From left, Notre Dame alums Andrew Pauwels (’05), Amanda Murley (’05), Brynne Lewis, JD (’04) and Michael Rataj (’77), hold a panel discussion with Notre Dame Prep students on Feb. 2, 2017.
More than 50 students from Notre Dame’s upper division gathered yesterday in the school’s media center for the 6th edition of the Alumni Career Speaker Series, which is sponsored by the Notre Dame Alumni Association.
The focus of this event was on legal careers and featured four Notre Dame graduates: Amanda Murley ‘05 (NDP), judicial staff attorney to Oakland County judge Lisa Gorcyca; Brynne Lewis, JD ‘04 (NDP), an attorney with Hewson & Van Hellemont, primarily focusing her practice on insurance defense; Andrew Pauwels ’05 (NDP), a litigation associate at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, a Detroit based commercial law firm; and Michael A. Rataj ’77 (NDHS), a criminal law attorney. Last month, a number of alums spoke to Notre Dame students about the marketing, accounting and finance industries.
Alum Michael Rataj speaks to a Notre Dame student who attended yesterday’s alumni career session.
Notre Dame Prep graduate ('98) and ND Alumni Association chair Scott Lockhart, who organized the event along with Beth Campbell, director of alumni relations, said the association looks forward to continuing to match current student interest with alumni professionals across a range of disciplines.
“Yesterday’s session proved once again that students at Notre Dame are very interested in what their next steps could be in terms of college majors and careers,” Lockhart said. “We’re very happy that the association can continue to host these types of events.”
From left: Scott Lockhart, ND Alumni Association chair; Andrew Pauwels ’05 (NDP), a litigation associate at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP; Brynne Lewis, JD ’04 (NDP), an attorney with Hewson and Van Hellemont; and Michael A. Rataj ’77 (NDHS), a criminal law attorney.
Brief bios submitted by the alums who participated in the career day on February 2, 2017, are available below:
Amanda Murley ‘05 (NDP), judicial staff attorney to Oakland County judge Lisa Gorcyca:
Amanda is the judicial staff attorney to the Hon. Lisa Gorcyca, the presiding judge of the Family Division at the Oakland County Circuit Court. She assists the judge in factual determinations as well as drafting judicial opinions, conducting legal research, office management, and mediating cases. Prior to obtaining her current position, Amanda was a Court Clerk to Judge Gorcyca, handling day-to-day tasks including scheduling Judge Gorcyca's docket, running the courtroom, and reviewing legal documents to ensure accuracy and conformance with court rulings. As a law student she worked as a senior certified intern at the DuPage County State's Attorney’s office in Wheaton, IL, and at the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office in Port Huron, MI. In those positions Amanda prepared for and participated in pretrial hearings, plea hearings, bench trials and jury trials for misdemeanor cases. She also researched and analyzed various criminal issues and drafted motions and memoranda. Additionally, while working at the St. Clair County Prosecutor’s Office, Amanda participated in pretrial hearings and bench trials in Family Court for neglect and abuse cases as well as juvenile delinquency proceedings and Mental Health Court hearings. She has also volunteered as a member of the Steering Committee for the Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence and as a law student, volunteer for the Domestic Violence Courthouse Project in Chicago, Ill. Amanda holds a Juris Doctor with a certificate in criminal law from the DePaul University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Pre-Law and Criminal Justice from Michigan State University.
Brynne Lewis, JD ‘04 (NDP), an attorney with Hewson & Van Hellemont, primarily focusing her practice on insurance defense:
Brynne Lewis is a shareholder at Hewson & Van Hellemont, primarily focusing her practice on insurance defense (largely first- and third-party no-fault claims). Brynne's practice particularly specializes in fraud defense by advising insurance companies of their rights pre-litigation and beyond. Prior to Hewson, Brynne clerked for the Michigan Court of Appeals in their pre-hearing division. At the MCOA, she was responsible for reviewing both criminal and civil appeals to draft bench memos and proposed opinions for each panel during session. During law school, Brynne clerked for the Cook County State's Attorney and the Monroe County Prosecutor's office with a focus on child welfare and juvenile justice. Brynne holds a JD from Loyola University Chicago, where she graduated cum laude, as well as a BA from the University of Michigan Honors College in Psychology with a minor in Political Science.
Andrew Pauwels ’05 (NDP), a litigation associate at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, a Detroit based commercial law firm:
Andy Pauwels is a litigation associate at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, a Detroit based commercial law firm. He specializes in complex commercial litigation, including class action litigation, private equity litigation, and media law. His practice is diverse, as Andy assists clients in resolving and litigating contract disputes and business torts, and defending class actions, among other issues. Andy holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame in American Studies; he also earned a supplementary major in International Peace Studies. He then earned a JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Prior to attending law school, Andy was a Teach for America Corps member. He also taught middle school drop-out prevention at Butler Middle School in Jacksonville, FL.
Michael A. Rataj ’77 (NDHS), a criminal law attorney:
Since 1989, Rataj has dedicated his practice to protecting the rights of individuals who have been arrested and charged with crimes in state and federal courts. His law practice is exclusively dedicated to criminal defense. As someone who has served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, he approaches the defense of those accused of crimes differently. Michael’s philosophy is to treat his clients as if they were members of his family. Within the legal community, he also has a reputation for tenacity, integrity and honesty. He has a passion for what he does and he has demonstrated a dedication to his clients that “is second to none.”
Bar admissions: Michigan, 1989; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1989; U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, 1989; U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
Education: J.D., magna cum laude, Detroit College of Law, 1989; B.S.B.A., Wayne State University, 1985
Military: U.S. Marine Corps, 1980–1983
Professional Associations: State Bar of Michigan; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan; Federal Bar Association; National Association of Distinguished Counsel
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.