A sidebar with … Aleanna Siacon

One of Dickinson Wright’s newest attorneys is putting to good use the skills she learned in her prior career as an investigative reporter.

“I love writing and storytelling, and my journalism background taught me how to turn a complicated set of facts into a narrative which is always a plus in civil litigation,” Aleanna Siacon told Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

As an associate in the firm’s Troy office, she focuses her practice on commercial litigation and complex business disputes.

Prior to earning her law degree at Wayne State University, Siacon earned three undergraduate degrees from the Detroit-based university, triple majoring in history, political science and journalism.

“To be frank, it was difficult to walk away from journalism and pivot to the law I really loved it too,” she said. “However, I genuinely believe that studying journalism and working in newsrooms was an excellent set-up for becoming a lawyer.”

Siacon credits her involvement with the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity as an undergrad as solidifying her passion for advocating for increased diversity in the legal profession.

“It brought together and supported minority students by connecting them with internship and job opportunities we had regular check-ins and supported one another throughout college,” she said. “I really wanted to see something like that at Wayne Law, so I did my best to create and invest in similar spaces.”

And so she did.

“While at Wayne Law, I was president of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and I founded the Wayne Law Diversity Coalition, which connected the law schools many affinity student organizations and launched the ‘Lawyers Look Like Me’ campaign,” Siacon said.

Her commitment didn’t stop with law school. Siacon serves as a treasurer on the executive board of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association and is an Oakland County Bar Association fellow and 2024 Inns of Courts participant.

Siacon shared with Michigan Lawyers Weekly some of her proudest past experiences including joining the White House press pool for a day and two clear objectives.

“We are still just at the beginning, so for now, I have two daily goals: learn as much as I can from the people around me, and seek out experiences that will sharpen my skills,” she said.

What does it mean to join Dickinson Wright? What opportunities do you believe this move gives you?

I’m very proud to say that I’ve recently joined Dickinson Wright. It’s an excellent law firm and the name carries a lot of weight, for many good reasons. To me, this opportunity means that I’ve joined a team of excellent lawyers who are also meaningful leaders.

I’ve only been here a short while, but going above and beyond is undoubtedly an integral part of the firm’s DNA. Every day, I make note of my colleagues who dedicate hours to their clients and cases, and then go on to take extremely active roles in bar associations, organizations, non-profits, and other aspects of their communities.

The firm’s lawyers are dedicated to doing high impact work in meaningful arenas. On everything from strategic associate development and community involvement to ambitious diversity initiatives, I know Dickinson Wright to be the kind of firm that doesn’t just talk-the-talk but walks-the-walk once plans are set in motion. I’m very happy to be surrounded by people who share similar values and a similar mentality.

Can you share your goals as you begin your legal career?

During and after law school, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some excellent litigators. Those early experiences drew me into civil litigation, and while I am aware that this sounds clich, I do genuinely love being a lawyer and my overarching goal is to do everything I can to be an excellent one.

I am the first practicing lawyer in my family, and I immigrated to the United States with my parents from the Philippines when I was two. They are both registered nurses, and they did absolutely everything they could to give me the best shot possible. The hard work and sacrifices that led me to where I am are never lost on me. It’s the chip on my shoulder.

When I get up for work, I’m never just clocking into a job. I see it as another chance to keep collecting experiences and lessons that will carry me through what I hope is a long career that I can take pride in.

How do you feel your past experiences in journalism will translate to the field of law?

It made me comfortable asking questions and helped me develop a strong internal lie detector. I get a feeling in my gut when someone is telling me something that just doesn’t add up and I don’t shy away from pulling on strings that seem like loose ends or pressing people on inconsistencies. Additionally, multiple tight deadlines, difficult personalities, evasive tactics, and high-pressure situations don’t scare me. Those are all skills and instincts that I started developing in newsrooms.

I also started working in newsrooms during the dawn of the “Fake News” era, and because of that, I was always very particular about speaking to multiple sources and getting the facts straight. I had a journalism professor at Wayne State who used to say, “and don’t forget to get their dog’s name too!” Joke or not, genuinely, I would try to do that as well. Ultimately, I think that forging such a strong commitment to “getting things right” also gave me a sense of conviction that I’ve brought into my practice of law. I believe in being a straight shooter and diligently working-up my files so that pressing questions aren’t left unanswered and the most developed, well-reasoned argument has the best chance of winning at the end of the day.

What were you most proud of in your journalism career?

