SBM Blog

Throw Back Thursday: the brand new Hall of Justice

This week's Throw Back Thursday photo harkens back to October of 2002, and the dedication of the Hall of Justice in Lansing. How many of these distinguished jurists do you recognize?

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Florida hits snag with release of bar exam results

Above the Law's Elie Mystal shone a snarky spotlight on problems that arose in Florida, when results from the February 2014 bar exam results were released.

Apparently, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners inadvertently reposted the results of the July 2013 exam, and mistakenly labeled them as being results from the February 2014 exam. Meaning that everyone who failed the July 2013 bar exam believed that they had failed the 2014 exam as well.

Massive confusion and heartbreak ensued for a couple of hours until the mistake was caught and corrected.

Thoughts to all involved.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

What to do now that you've passed the bar exam

Congratulations again on passing the bar exam!

Here's what you need to do next:

All persons who are licensed to practice law in Michigan must be members of the State Bar of Michigan. In order to become a member of the State Bar, you must first take steps to become admitted to the State Bar. If you've recently passed the bar exam, the Board of Law Examiners has mailed you a certificate of qualification. A current, active member of the State Bar must file this certificate and a motion seeking your admission to the State Bar in the Supreme Court or a circuit court. You must also appear personally in open court to be administered the oath of office. View the rule describing the steps to follow in taking the oath of office as a lawyer. View a schedule of swearing-in ceremonies around Michigan.

After being sworn in to one of the circuit courts or the Supreme Court of Michigan, you will need to complete a membership application to join the State Bar of Michigan and pay your membership dues.

To complete the State Bar of Michigan new member application online and pay your member dues with a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, please visit the Bar's Member Area and create an account as a "Prospective New Member & Non-Member" and continue with the membership application if you have already been sworn in. Do not create an account online until you have been sworn in. If you wish to complete the paper application and pay your member dues with a check, download new member application form.

After completing the new member application form and payment of the required dues, a true or certified copy of the Order of Admission certified by the County Clerk will need to be provided to the State Bar of Michigan. Some courts provide the Order of Admission directly to the State Bar. If you wish, you may mail your true or certified copy of the Order of Admission signed by the County Clerk to the State Bar of Michigan, Attention Finance, 306 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48933.

As soon as the State Bar of Michigan has issued you a P number, you will be a member in good standing and eligible to practice law.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Congratulations to everyone who passed the February Bar Exam!!!

We are very proud of you and can't wait to welcome you to the legal profession!

If you are still unsure of whether or not you have passed, the Board of Law Examiners will post a list of all passers after noon today on their website.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

John Van Bolt Named Interim Attorney Grievance Administrator

The Michigan Supreme Court has appointed John Van Bolt interim grievance administrator of the Attorney Grievance Commission.

Van Bolt has served as president of the National Council of Lawyer Disciplinary Boards and served for more than 25 years as the executive director and general counsel of the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board. Prior to holding that position, Van Bolt investigated and prosecuted charges of attorney misconduct for six years as an associate counsel at the Attorney Grievance Commission.

Read the full announcement.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

 

Board of Law Examiners posts bar exam results by seat number

The Board of Law Examiners has posted a list of people who have passed the February 2014 bar exam by seat number. Results have also been mailed to test takers. The BLE will post the list of those who passed the February bar exam by name on Tuesday, May 13, on their website.

The Board of Law Examiners is a separate entity from the State Bar of Michigan, and is overseen by the Michigan Supreme Court.The State Bar of Michigan does not have any more information about who has passed the February 2014 bar exam.

For more information on what to do after passing the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in Michigan, visit the State Bar of Michigan website.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

For more information on what to do after passing the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in Michigan, visit the State Bar of Michigan website.

The State Bar of Michigan does not have any more information about who has passed the February 2014 bar exam. The Board of Law Examiners is a separate entity from the State Bar of Michigan, and is overseen by the Michigan Supreme Court.

- See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/05/february-bar-exam-results-mailed-wednesday.html#sthash.E1kUHGs6.dpuf

For more information on what to do after passing the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in Michigan, visit the State Bar of Michigan website.

The State Bar of Michigan does not have any more information about who has passed the February 2014 bar exam. The Board of Law Examiners is a separate entity from the State Bar of Michigan, and is overseen by the Michigan Supreme Court.

- See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/05/february-bar-exam-results-mailed-wednesday.html#sthash.E1kUHGs6.dpuf

For more information on what to do after passing the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in Michigan, visit the State Bar of Michigan website.

The State Bar of Michigan does not have any more information about who has passed the February 2014 bar exam. The Board of Law Examiners is a separate entity from the State Bar of Michigan, and is overseen by the Michigan Supreme Court.

- See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/05/february-bar-exam-results-mailed-wednesday.html#sthash.E1kUHGs6.dpuf

For more information on what to do after passing the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in Michigan, visit the State Bar of Michigan website.

The State Bar of Michigan does not have any more information about who has passed the February 2014 bar exam. The Board of Law Examiners is a separate entity from the State Bar of Michigan, and is overseen by the Michigan Supreme Court.

- See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/05/february-bar-exam-results-mailed-wednesday.html#sthash.E1kUHGs6.dpuf

What are you doing to avoid freaking out while waiting for your bar exam results?

Results from Michigan's February bar exam are in the mail ... which means an excruciating wait is now underway for many test takers.

The blogosphere is full of all kinds of helpful advice on how you should spend your time awaiting your results. Most blogs recommend that you do professional, sensible, proactive things like updating your resume and LinkedIn profile.

That's great and all, but what are the odds that will actually take your mind off your big wait?

Here's what I would do if I were in your shoes right now.

• Binge watch House of Cards, Orange is the New Black or anything else on Netflix.
• Reconnect with old friends.
• Download Vine on your phone, and spend countless hours crafting the perfect stop motion video.

 Who has a better idea?

 Posted by Samantha Meinke

Dennis Archer to lead ABA task force looking at cost of law school

Former State Bar of Michigan president, American Bar Association president, Michigan Supreme Court justice and Detroit mayor Dennis Archer will head up the newly appointed ABA Task Force on Financing a Legal Education.

In a story on MLive, Brian Smith reports that the task force will make recommendations on how law schools can control the rising cost of attending law school.

"As law school tuitions and educational debt loads increase at the same time employment opportunities for recent graduates are constrained, the ABA needs to lead a thorough examination of the financing of legal education and law schools,” Silkenat said.

MLive created a searchable database of information on employment after graduation from Michigan's five law schools. Scroll to the bottom of the story to utilize it.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Throw Back Thursday: A fantastic voyage to the '90s

Come along and ride on a fantastic voyage to the State Bar of Michigan 1997 Annual Meeting, where sbmnet was de rigueur, as were Voyager and the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web, people!

If this doesn't make you want to dig out an old crop top and some overalls (worn with only one strap attached), spray on some CK One and blast some Spice Girls, I don't know what will.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

February bar exam results mailed Wednesday

Attention potential lawyers: Results from the February 2014 bar exam were mailed to test takers on Wednesday, May 7 to the address you gave the Michigan Board of Law Examiners when you took the bar exam.

A list of bar exam passers will be posted to the Board of Law Examiners' website on Tuesday, May 13.

For more information on what to do after passing the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in Michigan, visit the State Bar of Michigan website.

The State Bar of Michigan does not have any more information about who has passed the February 2014 bar exam. The Board of Law Examiners is a separate entity from the State Bar of Michigan, and is overseen by the Michigan Supreme Court.

Posted by Samantha Meinke