About Rod
Rod Johnston combines legal training and business education in a practice based in Michigan. He earned a J.D. from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2015 after completing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and an MBA, both at Wayne State University. Those three degrees shape a professional profile that balances courtroom work, client advising and an understanding of organizational dynamics.
After finishing law school in 2015, Johnston entered private practice and now serves as a lawyer at Sommers Schwartz P.C. He is licensed to practice in Michigan and works from that state. His role at the firm places him alongside litigators and transactional lawyers who handle a range of civil and criminal matters, and he takes part in matters that reflect the varied sections of the state bar to which he belongs.
Johnston maintains active memberships in several sections of the State Bar of Michigan: Appellate Practice, Business Law, Criminal Law, Labor & Employment Law, Probate & Estate Planning, and Young Lawyers. Those affiliations indicate a broad professional engagement. He attends section meetings, follows appellate developments and tracks changes in business and employment law that affect clients and trial strategy.
His undergraduate study in criminal justice provides a foundation for work that touches on criminal law topics. The law degree added training in litigation, legal research and procedure. The MBA introduced business concepts and financial perspectives that surface in commercial disputes, probate matters and employment cases. Together, the degrees allow him to translate client concerns into legal steps and to discuss practical implications alongside legal options.
Colleagues describe Johnston as methodical in preparing cases and precise in written work. He participates in appellate matters through the Appellate Practice section and consults on issues that cross practice areas. At Sommers Schwartz P.C., he contributes to team efforts on briefs, hearings and client counseling. He also remains connected to younger attorneys through the Young Lawyers Section, where newer members exchange practical tips and courtroom experience.
Johnston’s work at the firm is informed by his education and bar involvement. He handles matters that reflect his memberships in appellate, business, criminal, labor and probate law, and he practices in Michigan at Sommers Schwartz P.C. His current practice focuses on civil and criminal matters and issues that arise at the intersection of law and business.
