The Section is inviting nominations for its 2020 Distinguished Service Award that will be presented at the Mid-Winter Meeting on January 24, 2020. We are hoping you will take this opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of a colleague who is deserving of this honor. The award recognizes an attorney who has demonstrated, for a period of twenty years or more, that he/she: Has made major contributions to the practice of labor and employment law. Reflects the highest ethical principles, including principles of civility and professionalism. Has advanced the development of labor and employment law. Has a long-established commitment to excellence.... Continue reading

Stand out in the crowd! Increase your efficiency and your billable time using the resources featured in the November issue of the Michigan Bar Journal. http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f0ead878#/f0ead878/54 Continue reading

Nominations are now open for major State Bar of Michigan awards that will be presented at a 2020 awards celebration. The Roberts P. Hudson Award goes to a person whose career has exemplified the highest ideals of the profession. This award is presented periodically to commend one or more lawyers for their unselfish rendering of outstanding and unique service to and on behalf of the State Bar, given generously, ungrudgingly, and in a spirit of self-sacrifice. It is awarded to that member of the State Bar of Michigan who best exemplifies that which brings honor, esteem, and respect to the... Continue reading

The November issue of the Michigan Bar Journal focusing on Children's Law is now available for @MIStateBar members to read online. November 2019 Michigan Bar Journal Continue reading

Presented by the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the East and West Michigan Sections of the Air & Waste Management Association. Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019 Location: Lansing Community College Time: 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m.; happy hour following at EagleMonk Register Now Registration deadline is Nov. 7 Schedule Continue reading

Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 Time: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Location: Honigman Detroit, 660 Woodward Ave, #2290, Detroit Cost: Section members—$50; Government employees—Free; Law students—$10; All other registrants—$85 Register: online or by mail form Registration deadline November 8, 2019. Limited onsite registration available. The program offers multiple tracks covering a wide range of tax topics and caters to all levels of tax practitioners. Happy hour & mixer sponsored by the Young Tax Lawyers Committee. Registration & Lunch, 11:00 a.m.–Noon | Program, Noon–4:00 p.m. | Happy Hour, 4:00–6:00 p.m. Continue reading

A Civil Discovery Guidebook on the new civil discovery rules that will take effect on January 1, 2020, is now available online. The guide was developed through a partnership with the State Bar of Michigan, the Detroit Chapter of the Association of Certified e-Discovery Specialists, and attorneys at Dickinson Wright and Warner Norcross & Judd. It includes an analysis and practice tips to help ensure that all practitioners have the resources they need to be ready for the new discovery rules that represent a significant change in pretrial civil litigation procedures. A limited number of guidebooks in paper form will... Continue reading

The State Bar of Michigan has partnered with ICLE to provide a free on-demand seminar discussing the broad changes to the Michigan Court Rules governing civil discovery that take effect on January 1, 2020. Dan Quick and Hon. Christopher Yates, members of the SBM Civil Discovery Court Rule Review Committee, discuss best discovery practices under the amended rules with ICLE's Bekah Page-Gourley and provide insight on the purpose of the changes and what to expect going forward. To watch a preview of the seminar, visit ICLE's website. To access the full webinar, SBM members should select the “buy now” button... Continue reading

Date: Thursday, November 7, 2019 Time: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Cost: $100 (attorneys licensed to practice less than five years, including law students and unlicensed graduates); $125 (attorneys licensed to practice five years or more) Location: State Bar of Michigan, Lansing Register online or by mail/fax form before November 5 View the Agenda The semi-annual seminar features presentations on how to maintain mutually beneficial client relationships, draft effective fee agreements, manage lawyer trust accounts, analyze ethical issues, and use innovative techniques and technology for effective law office management. Participants will receive seminar materials prepared by the distinguished faculty. The seminar is... Continue reading

Grand Rapids—Amway Grand Plaza, Gerald R. Ford Room, 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, November 4-5, 2019 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. each day Are You Ready for Business? This award-winning program will help you: Develop confidence, attract clients, and impress partners. Meet the lawyers doing the deals you want to do. Learn the secrets of Michigan’s most successful business practitioners—our faculty describes the work they do day in and day out. Take home time-tested, proven forms and explanatory materials you can put to use immediately. Basic Training for Every Business Lawyer. Business practice is varied and complex. Your success requires broad... Continue reading

