Our Staff

Marilyn Mullane is an attorney and the Director of Michigan Legal Services. She has served in that capacity since 2000 and has specialized in housing and community development law for the past 30 years, with experience also working on access to utilities, public benefits, health and mental health care. During her years at MLS, the agency has shifted its geographic focus and mission from serving as a state support center for legal aid programs in Michigan to engaging in impact-oriented legal services in the Detroit metropolitan region. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, attended graduate school at Columbia University and law school at Wayne State University.

Deborah Choly is a staff attorney with Michigan Legal Services.  She has worked with the Permanent Supportive Housing program for five years, working with clients to resolve outstanding legal issues that affect their ability to find and keep housing.  She also works with the Tax Foreclosure Prevention Project as a counselor and attorney.  She has represented the Wayne County Jail Inmates since 1989, in the jail conditions case filed by MLS in 1971, first as a contract attorney and later as a staff attorney.  

Joe McGuire has worked in the field of housing justice as an attorney and activist since he was first licensed to practice law in 2011. He has represented many residents of Michigan who face unjust and unnecessary foreclosures and evictions. He graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2011.

Nova was a volunteer for 8 months for United Community Housing Coalition and enjoys working with people. Early March Nova became part of  the  Michigan Legal Services as the Office Manager and will be functioning as the Intake Specialist soon. Nova attended Davenport University studying Business Administration. She has job experience with Accounting and Finance.

In her spare time Nova enjoys atternding her son's football games.

Heidi Coffman, CPA

Heidi is a CPA who has worked with Michigan Legal Services since 1997 as the internal accountant. She supports the important work of MLS by providing a wide variety of administrative services.

After graduating from Walsh College, Heidi started her career with Arthur Andersen & Co., in the tax division, and moved on to the recruiting function. She then became the controller of the Detroit, Toledo and Grand Rapids offices. She also served on the board of the Accounting Aid Society for many years, served on the program service committee, and a volunteer in the tax program. She has also taught seminars for AAS and Nonprofit Enterprise at Work.

She subsequently started her own accounting practice, working primarily with nonprofit organizations. She continues to work with nonprofits and loves working with organizations that have a passion for their charitable purpose.

Vanessa G. Fluker

This section to be completed soon!