National Association for Public Defense conducts virtual conference
March 20-21The National Association for Public Defense will present its 5th annual “Rise. Resist. Represent. Virtual Conference” on Thursday and Friday, March 20-21.
The online event will provide more numerous topic areas for the wide variety of professions and practice areas in public defense across the country. There will be skills training, but also opportunities to explore innovations, systemic litigation, development research projects. Participants will have the opportunity to network with thousands of colleagues who champion the right to counsel and for the opportunity and dignity of their clients.
Among those speaking at the virtual conference will be Wayne State Unåiversity Law School Assistant Clinical Professor Daniel Ellman; Kristin Lavoy, assistant assigned counsel coordinator, Wayne County Indigent Defense Services Department; and Jonathan Roberts, public defense attorney, Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit.
For Michigan public defenders and assigned counsel, NAPD events are presumptively approved for credit towards MIDC/Standard 1’s annual training requirements. For additional information about self-reporting and contact information for questions or concerns about attendance including reimbursement, visit the MIDC’s website at https://michiganidc.gov/cle.
Cost for the virtual conference is $100 a person by March 2 and $125 after March 2. To register, visit
https://publicdefenders.us/event/rise-resist-represent-national-public-defense-virtual-conference-3.
Five tracks offered at MAJ Spring Convention
March 20-21The Michigan Association for Justice will conduct its 2025 Spring Convention on Thursday and Friday, March 20-21, at the Four Points by Sheraton in Novi, 27000 S. Karevich Dr. in Novi.
This year’s Winter Convention will offer five tracks over two days:
—Thursday, March 20• It’s Not Your Fault You Don’t Know - The Intricacies of the No-Fault Law Explained, with moderators MAJ President Eric Steinberg and MAJ President-Elect Nick Andrews
• Judges’ Seminar (available to members of the judiciary and their staff only), with moderators MAJ Past Presidents Deb Freid and Bobby Raitt
—Friday, March 21• Medical Malpractice (plaintiff members only), with moderators MAJ Past Presidents Judith Susskind and Jesse Reiter
• Premises Liability (plaintiff members only), with moderators Todd Stearn
• Workers’ Comp/Social Security, with moderators Andrea Hamm, Richard Hogg and Sean Shearer
Event rates are $370 for MAJ members, $270 for MAJ members practicing four years or less, $160 for MAJ sustaining members, $160 for MAJ paralegal/law clerk members, free for judges or judicial staff, and $580 for non-MAJ members (Workers’ Comp only). The registration fee is for only one track. To register for additional tracks, contact MAJ.
To register, visit
www.michiganjustice.org and click on “Events.”
Vegas Night Scholarship Fundraiser hosted by Black Law Student Association
March 22The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will host its Vegas Night 2025 scholarship fundraiser on Saturday, March 22, from 6:45 to 11 p.m. at North Rosedale Park Civic Association, 18445 Scarsdale Street in Detroit.
This year’s theme is “Royal Palace” where notable alum, current students, and community members will be celebrated.
With the theme of “Royal Palace” this year, Vegas Night is a casino-style fundraiser that celebrates the accomplishments of the local legal community and awards Detroit Mercy Law students scholarships.
The cocktail hour will being shortly after doors open and feature the globally acclaimed, Detroit-born and raised violinist, Pretty Stringz whose career includes working with artists such as Tony! Toni! Tone!, Rick Ross, Marvin Sapp, and Big Sean. She has performed during NBA and NFL halftime shows.
The night will continue with food, fellowship, and dancing. Guests can play casino cames such as Texas Hold ‘Em and Poker. BLSA will also recognize its sponsors, generous donors, and award student scholarships.
BLSA is a professional organization of students dedicated to academic enrichment, service, mentoring, raising social and political awareness, and networking. BLSA works to increase diversity in the legal profession by providing students with the necessary resources to succeed in law school. A large part of BLSA’s mission is to strengthen minority presence at Detroit Mercy Law by sustaining a competitive pool of law students.
With this goal in mind, BLSA provides four scholarships to minority students every year. Each scholarship is awarded to offset some of the costs associated with law school and admission to the bar. This will be the inaugural year of awarding one dual JD student with a scholarship.
BLSA also uses funding to partner with local high schools to inspire young minorities to pursue higher education, specifically in the legal field. To raise the funds for these scholarships, BLSA hosts fundraising events throughout the school year, conducts outreach for donations through sponsorships, ticket sales, and silent auction donations.
Tickets for this year’s Vegas Night scholarship fundraiser cost $55 for students and $65 for non-students. Anyone who would like to attend Vegas Night, become a sponsor, or donate may email blsa@udmercy.edu. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit
https://law.udmercy.edu and scroll down to “Upcoming Events.”
‘Common Misconceptions with Child Support Calculations’ explored
March 27The Michigan Judicial Institute in collaboration with the Friend of the Court Bureau is pleased to provide the webinar “Common Misconceptions with Child Support Calculations” on Thursday, March 27, from 9 to 10 a.m. via Zoom.
This session will explore issues around many questions, pitfalls, and misconceptions in child support calculations. Attendees will leave with an understanding of factors to be considered in making support recommendations and determinations.
Speaking at the webinar will be Friend of the Court Bureau’s Jamie Eichenberg, court analyst, and Paul Gehm, management analyst.
This program is eligible for continuing judicial education credit. CJE Credit: 1.0 [Judicial Practice & Related Areas]
To register for the webinar, visit
https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”
Law school presents film about genuinely affordable housing
March 28Wayne State University Law School will present “Thinking Beyond the Market,” a film about genuinely affordable housing, on Friday, March 28, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Wayne Law’s Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer Ave. in Detroit.
Brian Doucet. a vetted professor from The University of Waterloo, will be joining to watch his film “Thinking Beyond the Market” which explores already existing policies and programs using not market-based housing options. The film is 95 minutes with a Q&A immediately following.
Anyone with questions about the free screening may email Shannon Gaffney at gv8357@wayne.edu.
