The SBM Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) currently receives more than 500 calls each week from people looking for lawyers. Many of these are unable to find a match because there are not enough attorneys in some geographic areas or in some practice areas. The SBM has revised and improved LRS. The resulting system produces far better matches for attorneys and consumers alike. We're ready to begin a significant marketing initiative to consumers and need to “stock the shelves” by adding more SBM members as LRS panel members. Better matching technology means a higher likelihood of securing paying clients than ever... Continue reading

SBM Board of Commissioners Three attorneys—E. Thomas McCarthy Jr., Thomas G. Sinas, and Erika L. Butler—won contested seats in this year’s Board of Commissioners elections. All will serve three-year terms expiring at the close of the 2022 Annual Meeting. McCarthy and Sinas were elected to serve District C, representing Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Newaygo, Kent, Osceola, Mecosta, Clare, Isabella, and Gladwin counties. McCarthy, a shareholder at Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, has been an elected member of the Board of Commissioners since 2013. Sinas practiced in Minnesota until 2013, when he returned to Michigan and opened the Grand Rapids office of... Continue reading

Thank you to the 2019 State Bar of Michigan Board of Tellers for meeting in Lansing to certify the State Bar of Michigan election results. L-R are Ernscie Augustin, Jeffrey M. Barker, and Nicole A. Evans. Election results will be posted tomorrow on the SBM website. Continue reading

Dates: January 25–February 1, 2020 Location: Jamaica Inn, Ochos Rios, Jamaica Non-refundable deposit due by July 23, 2019 Registration Form The Jamaica Inn exemplifies the elegance, luxury, and exquisite service of Jamaica's tourism heyday with attention to details such as fresh flower bouquets in the rooms. Marilyn Monroe honeymooned here with playwright Arthur Miller, and Winston Churchill also visited often. Situated on what many consider to be the premier private beach in Jamaica, each of Jamaica Inn's 47 rooms and suites suite has a private balustraded balcony overlooking the beach and the Caribbean. SEMINAR The advanced level seminar is taught... Continue reading

Court: 39th District Court, City of Roseville Vacating Judge: Hon. Catherine Bove Steenland Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2019 Court: 54-A District Court, City of Lansing Vacating Judge: Hon. Hugh Barrington Clarke, Jr. Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2019 To be considered for these positions, 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... Continue reading

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 Admin Law and Young Lawyers 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 PLC about how to successfully present cases before Michigan administrative tribunals as well as best practices for... Continue reading

The Michigan Supreme Court today adopted extensive amendments to the rules governing civil discovery. The rules were developed by the State Bar of Michigan Civil Discovery Rule Review Special Committee, which was chaired by Daniel D. Quick. The rules provide that the scope of discovery should be proportional to the needs of the case, adopt initial disclosure requirements, and clarify issues concerning electronically stored information. “This package of rule changes represents the most comprehensive effort to improve civil discovery rules in at least a generation,” said Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack. “The Court is grateful to the State Bar for... Continue reading

Dr. Noelle Nelson gives listeners simple techniques for connecting with all types of clients and teach lawyers how to communicate, even if they disagree with their client. Disconnects in lawyer/client communication often lead to unhappy clients or even the loss of their business. But the State Bar of Michigan: On Balance Podcast has good news—better relationships with clients can be achieved! Hosts Tish Vincent and JoAnn Hathaway talk to Dr. Noelle Nelson about her book, “Connecting with Your Client: Success Through Improved Client Communication Techniques.” Dr. Nelson offers simple techniques for connecting with clients of all personalities and temperaments and... Continue reading

Dates: July 18–20, 2019 Location: Grand Hotel, 286 Grand Ave, Mackinac Island Cost: $295 for Section members; $395 for non-section members Register with ICLE Cosponsored with ICLE There’s no better place to get advanced content in patent, trademark, and copyright law. Hear from top minds while you bask in the beauty of Mackinac Island. Join 200+ top-notch practitioners for elegant receptions and unparalleled networking. Benefits of Attending Gain insight straight from USPTO director Andrei Iancu. Stay current with critical updates on patent, trademark, and copyright law. Grasp the impact of Belmora, Octane Fitness, Helsinn, SAS, Shaw, ReDigi, and more. Take... Continue reading

