Daily Briefs

American Law Institute and American Bar Association announce changes to partnership
The American Law Institute and the American Bar Association last Thursday announced that they have agreed to end their joint arrangement to provide education for the legal profession via ALI-ABA Continuing Professional Education. This change will increase flexibility as each organization continues to offer legal education programs that help lawyers navigate the rapid changes in legal developments and technology. Staff members who operated ALI-ABA will continue to work for the ALI.

The joint arrangement between the American Law Institute and the American Bar Association started in 1947 when a demand for legal refresher courses for returning World War II lawyer-veterans revealed a need to ensure the continuing education for all lawyers. The American Bar Association asked the American Law Institute to undertake the first national program of continuing education and the two organizations formed ALI-ABA.

As partners, ALI-ABA worked to educate the bar about the need for continuing legal education and to work with state and local bar groups to establish organizations that would develop their own continuing education programs.

Federal courthouse in plans Law Day events

The United States District Court, the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the Wolverine Bar Association are jointly hosting a Law Day open house on Tuesday, May 1.  The open house will take place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse in Detroit. 

The theme of Law Day 2012 is “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom” and underscores the importance of the courts and their role in ensuring access to justice for all Americans. Among the many featured exhibits will be bomb-sniffing dogs, counterfeit currency, and confiscated firearms.  Refreshments will be available.

The complimentary program is open to the public and includes an “Ask the Lawyer” pro bono program.  This program is held by the U.S. District Court in conjunction with the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Wolverine Bar Association.

Volunteer lawyers will be at the courthouse to give free legal advice to people who do not have lawyers and who have questions related to specific case types such as employment, civil rights, fraud, truth in lending, product liability, etc.  These volunteer lawyers will only provide legal advice.  For U.S. District Court cases only, a pro bono attorney may be assigned to you if you make such a request. 

Check-in for the “Ask the Lawyer” program is on the first floor in the alcove just past Courtroom 100.  There will be help available to direct attendees and match them with an attorney.

Several agencies are participating including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Consumer Bankruptcy Association, Courthouse Museum, Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Federal Defender’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. District Court, U.S. Probation Department, U.S. Pretrial Services Agency, U.S. Marshals Service and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

For more information regarding the Law Day programs, visit the court’s website at www.mied.uscourts.gov or the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association’s website at www.fbamich.org.  

Photo identification is required for entrance into the courthouse and cellular telephones are not permitted. 

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