The University of Detroit Mercy Law Review is celebrating its 100th anniversary with an academic Symposium to be held on March 4, 2016. This Symposium will showcase the past, present, and future of the City of Detroit, and will gather scholars, policy makers, and community members to discuss the past, present, and future of Detroit.

Articles submitted may focus either on a specific era – past, present, or future – or they may trace a specific subject through the past, present, and propose future solutions. Specific topics could include, but are not limited to:

1. The Past

  • Civil rights and race relations
  • Labor law
  • Relationship between the City and the suburbs (or the rest of Michigan)

2. The Present

  • The Impact of the Bankruptcy
  • Efforts to eradicate blight and abandoned buildings
  • Public Education in Detroit

3. The Future

  • Impact of new developments on the future of Detroit
  • Relations between the City and the suburbs
  • The role of the law in developing new economic opportunities

The Law Review invites interested individuals to submit an abstract for an opportunity to present at the Symposium. Those interested should send an abstract of 250-300 words that details their proposed topic and presentation. Included with the abstract should be the author’s name, contact information, and a copy of their resume/curriculum vitae. Since the above list of topics is nonexhaustive, the University of Detroit Law Review encourages all interested parties to develop their own topic to present at the Symposium. In addition, while submitting an article for publication is not required to present at the Symposium, the Law Review encourages all speakers who are selected to submit a piece for publication in the Fall 2016 edition of the Law Review.

The deadline for abstract submissions is October 26, 2015. Individuals selected to present at the Symposium will be contacted by November 2. Law Review editorial staff will contact those selected for publication at a later date regarding details and deadlines for full-length publication.

The submissions, and any questions regarding the Symposium or the abstract process, should be directed to Law Review Centennial Symposium Director Katherine Ross at rosska2@udmercy.edu.