State Bar accepting nominations for Representative Assembly awards
Nominations are being accepted for two State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly awards honoring attorneys for their outstanding achievements.
The Michael Franck Award honors a Michigan attorney for their contribution to the improvement of the legal profession. The Unsung Hero Award honors a Michigan attorney who exhibits the highest standards of practice and commitment for the benefit of others. Both awards are given annually.
Nominations forms are available online at: www.michbar.org/generalinfo/awards and are due by Saturday, February 26.
Nominees must be State Bar of Michigan members in good standing. The honors can be for contributions made in the past year or by virtue of cumulative effort or service.
The Representative Assembly’s Nomination and Awards Committee will review the nominations and select the recipients. The Representative Assembly is the final policy-making body of the State Bar.
For additional information, email repassembly@mich bar.org or call 517-346-6317.
State Bar’s 2022 Honor Roll application and pro bono service reporting survey now available
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Pro Bono Honor Roll for individual attorneys, solo practitioners, law firms, and corporations. Applications are due April 30.
For the fourth year in a row, the State Bar of Michigan will publish the Pro Bono Honor Roll recognizing those who support access-to-justice efforts by providing qualifying pro bono legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout Michigan. The 2022 Pro Bono Honor Roll will honor pro bono service performed during the 2021 calendar year.
Individual attorneys and firms are encouraged to report their qualifying pro bono service to the State Bar by completing an individual or firm/corporation Honor Roll application.
To report pro bono service information and apply for recognition on the 2022 Pro Bono Honor Roll, visit www.michbar. org/alawyerhelps/home.
In Michigan, pro bono service has become a well-established tradition among members of the legal profession. For the 2021 Honor Roll, more than 1,200 Michigan attorneys reported they provided more than 42,500 hours of pro bono services.
For additional information, contact Robert G. Mathis, the State Bar of Michigan’s Justice Initiatives counsel, at rmathis@michbar.org or 517-346-6412.
State Bar section hosts 'Diversity & Wellness Lunch and Learn' online
The State Bar of Michigan's Labor and Employment Law Section will host its "Diversity & Wellness Lunch and Learn" online Thursday, February 17, from noon to 01:30 p.m. via Zoom.
The section will offer an engaging conversation about the various concerns and legal issues that can arise when an employee discloses a disability to an employer. The panelists will be Angela Walker, whose practice focuses on the workplace disability rights of employees; Michelle Crockett, who advises and defends employers in employment-related matters; and Jeanne Goldberg, who is a senior attorney at the EEOC working extensively on disability rights issues.
Walker, of Blanchard and Walker PLLC, is active in the disability community, and she is passionate about helping employees with disabilities enforce their rights with regard to ADA accommodations, FMLA leave, and employee benefits matters.
Crockett is principal, chief diversity officer, and deputy executive officer of Miller Canfield. She specializes in defending Fortune 500 companies and public-sector clients against a variety of employment-related claims.
Goldberg is a senior attorney advisor in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) headquarters in Washington, D.C. She advises the Commission on the interpretation and application of the statutes it enforces, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This is a presentation of the Labor and Employment Law Section's Diversity and Wellness Committee. Attendees are encouraged to grab a sandwich and log in for this important conversation.
To register for the online program, visit https://connect.michbar.org/laborlaw/home. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent out containing information about joining the Zoom meeting.
Anyone with questions can email Robin Wagner at rwagner@pittlawpc.com.
