For more than 30 years, ABA TECHSHOW has taught lawyers how to make technology work for them. If you attend, you'll network with legal technology experts from around the globe, learn to practice more competently and gain an understanding of how to more effectively provide service to your clients.
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The workshop is free and will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 4. Sign up today.
Markman was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor John Engler in 1999, then was elected to his seat in 2000 and reelected in 2004 and 2012. Prior to serving on the state's highest court, Markman served as U.S. Attorney in Detroit, as an assistant U.S. Attorney General and a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals. He also practiced law with Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone in Detroit.
Markman's term as chief justice will follow that of Chief Justice Robert Young Jr., who has served as chief justice since 2011.
Nominees for both awards must be State Bar members in good standing and their contributions may have been made either during the past year or by virtue of cumulative effort or service. Materials submitted should include sufficient details about the nominee's accomplishments. The Assembly's Nominating and Awards Committee will review the applications and make awards recommendations to the Representative Assembly. The Representative Assembly, chaired by Fred Herrmann, is the final policy-making body of the State Bar.
The nomination deadline is Friday, March 10, 2017. Apply online. For more information about the Representative Assembly Awards contact Carrie Sharlow at repassembly@mail.michbar.org or 517-346-6317.
"Jennifer will help the Foundation meet new challenges ahead and sustain its leadership role in access to justice in Michigan," said Margaret Nichols, chairperson of the MSBF Executive Director Search Committee.
Bentley joins the MSBF after serving for 20 years as a staff attorney and manager in several legal aid programs, most recently as Chief Development Officer for statewide nonprofit Michigan Advocacy Program, the umbrella organization for Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Farmworker Legal Services and several statewide advocacy programs including the Michigan Poverty Law Program, the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Michigan Elder Justice Initiative and Michigan Law Help. Her work has included a wide range of administrative duties, program development, policy planning and service delivery innovations. She earned her JD from Indiana University School of Law, her Certificate in fundraising management from Indiana University Center on Philanthropy and her BA from Aquinas College.
Bentley will start her new role Jan. 30, and will replace Linda Rexer, who will retire Jan. 6 from the MSBF eafter serving for 30 years as its executive director. The MSBF provides leadership and funding to advance access to justice for the poor and improve the administration of justice in Michigan. For more information about the MSBF, visit www.msbf.org.
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 legal profession. The Hudson Award is the highest award conferred by the Bar.
The Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award recognizes extraordinary governmental service by a Michigan attorney holding elected or appointed office. Created by the Board of Commissioners in 1998, it was first awarded to Frank J. Kelley for his record-setting tenure as Michigan’s chief lawyer.
The Champion of Justice Award is given for extraordinary individual accomplishments or for devotion to a cause. No more than five awards are given each year to practicing lawyers and judges who have made a significant contribution to their community, state, and/or the nation.
The Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award was established in memory of the 2006-07 SBM president, who died in January of 2008. This award will be presented to a recognized local or affinity bar association, program or leader for excellence in promoting the ideal of professionalism or equal justice for all, or in responding to a compelling legal need within the community during the past year or on an ongoing basis.
The John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award, named after a Grand Rapids attorney who was dedicated to making legal services available to all, recognizes a member of the State Bar who excels in commitment to pro bono issues. This award carries with it a cash stipend to be donated to the charity of the recipient’s choice.
The John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award was introduced in 2011 and is named for a longtime and beloved University of Michigan Law School professor and Wayne State University dean. This award will be presented periodically to a professor from a Michigan law school whose influence on Michigan lawyers has elevated the quality of legal practice in the state.
All SBM award nominations are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2017.
The Liberty Bell Award recipient is selected from nominations made by local and special-purpose bar associations. The award is presented to a non-lawyer who has made a significant contribution to the justice system. The deadline for this award is Monday, May 12, 2017.
An awards committee co-chaired by Lori A. Buiteweg and SBM Vice President Jennifer M. Grieco reviews nominations for the Roberts P. Hudson, John W. Reed, Champion of Justice, Frank J. Kelley, Kimberly M. Cahill, and Liberty Bell awards. The SBM Pro Bono Initiative Committee reviews nominations for the John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award. These recommendations are then voted on by the full Board of Commissioners at its April meeting.
Last year's non-winning nominations will automatically carry over for consideration this year. Nominations should include sufficient details about the accomplishments of the nominee to allow the committees to make a judgment.
Any SBM member can nominate candidates for awards. Apply online or download application forms. Cummiskey Award nominations can be directed to Robert Mathis at rmathis@mail.michbar.org; all other nominations can be submitted to Joyce Nordeen atjnordeen@mail.michbar.org
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 legal profession. The Hudson Award is the highest award conferred by the Bar.
The Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award recognizes extraordinary governmental service by a Michigan attorney holding elected or appointed office. Created by the Board of Commissioners in 1998, it was first awarded to Frank J. Kelley for his record-setting tenure as Michigan’s chief lawyer.
The Champion of Justice Award is given for extraordinary individual accomplishments or for devotion to a cause. No more than five awards are given each year to practicing lawyers and judges who have made a significant contribution to their community, state, and/or the nation.
The Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award was established in memory of the 2006-07 SBM president, who died in January of 2008. This award will be presented to a recognized local or affinity bar association, program or leader for excellence in promoting the ideal of professionalism or equal justice for all, or in responding to a compelling legal need within the community during the past year or on an ongoing basis.
The John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award, named after a Grand Rapids attorney who was dedicated to making legal services available to all, recognizes a member of the State Bar who excels in commitment to pro bono issues. This award carries with it a cash stipend to be donated to the charity of the recipient’s choice.
The John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award was introduced in 2011 and is named for a longtime and beloved University of Michigan Law School professor and Wayne State University dean. This award will be presented periodically to a professor from a Michigan law school whose influence on Michigan lawyers has elevated the quality of legal practice in the state.
All SBM award nominations are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2017.
The Liberty Bell Award recipient is selected from nominations made by local and special-purpose bar associations. The award is presented to a non-lawyer who has made a significant contribution to the justice system. The deadline for this award is Monday, May 12, 2017.
An awards committee co-chaired by Lori A. Buiteweg and SBM Vice President Jennifer M. Grieco reviews nominations for the Roberts P. Hudson, John W. Reed, Champion of Justice, Frank J. Kelley, Kimberly M. Cahill, and Liberty Bell awards. The SBM Pro Bono Initiative Committee reviews nominations for the John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award. These recommendations are then voted on by the full Board of Commissioners at its April meeting.
Last year's non-winning nominations will automatically carry over for consideration this year. Nominations should include sufficient details about the accomplishments of the nominee to allow the committees to make a judgment.
Any SBM member can nominate candidates for awards. Apply online or download application forms. Cummiskey Award nominations can be directed to Robert Mathis at rmathis@mail.michbar.org; all other nominations can be submitted to Joyce Nordeen atjnordeen@mail.michbar.org
The seminar is designed to inspire and assist civil legal aid organizations, law schools and bar associations in creating legal clinics to serve veterans in their communities. It will consist of a panel discussion, moderated by Antonia Fasanelli and including panelists Joel Teitelbaum, Patricia Roberts and Sara Sommerstrom, who will provide instruction on how to establish legal clinics in or near VA medical centers, how to establish a legal clinic as a medical legal partnership and how to create law school clinics that serve veterans. The discussion will identify VA medical centers in need of legal clinics and examples of successful urban and rural models around the country.
Register for the seminar.
If you can't attend the seminar live, you can watch a recording of it at http://ambar.org/veterans.
This half-day ethics seminar will feature presentations on how to ethically manage lawyer trust accounts and effectively use forms, checklists and other recordkeeping resources. The seminar, open to lawyers and their staff members, is an excellent way to learn more about Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 and 1.15A.
Participants will receive practical information as well as materials prepared by the presenters: SBM Professional Standards Division Director Danon Goodrum-Garland, SBM Assistant General Counsel Nkrumah Johnson-Wynn, Professional Standards Assistant Counsel Alecia Ruswinckel and Attorney Grievance Commission Senior Associate Counsel Rhonda Pozehl.
View the event agenda or register for the event. The registration fee is $50 for lawyers and $25 for non-lawyers. Payment and the completed registration form must be received by Friday, Feb. 24. No walk-in registrations will be accepted. For more information contact Karen Spohn with the State Bar of Michigan Professional Standards Division at (517) 346-6309 or via e-mail at kspohn@mail.michbar.org.
Donate to the Linda K. Rexer Fund.
Linda Rexer has worked tirelessly to increase access to justice for the poor. Under her leadership as executive director of the Michigan State Bar Foundation for nearly 30 years, the organization administered more than $190 million in grants, primarily in support of legal services to the poor. Rexer collaborated with Michigan legal leaders to establish Interest on lawyer trust accounts, which the Michigan Supreme Court approved in 1990. Ever since, Rexer has earnestly and persistently persuaded Michigan financial institutions to participate in IOLTA and work to increase IOLTA income to support legal aid grants. At the end of 2015, state IOLTA funds totaled more than $27.5 million.
In 1994, Rexer established the MSBF as the organization to oversee distribution of the portion of Michigan court filing fees designated for civil legal aid. By the end of 2015, these fees totaled nearly $136 million. In 1997, Rexer was instrumental in creating the Access to Justice Fund, through which Michigan lawyers can make voluntary financial contributions to support civil legal aid. At the end of 2015, ATJF contributions totaled more than $14 million. Rexer has assumed many volunteer leadership roles within Michigan. She was a founding member of the SBM Access to Justice Task Force and co-chairs the Committee on Justice Initiatives; she was a founding member of the Michigan State Planning Body, an independent group focused on civil and criminal legal aid for the poor; she was appointed by Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly to co-chair the Michigan Solutions on Self-Help Task Force; she co-chaired the Access to Justice Committee of the SBM Judicial Crossroads Task Force; and she co-chaired the Access and Affordability Committee for the SBM 21st Century Practice Task Force. She has also taken up many volunteer leadership positions on a national level.
Rexer will retire at the end of 2016. She has received other State Bar awards, including the Michael Franck Award for contributions to the profession. This fall she received the State Bar’s highest award, the Roberts P. Hudson Award, honoring a legacy overflowing with long-lasting improvements to access to justice for all in Michigan.
