Located at 471 West Palmer Street in Detroit's re-energized historic cultural center, the Law School remains committed to student success and features modern lecture and court facilities, multi-media and distance learning classrooms, a 250-seat auditorium, and the Arthur Neef Law Library, which houses one of the nation's 40 largest legal collections. Taught by an internationally recognized and expert faculty, Wayne Law students experience a high-quality legal education via a growing array of hands-on curricular offerings, five live-client clinics, and access to well over 100 internships with local and non-profit entities each year. Its 11,000 living alumni, who work in every state of the nation and more than a dozen foreign countries, are experts in their disciplines and include leading members of the local, national and international legal communities. For more information, visit www.law.wayne.edu.