SBM Blog

Michigan Board of Law Examiners Posts Previous Bar Exam Statistics Online

Curious about Michigan's bar exam passing rates from previous exams?

The Michigan Board of Law Examiners has posted passage statistics from previous exams, dating from February of 2000 to February of 2014.

They have also posted questions and examiners' analyses from previous exams, dating from February of 2009 through February of 2014.

Stay tuned to SBM Blog - we will bring you the results from the July 2014 bar exam as soon as they are posted.

The Michigan Board of Law Examiners is the entity that oversees the Michigan Bar Exam. The Michigan Supreme Court oversees the BLE. The State Bar of Michigan and the Board of Law Examiners are separate entities.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

 

Could conflict among employees be the greatest strength of your firm or organization?

Margaret Heffernan discusses the importance of conflict in creating thinking organizations. Do you promote constructive conflict among the employees at your firm, department or organization? If not, take a listen.

 

 

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Does an employee terminated for medical marijuana qualify for unemployment benefits?

According to a three-member panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals: Yes.

Read a summary of the case in today's e-Journal.

Read the opinion.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Justice John Paul Stevens Remembered President Gerald Ford Monday in Grand Rapids

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Museum commemorated the 40th anniversary of President Ford's pardon of President Richard Nixon by hosting a symposium focusing on President Ford's constitutional legacy at the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids on Oct. 20.

The symposium, co-hosted by the National Constitution Center and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, presented two panel discussions featuring retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeff Rosen, former United States Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, Benton Becker, who served as special counsel to President Ford, and Steve Ford, President Ford's son.

The first panel discussion focused on "President Ford and the Rule of Law." The second panel discussion focused on "President Ford and the Pardon of Richard Nixon."

Pictured from left to right: Ken Gormley, Constitutional expert and dean of Duquesne University School of Law; The Hon. John Paul Stevens; Jeff Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center; and Paul O’Neill, former secretary of the treasury and deputy director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget during Ford’s administration.

Photos by Jim Hill for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Museum will commemorate the 40th anniversary of President Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 by hosting a symposium focusing on President Ford's constitutional legacy at the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

The symposium, co-hosted by the National Constitution Center and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, will present two panel discussions featuring such noted public figures as retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeff Rosen, former United States Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, Benton Becker, who served as special counsel to President Ford, and Steve Ford, President Ford's son.

The first panel discussion will focus on "President Ford and the Rule of Law." The second panel discussion will focus on "President Ford and the Pardon of Richard Nixon.

The panel discussions will be open to the public, but reservations are required to attend them.

RSVP for the panel discussions.

A lunch at the JW Marriott Hotel will take place after the discussions, but it is only available to members of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

- See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/10/retired-supreme-court-justice-john-paul-stevens-to-speak-in-grand-rapids-on-oct-20.html#sthash.3jqQJWFP.dpuf

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Museum will commemorate the 40th anniversary of President Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 by hosting a symposium focusing on President Ford's constitutional legacy at the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

The symposium, co-hosted by the National Constitution Center and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, will present two panel discussions featuring such noted public figures as retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeff Rosen, former United States Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, Benton Becker, who served as special counsel to President Ford, and Steve Ford, President Ford's son.

The first panel discussion will focus on "President Ford and the Rule of Law." The second panel discussion will focus on "President Ford and the Pardon of Richard Nixon.

The panel discussions will be open to the public, but reservations are required to attend them.

RSVP for the panel discussions.

A lunch at the JW Marriott Hotel will take place after the discussions, but it is only available to members of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

- See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/10/retired-supreme-court-justice-john-paul-stevens-to-speak-in-grand-rapids-on-oct-20.html#sthash.3jqQJWFP.dpuf

Job Opening: Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Seeks Executive Director

The newly formed Michigan Indigent Defense Commission is seeking its first executive director. The position is appointed and supervised by the MIDC, and is responsible for developing and overseeing reforms to Michigan's public defense system.

The MIDC says the ideal candidate should have significant experience in the representation of indigent clients, significant public sector leadership experience and be highly skilled in personnel management, public policy advocacy and budget development. A demonstrated ability to inspire and lead people is essential.

The position will pay between $100,000 and $135,000 a year.

Find out more about the position on the State Bar of Michigan Career Center.

Calling all reporters: Learn to cover courts from top lawyers and judges

All reporters are invited to attend two panel discussions sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan Law and the Media Committee and the Society of Professional Journalists, Detroit, moderated by Wayne State University Professor Jack Lessenberry and featuring some of the metropolitan Detroit area's top judges and lawyers.

The first panel will feature U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. The discussion will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Crain’s Detroit, located at 1155 Gratiot Ave.

The second panel will feature the Hon. Nancy Edmunds, federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the Hon. Robert Columbo, judge of the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County. The discussion will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Butzel Long, located at 150 W. Jefferson Ave., Suite 100, in Detroit.

There is no fee to attend the discussions, but registration is required. To register, email Donna Remer at [email protected].

 Posted by Samantha Meinke

What do you do to stay bigger than your law firm?

Andrew Griffiths at inc.com offers an interesting look at maintaining work-life balance. It's so easy, when building a law firm, a business or a department, to lose sight of yourself.

How do you maintain balance in your life, so that you don't lose yourself within your work?

Do you think, in the end, that having balance in your life has made your firm, business or department stronger?

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Michigan lawyers: Do you think you are a success?

What does it mean to be a success? A failure?

Alain de Botton shared an interesting reflection upon the meaning of both in our modern world in a TED Talk he gave in 2009.

How do you cope with anxiety about your career?

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens to Speak in Grand Rapids on Oct. 20

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Museum will commemorate the 40th anniversary of President Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 by hosting a symposium focusing on President Ford's constitutional legacy at the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

The symposium, co-hosted by the National Constitution Center and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, will present two panel discussions featuring such noted public figures as retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeff Rosen, former United States Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, Benton Becker, who served as special counsel to President Ford, and Steve Ford, President Ford's son.

The first panel discussion will focus on "President Ford and the Rule of Law." The second panel discussion will focus on "President Ford and the Pardon of Richard Nixon.

The panel discussions will be open to the public, but reservations are required to attend them.

RSVP for the panel discussions.

A lunch at the JW Marriott Hotel will take place after the discussions, but it is only available to members of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Want to be an appeals court judge?

Governor Rick Snyder seeks applicants to fill the Fourth District Seat on the Michigan Court of Appeals when Judge William Whitbeck retires on November 21.

Visit the governor's website for more information on the post, and to access the application form you must fill out and submit with your resume to be considered for opening.

Applications are due by October 22.

Posted by Samantha Meinke