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2019; 1:15–4:45 p.m. Cost: $50 for lawyers; $25 for non-lawyers, law students, & unlicensed graduates Location: State Bar of Michigan, 306 Townsend St, Lansing Registration: online or mail/fax form Registration deadline is October 18. No "walk-in" registrations will be accepted. View the Agenda & Faculty This half-day ethics seminar will feature presentations on how to manage lawyer trust accounts, including how to effectively use forms, checklists, and other recordkeeping resources. The seminar, which is open to lawyers and their staff, is an excellent way to learn how to comply with Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15... Continue reading

The Michigan Supreme Court has appointed Michael V. Goetz to the position of Grievance Administrator for the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission (AGC). Goetz will oversee the prosecutorial and educational functions of the AGC. The appointment is effective September 23, 2019. “Mr. Goetz has both the management skills and professional experience to make sure the AGC continues to protect the public and hold the legal profession accountable,” said Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack. “Just as important, Mr. Goetz has a deep commitment to public service and great ideas on how to engage the public and the bar in the Commission’s critical... Continue reading

Don’t miss your chance to help shape the future of the bar exam! The NCBE Testing Task Force is conducting a practice analysis survey to gather current data on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and technology that newly licensed lawyers use in their jobs. Your input is needed! Take the survey today: https://www.testingtaskforce.org/2019PAsurvey Continue reading

The Business Law and Government Law Sections are invited to attend this informative event. Date: Thursday, September 12, 2019 Time: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Location: Inn at St. John's, 44045 Five Mile Rd, Plymouth Register: online or by mail form Preregister by September 9, 2019 Costs: (includes seminar, breakfast, lunch, and a networking reception) Section Member Seminar Registration—$75; Section Student Member Seminar Registration—FREE*; Non-section Student Member Seminar Registration—$20*; All other seminar registrants—$125; Section Annual Meeting (does not include seminar, meals, or reception)—FREE *Students must register using their law school email address. Limited onsite registration available—for a $30 fee in addition to... Continue reading

The Michigan Supreme Court recently adopted comprehensive amendments to Michigan’s civil discovery rules. These rules were developed by the State Bar of Michigan’s Civil Discovery Court Rule Review Committee. The rules had not been holistically revised in 35 years, and these amendments represent a significant change in pretrial civil litigation procedures, with the goal of making discovery more efficient and less burdensome, increasing everyone’s access to our courts to resolve their civil legal dispute in a cost-effective manner. The New Civil Discovery Rules will be effective on January 1, 2020. To prepare practitioners for this change, the State Bar of... Continue reading

Court: 90th District Court, Charlevoix County Vacating Judge: Hon. James N. Erhart Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on September 6, 2019 To be considered for this position, you must be a State Bar of Michigan member who meets the legal qualifications for this office. Please be aware that to be appointed you must reside within the judicial district. To apply for the position, please email one complete packet, including your judicial appointment questionnaire, resume, writing samples, and any other attachments to appointments@michigan.gov. If you have any questions about the judicial appointment process, please... Continue reading

Date: Saturday, September 21, 2019 Time: 9:00 a.m.–Noon Location: Crowne Plaza West, 925 S Creyts Rd, Lansing Cost: Free, but registration is requested for proper facilities planning. Breakfast will be available starting at 8:30 a.m. There is no charge to attend the Annual Meeting. Register: online or by mail form Registration deadline is September 15, 2019. Agenda Family Law Council elections, proposed amended bylaws, and a program related to the importance of the Family Division will be presented. A detailed agenda will be emailed to those who register by September 15. Council Application Notice of Proposed Bylaw Changes Amendment requires... Continue reading

