The Probate & Estate Planning Section is invited to attend this informative conference. Date: Friday, March 20, 2020 Time: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Location: Inn at St. John's, 44045 Five Mile Rd, Plymouth Costs: ELDRS Section Members: $150; Non-Section Members: $200; First ten new lawyers (P81800 or above): Free, contact Maria Wiersma at (248) 799-2711 to obtain a password to allow you to register for free—Limit first 10 new lawyers; Legal aid office, no charge for program, contact Maria Wiersma at (248) 799-2711 to obtain a password to allow you to register for free; luncheon event with buffet, $30. Register: online... Continue reading

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2020; 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 Participants can register online or by mail form. Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Friday, February 21. No "walk-in" registrations will be accepted. View Faculty and Agenda 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 staffs, is an excellent way to learn how to comply... Continue reading

Nominations are still open for major State Bar of Michigan awards, but they will close soon on February 14. Awards will be presented at a celebration luncheon on September 17. Download an application today to nominate your candidate for the Roberts P. Hudson, John W. Reed, Champion of Justice, Frank J. Kelley, Kimberly M. Cahill, John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono and Liberty Bell awards. https://www.michbar.org/News/NewsDetail/nid/5665 Continue reading

The Michigan Supreme Court’s Justice for All Task Force has scheduled two public town hall meetings seeking input on its plan to achieve 100 percent access to our civil justice system. The first meeting is on February 14, 2020, in Grand Rapids. The second meeting is on February 24 in Detroit. Additional information is provided below. Because the right to a lawyer does not apply to civil cases, there is a significant gap when it comes to equal access. Presently, in 75% of civil cases, at least one side cannot afford a lawyer, and they are losing in court because... Continue reading

Cell phones in court aren’t just for lawyers anymore. Beginning May 1, 2020, the public will be allowed to bring cell phones and other personal electronic devices (such as a tablet or laptop) into courthouses and courtrooms. Users will be able to retrieve or store information, access the internet, send/receive text messages (silently), and reproduce court documents (as long as it leaves no marks and does not unreasonably interfere with the operation of the clerk’s office). The Michigan Supreme Court order amends MCR 8.115, which restricted such use (rules regarding cell phone use varied widely from court to court). The... Continue reading

Date: Thursday, January 30, 2020 Time: Noon–1:30 p.m. Location: Honigman LLP, 2290 First National Building, 660 Woodward Ave, Detroit There is no cost to attend, but please RSVP to Linda Robinson at lrobinson@honigman.com by Friday, January 24. Speaker: Hubert Raglan, Director, Washington National Tax, KPMG LLP Topics to be discussed include hedging, cash management, debt workouts and bad debts, and the end of LIBOR. Lunch will be provided. Continue reading

The Henry Dearborn February 7, 2020 This seminar will focus on the employment setting in municipal government, including investigation and handling of sexual harassment investigations. Register by February 4, 2020. Agenda Continue reading

Court: 72nd District Court, St. Clair County Vacating Judge: Hon. Cynthia Siemen Platzer Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on January 10, 2020 Court: 3rd Circuit Court, Wayne County Vacating Judge: Hon. Cynthia Gray Hathaway Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on January 10, 2020 Court: 29th District Court, Wayne County Vacating Judge: Hon. Laura Redmond Mack Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on January 10, 2020 To be considered for these positions, you must be a State Bar of Michigan member... Continue reading

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2020 Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m. Location: Birmingham Athletic Club, 4033 W Maple Rd, Bloomfield Hills This event is free to attend, but registration is required for proper facility planning. Register by January 13, 2020. This presentation will address the extent of indemnity available to a party (such as the limitations of MCL 691.991), whether indemnity applies only to third party claims, and the characteristics of common law/implied indemnification compared with contractual indemnity. Presented by John M. Sier, senior partner with Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook and head of the firm’s commercial litigation practice. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres... Continue reading

Date: Friday, January 24, 2020 Time: 1:00–10:00 p.m. Cost: Annual Meeting and Education Program (does not include cocktails or dinner), free for Section members but you must register to attend to access materials and to allow for facility planning; Section members attending cocktails and awards banquet—$150; Non-Section member/guest attending cocktails and awards banquet—$165 Location: Detroit Athletic Club, 241 Madison St, Detroit Register: online or by mail form Registration deadline is January 21, 2020 Cocktails and awards banquet will follow the annual meeting and education program. We are excited to hear from Jim Obergefell from the monumental Supreme Court case Obergefell... Continue reading

Date: January 30-31, 2020 Location: Inn at St. John's, 44045 Five Mile Rd, Galilee Room, Plymouth, MI 48170 Time: 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... Continue reading

Court: 26th Circuit Court (Alpena & Montmorency Counties) Vacating Judge: Hon. Michael G. Mack Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on December 13, 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 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... Continue reading

Michigan Litigators, Are You Ready? The new civil discovery rules take effect January 1. The SBM Civil Discovery Resource Center has what you need to get ready, including: Civil Discovery Guidebook ICLE/SBM On-Demand Seminar Bar Journal Articles Link to the new rules https://www.michbar.org/civildiscovery Continue reading

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