By Debra Talcott
Legal News
For someone who didn’t plan on a legal career, Eric Pelton finds himself not only an attorney, but the new president of the Oakland County Bar Foundation as well.
“Law school was an afterthought,” confesses Pelton. “After graduation from Michigan State, I decided to pursue a master of public administration degree at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. At Syracuse, I was also able to obtain a law degree and complete both programs in 3 1/2 years because a number of classes counted towards both degrees, and my law review note was also accepted as a master’s thesis.”
Nearly three decades later, the longtime Oakland County resident has embraced his new role as OCBF president, and he looks forward to helping the Foundation become a more visible entity in the county and a source of pride for the hard-working and caring members of the Oakland Bar. One component of this effort is the first-ever annual report, which will be issued in November.
“The OCBF’s growth in recent years justifies—indeed mandates—this type of promotion and accountability to our donors and grant recipients. By any measure, we are becoming a substantial foundation,” explains Pelton. “With increasing amounts each year, we have contributed over $1.7 million to legal assistance and legal education programs in the last 12 years.”
Through fund-raising and volunteer efforts, the Oakland County Bar Foundation provides essential programs and services for the citizens of Oakland County. These programs foster understanding of the law and the legal system, and they provide access to legal services for many citizens who otherwise could not afford legal assistance.
“As such, the Foundation is one of the primary funding sources for several legal aid providers in our county,” says Pelton. “We sponsor legal aid clinics that provide both education to the general public and individual legal consultation to people who attend the clinic. In partnership with the Oakland County Bar Association, these clinics are offered six times per year at a variety of locations throughout the county.”
The OCBF’s legal clinics for senior citizens have proven very popular. Free for seniors and their guests, the clinics provide an overview of legal issues that are vital for seniors to understand: wills, estate planning, and medical directives. Individual consultations are also available at these clinics.
“The Foundation supports a number of effective programs popular with the Circuit Court,” Pelton says. “These include the Family Law Assistance Project operated by Lakeshore Legal Aid and Cooley Law School, Beaumont Hospital’s Legal Aid for Children and Families, and the RESTORE Foundation that is dedicated to privately funding the Oakland County Family-Focused Juvenile and Adult Treatment Courts.”
Pelton says the OCBF is also committed to funding programs that foster the honor, integrity, welfare, and understanding of the law and our legal system.
“In partnership with the OCBA, we sponsor several legal educational events for school children of all ages to introduce them to legal concepts, to the Constitution, and to the legal profession.”
The Elementary Mock Trial program gives students in grades 3-6 an overview of the legal system. After several weeks of practice, the students try their case in an actual circuit court courtroom. Such opportunities open youngsters’ eyes to the justice system and the possibility of a career in the law, giving them an experience they will long remember.
The Constitution Day program geared for middle school students provides an overview of the Constitution and demonstrates how the fundamental principles of law outlined in the Constitution and the amendments shape the daily lives of American citizens.
High school students benefit from participation in the annual Youth Law Day, which provides an overview of various aspects of the law that young adults should know.
“Each of these educational programs is available to schools throughout Oakland County, and the OCBF provides financial assistance to schools to enable them to participate in the programs,” explains Pelton.
The Foundation is in the early stages of strategic planning for the coming year. The trustees take particular pride in setting the goal to raise more money at the annual Signature Event than was raised in the prior year. What makes this year unique is that members are also focusing on what the Foundation will look like in 3-5 years and the additional impact they want to make in the county.
“The Signature Event is scheduled for May 1, 2015 at Oakland Hills. It is a highlight of the spring season, and we are always looking forward to that,” says Pelton. “The Fellows program will change this year with the board reviewing their bylaws. Discussion is underway regarding helping the current and prospective fellows to take a more active role in the Foundation. And the Legacy planned giving program has been started, and we are reaching out to our current supporters to help us launch a successful program.”
Under Pelton’s watchful eye and commitment to the county he calls home, the Foundation will undoubtedly achieve many successes in the coming year.
“I grew up in Waterford. It was a great community to be part of in the 1970s. I was grounded in a strong work ethic, but my pals and I had a lot of freedom to run and ‘come of age’ while enjoying the lakes.”
Pelton now resides in Bloomfield Township with his wife, Connie, and their four children.
“I was raised a Spartan, and Michigan State runs deep in the Pelton family. Our oldest son is a fourth-generation Spartan. At the same time, I’ve become part of the Albion College experience through my wife’s family, and our oldest daughter is now fourth generation at Albion.”
