DETROIT (Oct. 13, 2010) - Wayne State University Law School second-year student Yosef Abraham didn't always want to go to law school. In fact, there was a time in his life when he wasn't even going to finish college, leaving school to seek his fortune in the dot-com boom more than 10 years ago. But after several years in that industry, he realized he needed an undergraduate degree to advance professionally. He obtained a bachelor of arts in Spanish from Georgia State University and then took a job selling legal services and performing administrative duties for an Atlanta-based law firm - and the rest is history.

Yosef Abraham

"The attorneys there loved their jobs and inspired me to follow in their footsteps," Abraham said. "Law seems to be a natural fit for me. I enjoy research and writing, as well as the study of language, economics and politics. All are integral to the study of law."

Abraham came to Wayne Law for several reasons. "I understood that Wayne Law had a strong reputation for producing highly capable lawyers," he said. "I wanted to study law at a leading urban research university that could put me in close proximity to major employers, courts, a diverse population and cultural attractions." He added that he believed Wayne Law could open doors nationwide since the Law School's graduates are spread out at firms all around the country.

Also, he received a very competitive scholarship offer - a Dean's Scholar award for the full amount of tuition. "It is impossible to understate the importance of the award," he said. "I will graduate when I am 35 years old. Without a significant scholarship package I would not be where I am today."

Since starting at Wayne Law last year, Abraham has been more than satisfied. "The best thing about my education at Wayne Law has been the fascinating coursework - to be taught to ‘think like a lawyer,'" he said. "It helps greatly that the expert faculty members love what they do and clearly want to turn us into skilled advocates and critical thinkers."

Abraham recognizes that there might be challenges to starting law school a little later, but they are not going to impede his progress. "I probably put more pressure on myself to excel than many of my younger counterparts because, due to my age, I can appreciate that to study at this level is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege," he said. "Because of my age and experience, I think I bring a work ethic that I didn't have 10 years ago."

He was thrilled to learn he was accepted as a member of The Wayne Law Review, where he is assistant editor, and just completed a summer internship in the Family Division of the Third Circuit Court in downtown Detroit. "Family law is one area of law I am interested in and so I specifically sought out the opportunity to work in that field," he said.

As he said in a recent letter thanking Assistant Dean of Admissions Ericka Jackson, "Doors are opening for me one after the other, but you opened the first."

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

For more information about Wayne State University Law School, visit law.wayne.edu.