Marc Mayerson

Describe your job responsibilities:

I’m a lawyer who specializes in insurance-recovery matters for businesses, nonprofits, labor unions, and corporate directors. This work involves litigation, arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and advice.  I also teach insurance law at two area law schools and a business law class in an international MBA program.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?

Each matter is a complex puzzle involving insurance contract language, case law, and the underlying facts; it is an iterative process to understand, focus and sharpen the analysis. I am able to pursue cases that I believe are meritorious. I also enjoy teaching in law school.

Tell us about studying at the Frankel Center:

The strength of the Judaic Studies program attracted me to the University of Michigan, even though my major was undecided when I matriculated.  The ability to take advantage of the concentration courses and complementary coursework across the University made the education I obtained uniquely valuable.

How did your education prepare you for your current job?

My law-school admissions essay was on how Judaic Studies prepares one for studying law. Understanding the adaptation of Jewish law and Jewish society to material and historical circumstance helps one recognize too that the present legal rules and assumptions are likewise historically contingent.  Encountering the rich tradition of debate and evolution of Jewish thought also equips one to understand the malleability of law and the fidelity that majority and minority viewpoints have to the overall project.

What advice would you give to students who are considering studying Judaic Studies?

Enriching your knowledge through the Frankel Center contributes as much to the development of the mind as do the other domains within the University.