The June 2019 issue of the Michigan Bar Journal, focusing on Labor and Employment Law, is available online. Articles include: Balancing Customer Care and Employee Civil Rights A Warning to Employers About Communications with Employees Representing Employees of Educational Institutions in the #MeToo Era Working in a State of Flux: LGBTQ Employment Law Update Recruiting in the Robot Age Other features include: President's Page A Century Later: An Examination of Women in the Law by Jennifer M. Grieco Plain Language Evolving They by Brad Charles and Thomas Myers Best Practices Best Practices in Determining Whether a Claim Sounds in Ordinary... Continue reading

Save the Date Please join the Antitrust, Franchising & Trade Regulation Section of the State Bar of Michigan for the second annual Fall Forum—a networking reception and panel discussion titled, "License to Poach? Recent Antitrust Challenges to Franchise Employee Restrictions." Date: September 26, 2019 Location: Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, 27777 Franklin Rd, Ste 2500, Southfield Networking Reception: 6-7 p.m. Panel Discussion: 7-8 p.m. Cost: Free Register Now If you have any questions, please contact Briar Siljander, Section Chair, at briar@triolawplc.com. Continue reading

Save the Date Date: October 2–4, 2019 Location: Crystal Mountain, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr, Thompsonville This year's keynote speaker will be Eric Carlson. Eric has broad experience in many forms of long-term services and supports, including home and community-based services, nursing facility care, and assisted living facilities. He led Justice in Aging’s extensive research (funded through The Commonwealth Fund) on Medicaid-funded assisted living and currently is leading a project to assist consumer advocacy on Medicaid managed LTSS in Florida and New Jersey. He counsels attorneys from across the country and co-counsels litigation on consumers’ behalf. Mr. Carlson serves as president... Continue reading

The State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners welcomes its newest member, Valerie R. Newman, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, appointed today by the Michigan Supreme Court as commissioner-at-large. She will serve the remainder of a 3-year term ending in 2021. Continue reading

It is time to vote in the 2019 State Bar of Michigan election. This year, elections are being held for positions on the Judicial Tenure Commission, the Board of Commissioners in Districts C and H, the Representative Assembly in Circuit 3, and the Young Lawyers Section Executive Council in District 1. Unless your address on file is in one of the districts or circuits where there is a contested race, you will only receive a ballot for the Judicial Tenure Commission race. All members with an email address on file with the State Bar may vote securely online. Beginning on... Continue reading

Court: 10th District Court, Calhoun County Vacating Judge: Hon. Samuel I. Durham, Jr. Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on June 14, 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

In partnership with the State Bar of Michigan Affordable Legal Services Committee, ICLE has produced a program made up of three on-demand seminars. Each on-demand seminar is designed to help Michigan lawyers become practice ready in limited scope matters, and includes learning objectives, a video recording, written materials, optional self-assessments, and an evaluation. A certificate of completion is available for each on-demand seminar: Begin a Limited Scope Representation Practice (30 minutes) Handle Complex Limited Scope Representation Issues (50 minutes) Demonstration: Communicate with Limited Scope Representation Clients (15 minutes) Before entering the ICLE store to access the on-demand seminars, watch a... Continue reading

Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 Time: Noon–1:30 p.m. Register Today The State Bar of Michigan’s Tax Pro Bono Program (Tax Program), a statewide partnership between the Taxation Section of the State Bar of Michigan and Access to Justice Committee, will be conducting a free webinar training. This training is excellent for attorneys who are new to the area of tax law, as well as experienced attorneys looking for a refresher course. The webinar will survey the most common tax-related issues facing clients of the Tax Program. Training topics will include: IRS notices (notice of intent to lien or levy; notice... Continue reading

