Monica Conyers Wants To Be A Lawyer: 'Everybody Deserves 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Chances'

DETROIT (WWJ) - Former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers — who served prison time for bribery — says she wants to find work as a lawyer.

The estranged wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers made an appearance in Wayne County Circuit Court on Tuesday during a hearing for convicted murderer Bob Bashara, who is seeking a new trial.

Conyers, seen seated behind Bashara in photos and video on Tuesday, said she's working with one of the attorneys in the case.

Conyers, who has a law degree, said she hasn't passed the bar exam in Michigan, but did so out-of-state.

She said she's learned from her past mistakes and is hoping to start anew.

"Just wanting to make a difference and a change and have a fresh start," she told  WWJ's Laura Bonnell and other reporters. "Everybody deserves second, third, forth, fifth, sixth chances – as many as you can get to finally get your foot in the right direction and to make something of yourself and do better with your life."

In June of 2009, it was announced that Conyers had been linked to an ongoing corruption investigation in Detroit.  In 2010, she pleaded guilty to bribery in connection with a multi-million-dollar city contract and served 27 months of a 37 month sentence at a West Virginia prison camp.

Following her release in December, 2012, Conyers did a stint at a halfway house before completing her sentence on house arrest while working at a Detroit auto shop.

She made headlines again in June of last year when she sued McDonald's over a finger injury.

Conyers said her focus now is on the future, and keeping her name out of the news.

"Well, it's like, some of these stories — every time there's a story about 'someone' they always make reference to me," Conyers said. "And I think that at this point, it's been almost 10 years...it's enough. It's time to just let me go and let me live my life and do the best I can for me and my family and be a productive citizen."