Richard Bernstein, a political science lecturer at the University, announced Monday that he will be seeking the Democratic nomination in the race for attorney general of Michigan.

Bernstein — a trial attorney with The Sam Bernstein Law Firm based in Farmington Hills — said he formally launched his campaign in Lansing Monday morning.

In an interview with The Michigan Daily Monday after the announcement, Bernstein said he was inspired to run for attorney general because it would give him the opportunity to make lasting changes for Michigan residents.

“What inspired me to do it is the fact that this is a position where you can make a tremendous difference to so many different people,” Bernstein said. “That this is a position where ultimately you can make life better for so many people in so many different ways.”

Bernstein’s law career has focused mostly on social justice law. As the head of the firm’s public service division, Bernstein has tried many cases related to the issues that minorities and underrepresented citizens face. The class he teaches at the University — Law and Social Change — focuses on these issues as well.

Bernstein said that after making a career out of fighting for the rights of everyday Michiganders he wants to help even more people by becoming a public official.

“I think that if we had a strong, viable attorney general’s office, then this is the kind of role that government should be playing, it’s helping people make a difference in their lives,” he said.

Bernstein added that his past work on challenging social justice cases highlights his ability to stand up and defend those who’ve been underrepresented by the state.

“When you look at the work that I’ve done, basically I take on the cases that most lawyers won’t touch or won’t take,” Bernstein said. “And I take on pretty much the most difficult cases that ultimately, in many situations, most attorneys aren’t going to touch because they are very expensive, they’re very intense and they can be overwhelming.”

In a recent campaign letter to Michigan voters, Bernstein wrote that he would like to become attorney general so that he can continue his work serving underrepresented Michigan residents. He added that he feels a special connection to those who have faced challenges throughout the state because he has been blind since birth.

“Times are tough,” Bernstein wrote. “And like so many people in this state, I know what it’s like to be counted out. That’s why I want to harness the power of the Attorney General’s office to stand up for people who need a voice — working families, seniors, children, veterans, students and those who would otherwise have no representation.”

Bernstein said that throughout his career he has specialized in providing access for all to public transportation, aviation, education, technology and other “basic things that we all take for granted.”

“When you’re looking at the kind of cases that I’ve handled, these are cases that have had a tremendous impact on the lives of people and ultimately these are cases where the stakes are incredibly high, and I had to really fight hard,” Bernstein said. “But the most important thing is that these were the kind of cases that I think really have helped a lot of people…it’s all about making sure that folks have access and can live a decent quality of life.”

If elected, Bernstein said some of the major issues he will focus on include fighting child internet pornography, child predators on the internet and identification theft. He added that he also plans to address corporate malfeasance, the policies of many health insurance companies, corporate dumping and pollution and other issues.

“I think the essence of what we’re really going to be focused on is that, as attorney general, is that I’m going to be taking on the real battles, not just the cosmetic ones,” Bernstein said.