Faith and Justice
Julia Lucia, George Zora, and Myrna Nissan
Chaldean law students on the rise
By Eemi Toma
Long before a student steps into a courtroom or writes their first brief, there is a moment of realization that something within them is meant for this path. It might come from witnessing an injustice or from the understanding that words have power when used to defend what is right. Within the Chaldean community, that moment carries profound meaning. It grows from generations who built their lives on faith and perseverance, and who believed that success means nothing unless it uplifts others.
Today, an increasing number of Chaldean law students are walking that path. They are preparing not only to interpret the law but to live it. Their mission is to bring compassion into the courtroom, to make justice accessible, and to use their faith as a compass through complexity.
Among this remarkable generation are Julia Lucia, George Zora, and Myrna Nissan; three voices rising from the same community, each carrying a story that reflects not only personal ambition but a shared promise to serve.
Julia Lucia: Wayne State University Law School
For Julia Lucia, law is not just a profession; it is a reflection of who she is. Even as a child, she found purpose in helping others find peace during moments of conflict. Friends sought her out not because she had all the answers, but because she knew how to listen with understanding. That quiet empathy eventually grew into persuasion, guiding her toward Wayne State University Law School, where she now studies with focus and grace.
Her first experience in the legal world came through an internship with Judge Diane D’Agostini at the 48th District Court. Watching the courtroom unfold from within changed her perception entirely. “It was the first time I saw how the law touches real people,” she said. “Behind every case was a story someone’s struggle, someone’s fear, someone’s hope.”
At Wayne State University School of Law, Julia’s leadership shines through both faith and service. As President of the Chaldean American Law Student Association and the Catholic Law Student Association, she has created spaces where faith and professionalism are not at odds but in harmony. She also serves as Student Liaison to the Chaldean American Bar Association, connecting students with attorneys who share their cultural and spiritual values.
Her commitment does not stop there. Julia is the kind of student who stays late to help a classmate prepare for an exam, who volunteers for outreach programs that teach youth about civic engagement, and who always finds time to attend Mass despite her schedule. “Law can feel overwhelming,” she said. “But my faith reminds me that every challenge is an invitation to trust more deeply.”
Her parents’ guidance has been her foundation. “They taught me that faith gives strength when everything else feels uncertain,” she said. “It keeps me steady, even on the hardest days.”
Julia hopes to use her career to create meaningful change in the lives of those who feel unseen by the legal system. Her dream is not simply to win cases, but to restore dignity where it has been lost. To those around her, Julia represents a quiet but powerful truth: that leadership does not begin with a title, it begins with compassion.
George Zora: University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
At the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, George Zora has earned a reputation for his steadiness. He carries himself with a calm confidence that makes people feel heard. As the oldest of five siblings, he learned early that responsibility is not a burden, it is a form of love. “My parents always told me that being the oldest means setting the tone,” George said. “That has stayed with me in everything I do.”
George’s fascination with law began with his love of public service. He followed local politics closely, volunteered for campaigns, and realized that every policy, every bill, every decision made at the top ultimately impacts families like his. Over time, that awareness became a calling. “I wanted to be part of something that actually makes people’s lives better,” he said. “The law felt like the clearest way to do that.”
His time at the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office gave him his first taste of the real-world application of justice. He witnessed the weight of every choice that prosecutors make, the balance between accountability and compassion. Later, his internship on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Lisa McClain gave him a broader view of how justice operates beyond the courtroom, how laws are written, debated, and ultimately brought to life. “That experience was eye-opening,” he said. “It taught me that advocacy starts with listening to people’s stories. Change does not happen in silence.”
At Detroit Mercy Law, George co-founded the Chaldean American Law Student Association. What began as a simple idea soon evolved into a thriving network of mentorship and unity. He helped establish panels where Chaldean attorneys share their journeys and offer guidance to students just beginning their path. For George, community building is not just an extracurricular activity; it is part of his mission.
Currently, he works at a personal injury firm in Troy, where he assists clients during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. He approaches every case with a sense of reverence for the trust people place in him. “When someone walks into your office, they are often scared and uncertain,” he said. “It is your job to bring them peace, not just a legal solution.”
Faith remains at the center of everything George does. “Our Catholic faith teaches that empathy is strength,” he said. “When someone comes to you for help, you might be the only person standing between them and despair. That is not something to take lightly.”
Looking forward, George hopes to continue his path of service, whether in policy or law practice. His dream is to be a voice for those who have none and to show younger Chaldeans that law is not just a profession but a way to shape the world for the better.
Myrna Nissan: University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
For Myrna Nissan, every challenge has been an opportunity to grow stronger. Born outside the United States and raised in Michigan, she learned early what it meant to adapt, to find a sense of belonging between cultures, and to hold tightly to her Chaldean roots. That balance has given her a resilience that carries into every part of her legal education.
Now in her third year at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Myrna reflects on her journey with gratitude. “I have learned that law is not only about argument,” she said. “It is about understanding people and helping them find clarity when life feels complicated.”
Her experiences have been both demanding and transformative. As a Judicial Intern at the Oakland County Circuit Court, she observed how judges handle difficult cases with patience and poise. Working in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit gave her a firsthand look at the gravity of justice and the emotional depth of the cases that pass through the system. She also served as a Teaching Assistant for Evidence and Constitutional Law, where she mentored younger students and strengthened her own understanding through teaching.
“There were moments when I questioned whether I was capable of all of it,” Myrna said. “But those moments reminded me that strength is not the absence of fear, it is the decision to move forward anyway.”
Her professors speak of her as a student who approaches every challenge with thoughtfulness. Her classmates describe her as the one who always reaches out when someone is struggling. To Myrna, law is not about competition. It is about lifting others, because everyone’s success strengthens the whole community.
She often reflects on the importance of empathy in her work. “You can fight fiercely for justice and still treat people with kindness,” she said. “The law can be a powerful weapon, but it should always be guided by conscience.”
Myrna hopes to build a career where she can bring balance to that duality, to fight with purpose while remembering the human stories behind every case. “I want to use what I have learned to help people feel seen,” she said. “That is when justice becomes real.”
A Legacy Carried Forward
The journeys of Julia Lucia, George Zora, and Myrna Nissan are each distinct, yet connected by a shared purpose. Each student entered the field of law not seeking status but searching for meaning. Together, they reflect a community that continues to rise, guided by its faith and its commitment to integrity.
They are the new faces of Chaldean excellence, standing at the threshold of careers that will extend far beyond legal arguments or courtrooms. What unites them is the belief that law is not an exercise of power but rather an act of service.
Their generation will shape how the Chaldean voice is heard in the legal world. They will carry the legacy of their ancestors into every courtroom, every client meeting, every moment of advocacy. Through them, the Chaldean story continues to evolve not as a tale of survival but as one of strength and unyielding hope.