Growing up in foster care and later becoming a foster parent with his wife are experiences that have led Jeremy “JJ” Marshall to law school.
“I was adopted by my grandparents in Texas, and my wife worked in orphanages during her teenage years in South America,” he says. “We both knew that we wanted to build our family by adopting children through foster care.”
Marshall and his wife have fostered 16 children, from newborns to 13-year-olds, while simultaneously pursuing their undergraduate degrees. Today, they have three adopted children and are committed to continuing to foster in the future.
The scholarship I received has alleviated my financial burden, and I have the freedom to pursue a career that fulfills me, which is a tremendous relief to my family and me.”
Michigan Law was an obvious choice for law school, thanks to a contingent of Michigan transplants in Texas who attended Marshall’s church. Through them, he learned of the Law School’s uniquely collegial culture and the many opportunities available to students. For example, Marshall served as a legal representative in the Child Advocacy Clinic, helping a mother reunite with her two children who had been in foster care.
“For the first time, I was advocating for the parents’ rights as opposed to thinking only of the child’s best interest,” he says. “Being on the other side of that equation was challenging and offered me a new perspective.”
In addition to his clinical work, Marshall has found community and support through the Christian Legal Society and the Federalist Society. Many of the friends he has made are in the same season of life and can lean on each other personally and professionally.
“In my time at Michigan Law, I have realized my interest in litigation work, specifically trial advocacy,” says Marshall. “The scholarship I received has alleviated my financial burden, and I have the freedom to pursue a career that fulfills me, which is a tremendous relief to my family and me.”