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.”
Award named for beloved lawyer
The Bonnie Beutler Outstanding New Lawyer Award was named in honor of Oakland County lawyer Bonnie Beutler. She was an attorney with the Kemp Klein Law Firm in Troy. Beutler was a dedicated member of the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) and served in a leadership capacity on its New Lawyers Committee (NLC). According to those that knew her, she was a loving friend and family member.
“Bonnie was the person that greeted new lawyers at events like Meet the Judges and the Tigers Outing,” said Syeda Davidson, the immediate past NLC chair. “She’d remember their names and follow up at the next event. She paid attention to who the new faces were and was enthusiastic about good things that happened to them.
“When I got my first job after looking for a long time she sent a card to my new office. It was particularly nice that she sent me a card because she didn’t know me that well. She really did just try to make new lawyers feel welcome.”
Beutler passed away on June 5, 2013 at the age of 36 following a lengthy battle with cancer.
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