The Peltons have known each other since 1988, when Connie’s father, now retired Judge Richard Kuhn, was running for the Michigan Court of Appeals.
“Connie was the first person I ran into at the fund-raiser, and we spent much of the evening together. We had met a couple of times in the past at the church where we both grew up, but I didn’t know her until that fund-raiser. We have been dating ever since.”
Pelton’s pride in his family is evident.
“We have raised a wonderful family. With our oldest two in college, the third born is looking forward to his senior year at Bloomfield Hills High School, and our youngest starts high school this year. Family dinners and family vacations have been important to us over the years.”
As in every family, as the children grow older and their individual schedules get busier, it becomes more difficult to schedule family vacations, but the Peltons were able to enjoy a long-awaited week in California as part of the Spartans’ Rose Bowl celebration last January.
“I also enjoy one-on-one time with each of the kids, through backpacking, sporting events, a round of golf, or even trips to the store. Faith is an integral part of our life; our family has been active in the life of the Methodist church in Birmingham through its many programs and missions.”
Pelton also takes pride in what has become a distinguished career, where he discovered a passion for employment and labor law. He began practicing law at the firm of Dickinson Wright before going on to become a founding partner of Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy & Pelton.
Although Pelton had worked full time in the summers at maintenance and retail jobs during his college years, he modestly admits that when he first began practicing, it was strange to be in the professional workplace for the first time.
“I’m not sure I felt grown up enough to actually represent clients and solve problems,” says Pelton. “I quickly learned, however, that hard work and common sense were 90 percent of the solution, and that formula has led to whatever success I can claim to have enjoyed in my career.”
While at Dickinson Wright, Pelton practiced in the employment group and embraced the challenges posed by constantly changing employment laws.
“This provided an opportunity to counsel employers on handling the evolving workplace, and, surprisingly, we tried more cases in the employment group than in other practice areas. Twenty-seven years later, I still enjoy the practice.”
Pelton and his partners founded KOHP on the premise that as a boutique labor and employment firm, they would provide clients big-firm sophistication and small-firm efficiency.
“It was an opportunity to do something entrepreneurial,” says Pelton. “Leaving Dickinson Wright after 10 years was a difficult decision, and I still respect and admire that firm greatly.”
Pelton admits that his father-in-law, Judge Kuhn, raised a couple of concerned eyebrows over that decision.
“But it all worked out great. My partners and I have had a great run over the last 17 years. We do not over manage ourselves, we have enjoyed our status as one of the top labor and employment firms in Michigan, and we have a lot of fun in our practice.”
Pelton and his partners are deeply committed to the legal community.
“My service through the Foundation, work on the Board of Law Examiners, and prior work on the State Bar’s Board of Commissioners is an outgrowth of that commitment. We have also been counsel on many of the leading employment cases in Michigan. As a result, we have earned an excellent reputation with the bench and the bar that is professionally satisfying.”
Always willing to stretch the limits of his abilities, a number of years ago Pelton also tried his hand at teaching employment law classes at Wayne State University while maintaining a busy law practice, active family life, and community activities.
“The last couple of weeks of the semester were particularly difficult as I was called into trial. But it was a rewarding experience. My partner Noel Massie and I wrote our own chapter on the Family Medical Leave Act because the case book did not cover this important topic. I can see myself teaching again in the future. But for now, my ‘spare’ time is spent leading the clergy and lay staff committee at church, the Foundation board, and as a member of the Board of Law Examiners.”
Like other busy professionals, Pelton endeavors to spend his leisure time engaged in the activities that make him feel reenergized and renewed.
“I enjoy sports of all kinds and am entering my 28th year as a season ticketholder at Michigan State football games. There are few things better than a leisurely fall Saturday afternoon on the beautiful campus of Michigan State University. With many years of limited success for the football team, I have simply learned to enjoy the experience. Although the last few years have been tremendous as a Spartan fan, I don’t like the direction of big-time college athletics. It is one of the great inconsistencies in my life. At the same time that I am a traditionalist on the notion of student-athletes, I am part of the problem as a season ticketholder and booster of the athletic programs.”
Fortunately for Pelton, his other passions create no philosophical gray area.
“I enjoy grilling and fine wine. Given time, I enjoy trying new grilling recipes and look forward to using a smoker. I am also trying to bring my golf game up a notch without getting too serious, and falls are not complete without spending a day or two in a duck blind. At all times I have a novel or biography on the nightstand and The Bible and spiritual books in my home office for a not-as-consistent-as-I-would-like morning devotion. I also look forward to when Connie and I can spend more time traveling—just the two of us.”
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