Donovan McCarty has always been passionate about using the law for public interest and driving positive change. Although he grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, he held the city close to his heart, recognizing and confronting the stark contrast between the suburbs and the city.
While earning his law degree, McCarty volunteered and worked for various organizations and advocacy groups focused on housing and land use in Detroit, such as the United Community Housing Coalition, Michigan Legal Services and the Detroit Land Bank Authority. Through these experiences, McCarty realized there was a major need for supporting clients facing housing injustice.
Previously, the Michigan State University College of Law’s Housing Justice Clinic spent years focused primarily on eviction defense cases. Now, in his first year as the clinic’s new director, Assistant Professor McCarty is focused on bringing systemic change to victims of housing injustice across Michigan.