Daily Briefs (Jan 19)

State Bar to present ‘Tips and Tools for a Successful Practice’
The State Bar of Michigan will present “Tips and Tools for a Successful Practice” from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the State Bar’s Michael Franck Building in downtown Lansing.

The semi-annual seminar features presentations on how to maintain mutually beneficial client relationships, draft effective fee agreements, manage trust and business accounts, analyze ethical issues, and use innovative techniques and technology for law office management.

Participants will receive seminar materials prepared by the featured presenters.  View the agenda at http://www.michbar.org/news/releases/archives10/tipstools_reg.pdf.  

The registration fee is $100 for lawyers who have been in practice for less than five years, and $125 for those who have been practicing law for five years or more. The registration fee includes a continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Payment and the registration form, which can be downloaded from the SBM website at www.michbar.org/tipstools.cfm, must be received by Tuesday, Jan. 25.  No “walk-in” registrations will be accepted.
Participants can register online, fax the registration form to SBM at (517) 346-6365, or mail it with a check or credit card payment to: Tips and Tools for a Successful Practice Seminar,  State Bar of Michigan, ATTN: Finance Department, Michael Franck Building, 306 Townsend Street, Lansing, 48933-2012.

For additional information on the seminar, contact Karen Spohn with the Professional Standards Division at (517) 346-6309 or via e-mail at kspohn@mail.michbar.org.

High court turns down Ford request for $16 million
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Ford Motor Co.’s financing arm that sought a $16 million refund of taxes paid to the state of Michigan.

The justices did not comment Tuesday in leaving in place a state appeals court ruling that said Ford was not entitled to refunds of sales taxes on vehicles that were purchased by people who later could not make their loan payments.

Ford challenged a state law that requires the sales tax be paid up front and prohibits auto makers from recouping some of the taxes when buyers default on their loans. The company said the state retroactively changed its tax law in conflict with a Supreme Court ruling that limits retroactive tax legislation.

History of state courthouses on display in Lansing
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A temporary exhibit at the Hall of Justice highlights the courthouses in Alpena, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Lapeer, Marquette and Midland counties. The exhibit coincides with publication of a new book, “Michigan's County Courthouses,” by John Fedynsky, an assistant attorney general.

The exhibit will run through March 18 on the first floor of the Hall of Justice, which is the home of the Michigan Supreme Court.

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