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The State Bar Election Notice for the 2019 elections, including nominating petitions, can be found in the March Michigan Bar Journal, beginning on page 54. Petitions found in the Bar Journal may be used to submit your name for one of the leadership roles at the State Bar of Michigan or Judicial Tenure Commission. Nominating petitions must be submitted no later than April 30, 2019.

Michigan lawyers are advised that the following elections will be held in June 2019:

• A statewide election for a non-judicial member of the Judicial Tenure Commission
• Elections for the members of the Representative Assembly in 39 judicial circuits
• Elections for members of the Board of Commissioners in five commissioner districts
• Elections for members of the Young Lawyers Section Executive Council in three districts

Electronic ballots will be distributed no later than June 1, 2019, and lawyers without an email address on file will receive a ballot in the mail. Ballots must be received postmarked or completed online no later than June 15, 2019.

If you have questions, contact Marge Bossenbery, mbossenbery@michbar.org or Carrie Sharlow, csharlow@michbar.org.

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The State Bar of Michigan Modest Means program faces a critical shortage of attorney panel members for family law referrals, particularly in divorce and child custody matters. Since the inception of the program one year ago, more than 600 modest means applications have been received and approved. The program, which operates through the SBM Lawyer Referral Service, is aimed at bridging the access to justice gap for the “missing middle”—people who don’t qualify for legal aid but cannot afford the market rate for legal services. Those in households with income less than 250% of the federal poverty level are eligible for services in the program. For those clients with incomes under 200% of the poverty level, your legal services will count toward the State Bar’s Voluntary Pro Bono Standard, and all panel members are exempted from the usual 10% remittance fee to the Lawyer Referral Service. Practice areas are limited to domestic/family law and Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but other practice areas will be added soon. More information on becoming a Modest Means panel member.

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Date: Thursday, June 13, 2019
Location: Grand Hotel, 286 Grand Ave, Mackinac Island
Time: 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Section members $59; Other registrants $79; Registered for UMLI $59

Join the Marijuana Law Section for a one-day seminar covering must-know topics for the criminal law attorney in the era of recreational marijuana. Attendees will gain a basic understanding of the MRTMA and how it impacts Michigan criminal law, including OWI, and will be eligible for five Michigan Indigent Defense Commission CLE credits.

Register Online

Hotel Accommodations: Book your room by May 14, 2019.

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Date: Tuesday, May 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 May 3

View the Agenda 

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 an excellent opportunity for solo practitioners and new lawyers to obtain ethical guidance and practical information from colleagues who have successfully implemented law office management techniques and utilized economically-priced technology to improve the efficiency of their law practices.

Registration costs $100 for lawyers who have been in practice for less than five years, and $125 for those who have practiced law for five years or more. The registration fee includes seminar materials, a continental breakfast, and buffet lunch.

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Date: Thursday, April 25, 2019
Time: Noon–1:30 p.m.
Location: WMU Cooley Law School, 2630 Featherstone Rd, Room 145, Auburn Hills
Cost: FREE to Solo and Small Firm Section members and current WMU Cooley students; $35 to non-members payable by check made out to the State Bar of Michigan to be collected at the program

Optional Pre-Registration: RSVP to edmund@aronowitzlawfirm.com to let us know if you will be attending. Please indicate whether you are a current Solo & Small Firm Section member.

Please join us for a panel discussion on professional liability insurance and risk management best practices for solo and small firm lawyers. Our panelists include the president & CEO of one of Michigan’s leading professional liability insurance agencies, a practice management advisor for the State Bar with prior experience as a carrier’s legal liability claims director, and the chair of a distinguished law firm’s professional liability practice group. Gain valuable perspectives on common professional liability exposures, how to best protect against them, and how you can effectively work with your carrier should you ever face a claim against you or your firm. Mark your calendars for April 25, no pre-registration required.

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You won't want to miss the opportunity to get the latest developments in case law, invaluable technology, and practice management tips at the Upper Michigan Legal institute, taking place this year during the Lilac Festival on June 14 and 15 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

Sessions this year will provide updates on criminal, marijuana, real property, business, tax and family law; the art and science of persuasion; evidence double jeopardy and key evidentiary rules; durable power of attorney and estate planning; and zoning and land use. Register now.

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Nominations are being accepted for two State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly awards. The Michael Franck Award is given annually to an attorney who has made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of the legal profession. The Unsung Hero Award is presented to a lawyer who has exhibited the highest standards of practice and commitment for the benefit of others.

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 Richard L. Cunningham, is the final policy-making body of the State Bar.

The nomination deadline is Saturday, March 2, 2019. Apply online. For more information about the Representative Assembly Awards contact Carrie Sharlow at repassembly@michbar.org or 517-346-6317.

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The latest episode of the State Bar of Michigan’s On Balance podcast features Judge Michelle Rick and attorney Kim Jones, who discuss the problems faced by people with unmet civil legal needs due to an inability to secure legal representation. Guest host Darin Day talks with them about rule changes for limited scope representation in Michigan that aim to decrease the justice gap. They describe the new rules and provide examples of how Michigan attorneys can provide these types of limited legal services to clients. They also encourage lawyers to check out the Limited Scope Tool Kit.  

On Balance, on the Legal Talk Network, delivers useful and entertaining ideas on managing life as a lawyer. To subscribe to On Balance in iTunes, follow two easy steps: 1. Using your mobile device, click on this link, or enter this link in your browser: http://ow.ly/HOOZ30hZOy1. 2. Click the purple "Subscribe" button that shows up right under the name of the podcast. To access On Balance in Google Play, follow these three steps: 1. Using your mobile device, click this link, or enter this link in your browser: http://ow.ly/GDas30hYSEy. 2. Click the subscribe button (located just beneath the On Balance logo). 3. Click the subscribe button that appears in the pop-up.

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