By Tom Gantert
Legal News
Rather than leaving southwest Michigan to build a legal career elsewhere, Barry Conybeare returned home to St. Joseph after beginning his career in Chicago, eventually taking over a law practice founded by his father Bruce and becoming one of the community's most familiar attorneys.
Conybeare admits he is somewhat surprised to have become the 74th president of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) 2026-27, succeeding attorney Nick Andrews. St. Joseph is nearly 200 miles from Detroit, home to many of Michigan’s largest law firms, and almost a three-hour drive from Lansing, center of the state’s legal and political community.
That distance never discouraged him. After joining the MAJ, Conybeare regularly made the 177-mile drive to Novi for the organization's monthly meetings.
“People thought I was crazy,” he said. “I wanted to meet more trial lawyers.”
He believes the pandemic ultimately made his presidency possible by changing how organizations conducted business.
“As we all know, the pandemic facilitated a dramatic change in the way business meetings are run. MAJ, like so many other organizations, embraced virtual meetings that allowed a lawyer from the southwest corner of the state to actively engage at a leadership level on a week-to-week basis,” he said.
Conybeare's path into personal injury law was shaped not only by watching his father practice law, but also by personal tragedy.
After graduating from Lake Michigan Catholic High School in St. Joseph, Barry lost a friend, a Lake Michigan High School senior killed in a car crash. And Conybeare’s closest college friend was killed by a drunken driver. According to his firm’s website, those tragedies drew him toward the work his father had devoted his career to — helping families rebuild after devastating losses.
Conybeare earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. He began his legal career as a commercial litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Two years later, he and his wife, Jody, returned to southwest Michigan, where he joined his father at Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers.
As he and his wife raised their four children, Conybeare said his ties to the community only deepened. Helping others is at the center of both his legal practice and his community involvement.
That commitment extends well beyond the courtroom.
In 2010, Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers hosted a safety program on a local radio station. During an August broadcast about the dangers of extreme summer heat, Conybeare worked with the Area Agency on Aging to give free air conditioners to 35 senior citizens in Berrien County.
Early in his legal career, Conybeare became active with the MAJ. He found attending seminars, participating in association events, and building relationships with trial lawyers made him a stronger litigator and a better advocate.
Conybeare started a local meeting of plaintiffs' attorneys to collaborate on advancing the rights of personal injury victims in southwest Michigan. Before becoming president, he served on the Executive Board of the MAJ and also completed eight years on the St. Joseph Board of Education.
Conybeare’s practice focuses on all aspects of personal injury law, including car accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, insurance claims and other injury cases.
Legal News
Rather than leaving southwest Michigan to build a legal career elsewhere, Barry Conybeare returned home to St. Joseph after beginning his career in Chicago, eventually taking over a law practice founded by his father Bruce and becoming one of the community's most familiar attorneys.
Conybeare admits he is somewhat surprised to have become the 74th president of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) 2026-27, succeeding attorney Nick Andrews. St. Joseph is nearly 200 miles from Detroit, home to many of Michigan’s largest law firms, and almost a three-hour drive from Lansing, center of the state’s legal and political community.
That distance never discouraged him. After joining the MAJ, Conybeare regularly made the 177-mile drive to Novi for the organization's monthly meetings.
“People thought I was crazy,” he said. “I wanted to meet more trial lawyers.”
He believes the pandemic ultimately made his presidency possible by changing how organizations conducted business.
“As we all know, the pandemic facilitated a dramatic change in the way business meetings are run. MAJ, like so many other organizations, embraced virtual meetings that allowed a lawyer from the southwest corner of the state to actively engage at a leadership level on a week-to-week basis,” he said.
Conybeare's path into personal injury law was shaped not only by watching his father practice law, but also by personal tragedy.
After graduating from Lake Michigan Catholic High School in St. Joseph, Barry lost a friend, a Lake Michigan High School senior killed in a car crash. And Conybeare’s closest college friend was killed by a drunken driver. According to his firm’s website, those tragedies drew him toward the work his father had devoted his career to — helping families rebuild after devastating losses.
Conybeare earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. He began his legal career as a commercial litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Two years later, he and his wife, Jody, returned to southwest Michigan, where he joined his father at Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers.
As he and his wife raised their four children, Conybeare said his ties to the community only deepened. Helping others is at the center of both his legal practice and his community involvement.
That commitment extends well beyond the courtroom.
In 2010, Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers hosted a safety program on a local radio station. During an August broadcast about the dangers of extreme summer heat, Conybeare worked with the Area Agency on Aging to give free air conditioners to 35 senior citizens in Berrien County.
Early in his legal career, Conybeare became active with the MAJ. He found attending seminars, participating in association events, and building relationships with trial lawyers made him a stronger litigator and a better advocate.
Conybeare started a local meeting of plaintiffs' attorneys to collaborate on advancing the rights of personal injury victims in southwest Michigan. Before becoming president, he served on the Executive Board of the MAJ and also completed eight years on the St. Joseph Board of Education.
Conybeare’s practice focuses on all aspects of personal injury law, including car accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, insurance claims and other injury cases.
He said building a personal connection with clients—and treating them with dignity and respect—makes a difference. Whether a case is large or small, he said it is important to both the client and the attorney. His philosophy is to provide clients with as much information as possible about the law and the legal process so they feel informed and comfortable as their case moves forward.
That approach has produced significant results.
In 2018, Conybeare represented the family of a man killed in a car accident and secured a $1.9 million jury verdict, the largest in Cass County history. He said while he understands that no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one, Conybeare said personal injury awards and settlements can provide families with the financial support they need and deserve.
For Conybeare, success has never required leaving home.
“My wife Jody and I are both from St. Joe. We are lucky to be near our parents and raise our children in this small-town community. I got to practice law and run a business with my dad. And have you seen the beaches and sunsets in St. Joe?” he said. “Oh, and I have a drive of 2-3 minutes to get to my office. My longest regular drive is 12 minutes to the golf course.”
That approach has produced significant results.
In 2018, Conybeare represented the family of a man killed in a car accident and secured a $1.9 million jury verdict, the largest in Cass County history. He said while he understands that no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one, Conybeare said personal injury awards and settlements can provide families with the financial support they need and deserve.
For Conybeare, success has never required leaving home.
“My wife Jody and I are both from St. Joe. We are lucky to be near our parents and raise our children in this small-town community. I got to practice law and run a business with my dad. And have you seen the beaches and sunsets in St. Joe?” he said. “Oh, and I have a drive of 2-3 minutes to get to my office. My longest regular drive is 12 minutes to the golf course.”
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