Date: Friday, May 31, 2019 Time: 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Location: The Henry, Autograph Collection, Fairlane Plaza, 300 Town Ctr Dr, Dearborn Register online or by mail form Cost: On or before May 17: Section members and students, $50; Non-Section members, $95; After May 17: Section members and students, $75; Non-Section members, $130 Agenda 8:00 a.m. | Check-in and Continental Breakfast 8:15 a.m. | The Exoneration of an Innocent Man 9:20 a.m. | Client Says They Want to Appeal: Now What? 10:25 a.m. | Stay Out of Hot Water: Ethics Rules You Need to Know 11:30 a.m. | Lunch & Evidence... Continue reading

Date: July 11–14, 2019 Location: Crystal Mountain Resort, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr, Thompsonville Cost: Section Members $175; Non-Section Members $225; Law Students/Legal Assistants $175; and Judges FREE Register: online or by mail form Registration deadline is July 3 Can't make it to the conference, but want the materials? You can purchase the print materials for $79.50. Purchase them online or by mail form. The seminar will feature presentations by top-notch family law practitioners providing state-of-the-law education and tips on family law issues. In addition, the conference provides valuable opportunities to network with your colleagues. The conference fee of $175 includes... Continue reading

Bar passers: Ready to become a licensed Michigan attorney? Here's what you need to know about being admitted to the bar, joining the State Bar of Michigan, and finding information about local bar admission ceremonies that have been scheduled. https://www.michbar.org/News/NewsDetail/nid/5632 Continue reading

Dates: June 13–14, 2019 Location: Hotel Indigo, 263 W Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City Register: online or by mail form Registration deadline is June 8, 2019 Costs: Section members—attending Friday Annual Meeting (9:00 a.m.–noon)—FREE; Section member or attorneys—$50 (Includes both meetings, cocktail networking reception [2 drink tickets], Hall of Fame Ceremony and dinner, and Friday breakfast buffet); guest of attorney registration for Hall of Fame Ceremony—$40 (Includes cocktail networking reception [2 drink tickets], Hall of Fame Ceremony and dinner, and Friday breakfast buffet); and children under 16 years of age attending Hall of Fame Ceremony—$10 Program Continue reading

Date: May 17-18, 2019 Location: MotorCity Casino & Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48201 Cost: $45; Register by May 14, 2019 Register online The 12th Annual Young Lawyers Section Summit is a gathering of the state's young attorneys in celebration of camaraderie and education. The event will include a host of practical skills sessions, basic law overviews, and plenty of networking. The Summit is also when the section presents its Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. Accommodations: A block of rooms have been reserved at the MotorCity Casino & Hotel. Contact the hotel at (866) 782-9622 or online and use... Continue reading

The following individuals will receive 2019 State Bar of Michigan awards at a luncheon on September 26, 2019, at the Inauguration & Awards Luncheon in Novi. 2019 State Bar of Michigan Award Recipients Roberts P. Hudson Award: Lawrence P. Nolan Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award: Michael J. Talbot Champion of Justice Award: Julie A. Gafkay, Robert F. Gillett, and Marla R. McCowan John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award: Prof. Lawrence C. Mann and Prof. Suellyn Scarnecchia John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award: Kimberly L. Scott Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award: Michael J. Sullivan The following individuals... Continue reading

Note: Complete the application before May 31 in any web browser except Internet Explorer. The application is not fully functional in Internet Explorer. You are invited to apply to serve in one of the many volunteer opportunities offered by the State Bar of Michigan. We offer short-term, fast-moving opportunities to serve on innovative work groups and longer-term, more in-depth opportunities to serve on traditional standing committees. The streamlined volunteer application process will help you quickly identify the right opportunity to help us continue to advance our core mission of promoting the professionalism of lawyers; advocating for an open, fair, and... Continue reading

The State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section (RPLS) will host its 2019 Summer Conference, "Great Lakes, Great Times: Michigan Real Estate from the Mountaintop,” from July 10-13, 2019 at Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls, MI. The conference begins Thursday with an expert panel discussion of public-private partnerships (sometimes referred to as “P3”). Thursday’s and Friday’s workshops will address marijuana and real estate, short-term rentals, online auctions, shopping center debt considerations, workouts and foreclosures, and technology. There will also be an update on recent Michigan legislation and court opinions, as well as 12 interactive roundtable discussions on a variety of... Continue reading