My dad used to read the newspaper with me when I was a kid and we watched the local news every night. Again, we were immigrants, so local news played a big role in us getting to know our community. In large part, my dad gave me my love of stories and he’s why I wanted to work for my local news publications.

I went on to triple-major in journalism, political science and history at Wayne State University with the goal of one day becoming a political reporter or an investigative journalist. I started by writing for the student newspaper at Wayne State University and did social media for Detroit City Councilmember James Tate. I then segued into stints at Hour Detroit, Metro Parent, Metro Times, the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, New York, Inc. Magazine in New York, and the Detroit Free Press. I spent the most time on the breaking news desk at the Detroit Free Press where I worked with some incredibly talented and passionate folks. During undergrad, any time I wasn’t in class, I was working on a story trying to get interviews, trying to beat a deadline, and digging into folks’ Internet footprints.

It was incredible. Some standout moments include: joining the White House press pool for a day and waiting on the tarmac at Selfridge for Air Force One, covering Aretha Franklin’s homecoming, going live from Campus Martius during a Polar Vortex, flooring it on a golf cart to chase down a man on a horse for an interview, taking circus performance lessons for a magazine feature, wandering around Buffalo Bills Training Camp, and so much more. There are plenty of stories that I will never forget.

Overall, I’ve been really lucky, and not just because I’ve had some very cool experiences, but because of I had the privilege of learning how to dig, grind, push back and write from some phenomenal journalists who took the time to teach me and give me these opportunities. What I’m most proud of was that my “journalism era” experiences were very much a launchpad that set me up for a strong start as a lawyer in no small part due to the caliber and character of the people I worked with. I think back to it and pull from it so often, that it will never just be a single chapter in my story. It created habits, bolstered my work ethic, and gave me a deep appreciation for all of the fast-moving pieces and hard work that goes into good journalism.

You are a member of several bars and committees. What do you feel is the importance of serving with these groups? What do you enjoy the most?

I like to joke that I have former student government syndrome, so I tend to gravitate to bar associations and committees quite naturally. More deeply, however; my involvement also comes from caring a lot about the institutions and associations that I belong to, and wanting to help them evolve and improve over time.

What I enjoy the most is that getting involved has been a great way of networking and learning from established attorneys with institutional knowledge. I’m a first-generation lawyer, so I’ve often felt like I just didn’t know what I didn’t know and participating in bar association events has helped me connect with passionate people who have answers to my burning questions and can commiserate.

My involvement in the Oakland County Bar Association attending events, becoming a fellow, and participating in Inns of Court and attendance at Oakland Region Women Lawyers Association of Michigan events have been invaluable as far as gaining knowledge and connections.

My involvement in the Wolverine Bar Association summer programs also helped jumpstart my career and gave me my first experience working at a large law firm. Post-law school, I’ve gone on to become treasurer of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association and participate in law firm diversity initiatives.

I want to see more people from all walks of life find their place in, and thrive in, the practice of law. Ultimately, I would like to help empower folks from historically underrepresented backgrounds, and in turn, their families and communities. In the same vein, I have found involvement in affinity bar associations and diversity communities to be a great way to be seen and heard and help others feel seen and heard as well.

What goals do you have for your service on these committees?

My hope is to continue showing up, making connections, and advance to additional leadership roles down the road. I’m a big believer in both giving back to the people who have given to you and paying it forward by extending a hand to those who are coming up. So, I aspire to learn as much as I can from those who know better and then get to a place where I can be well-positioned to take meaningful, high-impact steps to help set the next generation of lawyers up for success.

What is your blue sky goal?

Honestly, I have a hard time answering this question because I focus so much on taking things day-by-day. As much as possible, I try really hard to do my best in all areas of my life whether it’s doing a good job at work, taking care of my family and friends, or advocating and contributing to the causes and communities that are important to me. My blue-sky goal is to just keep showing up every day, giving my 100%, and seeing where that takes me.

What do you do away from law to decompress from the stresses of the job?

I’m very close with my parents and my younger brothers, and I enjoy spending time with my family. Being with them always reminds me of the bigger picture and we make each other laugh.

I also stress-bake; it’s delicious. When I’ve had a long day at work, I try to bake something from scratch and try new recipes cookies and pies are my go-tos.

To help me “check-out” after the workday, I go on long runs or walks to clear my head. I’ve also recently started Pilates. Work-life balance is incredibly important, and I’m still getting the hang of it. I try really hard to do something fun with a family member or a friend each weekend, even if it’s just grabbing a cup of coffee or catching movie. I’m a big fan of lavender latts and murder mysteries.

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