Award winner Outstanding New Lawyer recognized by the OCBA

By Barry Malone Legal News The Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) presented its Bonnie Beutler Outstanding New Lawyer Award in June. Jacob Cunningham, a judicial staff attorney to the Hon. Mary Ellen Brennan, is the first ever award recipient. The award is named for an OCBA member and local attorney who passed away in the prime of her life. It recognizes a lawyer in the first 10 years of practice who makes the newest lawyers feel comfortable at OCBA events. It also acknowledges a new lawyer who demonstrates enthusiasm in volunteering for and implementing OCBA projects. "I was shocked that I was nominated and won it," said Cunningham. "I was absolutely in shock. It was a very humbling moment." Cunningham works in the family law division of the Oakland County Circuit Court. "My favorite thing about being a lawyer is helping the [unrepresented parties] out," said Cunningham. "For [unrepresented people] in family court, it's often good people on a bad day. They're without the means to hire an attorney to walk them through the process. I enjoy helping [them] bring some sort of finality to their issues whether it's a custody dispute or a divorce." Cunningham said the friendships and camaraderie are as his favorite things about his involvement with the OCBA. In serving the bar, he is a vice chair with the OCBA New Lawyers Committee (NLC) and the vice chair for the Professional Development Committee (PDC), as well as a fellow of the Oakland County Bar Foundation and an OCBA sustaining member. His mother, Judy Cunningham, retired several years ago as Oakland County's corporation counsel and is a past president of the OCBA. His father, Jay Cunningham, also is a past president of the OCBA and specializes in matrimonial law with Williams Williams Rattner & Plunkett in Birmingham. In nominating Cunningham, OCBA Executive Director Terri Gilbert wrote: "He is always upbeat and greets everyone with a hearty hello and puts all he meets instantly at ease. Everyone knows Jake and he knows everyone because of his cheerful, welcoming, and enthusiastic personality." Each year, the NLC has a chosen charity. This past year, at Cunningham's proposal, the NLC raised money for Pets for Vets. "What Pets for Vets does is take veterans with specialized needs and match them with dogs with really special training for things like PTSD," said Cunningham. "It's not our traditional charity in that we are usually focused on something legal minded, but animals and vets both issues are really important." Cunningham described himself as a big proponent of fun and he wants to make bar activities a good time. "I believe there needs to be some time each day that's fun," Cunningham explained. "I try to strive for that. I try, when we're at events, to make sure that everyone's enjoying themselves." Cunningham also is known for his hard work and professional devotion, according to Oakland Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Brennan. "Jake is incredibly dedicated to his tasks," said Brennan. "He takes ownership of his work. When I give him something to do, I know there will be zero need to follow up on him. "He's really insightful and that serves him well. He's a very loyal person and has a great sense of humor, which serves him well in life and in the legal profession." Cunningham also touts the importance of giving back. He's quick to highlight the NLC's charity fund-raising efforts, but also its annual holiday adopt-a-family project. "Bar service is important, in the context of new lawyers, it's the opportunity for networking and giving back," said Cunningham. "It's also important volunteerism and time away from your traditional job bettering our community and I think that's important." The current PDC chair and former NLC chair, Marc Jerabek has worked closely with Cunningham in both leadership capacities. "I had the pleasure of getting to know Jake through the [NLC]," said Jerabek. "He has proven to be a great asset for the NLC as well as the [PDC]. His outgoing and positive personality make it fun to work with him and glad I have him supporting the missing of the PDC." Published: Mon, Aug 03, 2015