Alumni Spotlight: Mirna Rayes '16

Mirna Rayes graduated from Wayne State University in 2016 with a B.A. in Political Science and Minor in Arabic, and she now works as a paralegal in a local law firm.

Mirna's responsibilities as a paralegal are involved with many of the aspects of running a law firm. She helps clients with their paperwork, answers their phone calls and emails, and often acts as a translator for Arabic-speaking clients. Mirna assists the attorneys in the law firm by proofreading briefs, motions, and notices, and by gathering supporting documents and preparing materials for motion records to be filed in court.

Most of what Mirna does as a paralegal hinges on her written and oral communication skills. Mirna believes that her Political Science courses helped to prepare her for her current job by strengthening those skills. Learning Arabic as a second language has also expanded her ability to communicate with clients and has been an important part of her success at the law firm.

Beyond the communication skills Mirna has learned at Wayne State, she also thinks that the critical thinking and analyzation skills she learned in her courses have helped her to better understand the clients and lawyers she interacts with daily.

Mirna's advice to students is to get involved in groups and experiences that are involved in their fields of interest. She believes that it is important for students to network and connect with people in the same career field, so they can explore and get hands-on experience before entering the workforce. She suggests doing internships and joining student groups like the Pre-law Student Association (PLSA) to start the networking process.

Mirna was inspired by the opportunities and internships she found in the Detroit area, and she hopes students take advantage of all that Detroit has to offer them.