Grants awarded for court programs targeting veterans
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has awarded $750,000 in grants to 23 courts around the state for programs that help military veterans who have had brushes with the law.
Instead of jail, veterans treatment courts steer offenders to programs that promote sobriety, recovery and stability. Participants must undergo regular drug treatment.
Officials say those who take part are less likely to break the law again and more likely to find a job and improve their quality of life. Volunteer mentors help link them with employers.
Justice Joan Larsen is the Supreme Court’s liaison to problem-solving courts. She says the court system previously hasn’t been equipped to deal with the unique challenges that veterans can face after leaving the military service. The special programs for veterans are helping fill that gap.
ABA launches app to assist with myriad law practice needs
The American Bar Association has launched a dynamic web tool, ABA Blueprint, that provides access to a suite of services packaged to give lawyers at solo and small law firms help managing the complexities of their legal practices.
The app, first announced by ABA President Linda Klein in August, provides ABA members and other lawyers a quick and convenient way to find products and services essential to running small-sized law practices. From technology for billing to virtual assistants to insurance, ABA Blueprint offers ABA members steep discounts that in many cases will offset the price of ABA membership.
“Lawyers, particularly solo practitioners and those in small firms, understand that the administrative burdens of running a law practice cut deeply into the time they have to do what they love — practicing law,” Klein said. “We developed ABA Blueprint as a one-stop shop for lawyers to get the services they need.”
Some of the products and services available include Ruby Receptionists, a virtual receptionist service offering a special “Solo Plan” that is unique to ABA Blueprint. Also Clio, which provides cloud-based law practice management software, is offering a 25 percent discount on its Boutique subscription. Other notable products with special discounts and rebates include LawPay, Lexicata, Quickbooks Online, and Office 365.
Additionally, ABA members will have access to valuable member-only features, including the “Firm Builder” chatbot-like tool that offers customized practice solutions based on members’ individual practice needs and free live consultations with practice management experts. This application can be used on desktop and mobile devices.
Restorative Justice: ‘An Inquiry into Justice in America’ at Wayne Law
Join the Wayne Law Chapters of the National Lawyers Guild, Keith Students for Civil Rights and the Criminal Law Society for a book discussion with career prosecutor, Fred Van Lieu. It will be held from 12:15-1:20 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 at the Damon J. Keith Law Collection Room 2242, 471 W. Palmer in Detroit. Van Lieu recently authored “The Justice Diary: An Inquiry into Justice in America.” This conversation is open to all and focuses on Restorative Justice and change in our current criminal justice system. Lunch will be served. For more information about this event, contact Madeline Sinkovich at maddysink @gmail.com.
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