The State Bar of Michigan Business Law Section will host “Business Boot Camp I (Grand Rapids): Basic Training for Every Business Lawyer” from November 4-5, 2019 at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, and from January 30-31, 2020 at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth. This award-winning course will provide you with practical tools you can put to use immediately. In just two days you will receive grounding in eight key areas of business practice, with guidance from the leaders who handle them every day. They will teach you how to: Develop confidence, attract clients, and impress partners... Continue reading

Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 Time: 9:30 a.m.–Noon Location: Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC, 313 S Washington Sq, Lansing Cost: Free, but registration required to attend Register: online or by mail form Must register to attend. Mark your calendar and register for the Agricultural Law Section's Annual Meeting and program in Lansing on September 24. Business meeting to start at 9:30 a.m., with the program following at 10:00 a.m. A networking lunch is scheduled for after the program. Parking will be available on the street side and in the city lot nearby. For more information about the event contact... Continue reading

The Testing Task Force of the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) is interested in your insights regarding the job activities of newly licensed lawyers. Complete the Task Force’s nationwide 2019 practice analysis survey, which is gathering current data on the knowledge, skills, abilities, other characteristics, and technology newly licensed lawyers use to accomplish the job tasks they perform. To participate and learn more about the study, visit https://www.testingtaskforce.org/2019PAsurvey. The results of this survey will be used by NCBE to develop the next generation of the bar exam and will benefit the profession as a whole. Let’s make sure the... Continue reading

The State Bar of Michigan, The Joseph Project, Lakeshore Legal Aid, D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, and the Oakland County Bar Association are partnering to offer a human trafficking training on Thursday, October 17, 2019, from 8:00 a.m.–noon. The Legal First Responders: Equipping Attorneys to Empower Human Trafficking Survivors training will be hosted by WMU-Cooley Law School at its Auburn Hills Campus. There will be a simultaneous broadcast of the training to WMU-Cooley’s campuses in Lansing and Grand Rapids. The event is free of charge with the commitment to accept a human trafficking referral on a pro bono basis within... Continue reading

Court: 36th District Court, City of Detroit Vacating Judge: Hon. Cylenthia LaToye Miller Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on August 21, 2019 To be considered for this position, you must be a State Bar of Michigan member who meets the legal qualifications for this office. Please be aware that to be appointed you must reside within the judicial district. To apply for the position, please email one complete packet, including your judicial appointment questionnaire, resume, writing samples, and any other attachments to appointments@michigan.gov. If you have any questions about the judicial appointment process,... Continue reading

The Business Law and Government Law Sections are invited to attend this informative event. Date: Thursday, September 12, 2019 Time: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Location: Inn at St. John's, 44045 Five Mile Rd, Plymouth Register: online or by mail form Preregister by September 9, 2019 Costs: (includes seminar, breakfast, lunch, and a networking reception) Section Member Seminar Registration–$75; Section Student Member Seminar Registration–FREE*; Non-section Student Member Seminar Registration–$20*; All other seminar registrants–$125; Section Annual Meeting (does not include seminar, meals, or reception)—FREE *Students must register using their law school email address. Limited onsite registration available—for a $30 fee in addition to... Continue reading

Date: October 11-12, 2019 Location: Inn at St. John’s, 44045 Five Mile Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170 Registration: online or by mail Registration deadline is October 7, 2019. Cost ADR Conference—$150 or $75 for law students Family Mediation Module—$60 or $30 for law students Awards Banquet—$50 Annual Meeting—Free (Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m.) The ADR Annual Conference has been approved for 11 hours of advanced mediation training featuring Michigan practitioners and experts. Schedule Speaker Biographies Sponsorships available. See the sponsor registration form for more details. Hotel information: The Inn at St. John’s has reduced rates for our Section, based on availability, on reservations... Continue reading

Brought to you by the Administrative and Regulatory Law Section in partnership with the Young Lawyers Section. Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2019 Time: 11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Location: University Club of MSU, Lower Level Ballroom, 3435 Forest Rd, Lansing Register: online or by mail form To help ensure an accurate lunch count, registrations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 13. Cost: $20 for Young Lawyers and Admin Law Section members; $25 for non-section members; $15 for law students. Learn valuable insights from attorney Bret Totoraitis of Consumers Energy Company and William Fahey of Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes... Continue reading