Michigan State Law Review Alum Jenna Foos Featured in ABA Journal

Jenna Foos (Notes Editor, ‘19)

As an intern at Legal Services of South Central Michigan during her 1L summer, Michigan State Law Review alum Jenna Foos (Notes Editor, ’19) assisted in representing residents subject to eviction. During her internship, Foos encountered an interesting question—what happens to the surplus funds after a state sells a tax foreclosed property? Foos decided she would dedicate her Student Note in Law Review to exploring the topic in detail. 

In 2018, Foos won first place in the ABA Real Property Trust & Estate Essay Contest, and her Note, “State Theft in Real Property Tax Foreclosures Procedures,” was recently published in the ABA’s Real Property Trust & Estate Law Journal. In her article, she examined the constitutional implications of states’ retention of funds relating to the sale of foreclosed property under the Takings Clause. Her article asks the novel question: is states’ retention of funds in excess of the taxpayer’s obligation compatible with the Fifth Amendment’s requirement of “just compensation?” 

In addition to being an active member of Law Review during law school, Foos maintained various interests outside of the Journal. She served as a teaching assistant for both Contracts and Research, Writing, & Analysis courses. She also worked as a student clinician in the Chance at Childhood Clinic. Her wide array of interests led her to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office during her 2L summer. 

Foos’s passion for public service led her back to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in Columbus, Ohio, after graduation. Her law school experience ended up bringing her full circle, as she attended Ohio State University for undergraduate studies. Her position at the Attorney General’s office will enable her to further her interest in public service. Just as she did during her 1L internship, Foos is ready to confront and tackle how the law’s implementation impacts the state’s most vulnerable residents.