SBM Blog

New Civil Discovery Rules Resources

The Michigan Supreme Court recently adopted comprehensive amendments to Michigan’s civil discovery rules. These rules were developed by the State Bar of Michigan’s Civil Discovery Court Rule Review Committee. The rules had not been holistically revised in 35 years, and these amendments represent a significant change in pretrial civil litigation procedures, with the goal of making discovery more efficient and less burdensome, increasing everyone’s access to our courts to resolve their civil legal dispute in a cost-effective manner.

The New Civil Discovery Rules will be effective on January 1, 2020. To prepare practitioners for this change, the State Bar of Michigan has added a resource page with educational resources and event listings concerning the rules. Check back often, as new resources will be added until the rules take effect.

Judicial Vacancy—Charlevoix County

Court: 90th District Court, Charlevoix County
Vacating Judge: Hon. James N. Erhart
Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically and received by 5:00 p.m. on September 6, 2019

To be considered for this position, you must be a State Bar of Michigan member who meets the legal qualifications for this office. Please be aware that to be appointed you must reside within the judicial district.

To apply for the position, please email one complete packet, including your judicial appointment questionnaire, resume, writing samples, and any other attachments to [email protected].

If you have any questions about the judicial appointment process, please send your questions to [email protected].

Family Law Section Annual Meeting

Date: Saturday, September 21, 2019
Time: 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Crowne Plaza West, 925 S Creyts Rd, Lansing
Cost: Free, but registration is requested for proper facilities planning. Breakfast will be available starting at 8:30 a.m. There is no charge to attend the Annual Meeting.

Register: online or by mail form
Registration deadline is September 15, 2019.

Agenda

Family Law Council elections, proposed amended bylaws, and a program related to the importance of the Family Division will be presented. A detailed agenda will be emailed to those who register by September 15.

Council Application

Notice of Proposed Bylaw Changes

Amendment requires a two‐thirds (2/3) vote of those Section members present at the Annual Meeting being held Saturday, September 21, 2019, and will thereafter become effective upon approval by the Board of Commissioners of the State Bar of Michigan.

Voting by proxy is not allowed, but all Section members are invited and encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting.

Hotel Accommodations

To reserve a room at the Crowne Plaza for the Annual Meeting at the discounted rate of $139 per night, please visit the hotel website, fill in the check in and check out dates and enter the code FLS. The Conference is September 21 and the discounted rate applies two days prior and two days after if you choose to extend your stay.

The Crowne Plaza will hold our block until Wednesday, August 21. Thereafter, the discount will be based on availability.

SBM Business Law Section to Host Business Boot Camp Nov. 4-5, 2019 in Grand Rapids, Jan. 30-31 in Plymouth

The State Bar of Michigan Business Law Section will host “Business Boot Camp I (Grand Rapids): Basic Training for Every Business Lawyer” from November 4-5, 2019 at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, and from January 30-31, 2020 at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth.

This award-winning course will provide you with practical tools you can put to use immediately. In just two days you will receive grounding in eight key areas of business practice, with guidance from the leaders who handle them every day. They will teach you how to:

• Develop confidence, attract clients, and impress partners
• Meet the lawyers doing the deals you want to do
• Learn the secrets of Michigan’s most successful business practitioners—our faculty describes the work they do day in and day out
• Take home time-tested, proven forms and explanatory materials you can put to use immediately

The conference begins begins at 8:30 a.m. each day and runs until 4:30. 

The cost to attend the seminar is as follows: $200—individual; $80—law student; $1,000—firm (up to 15 participants). The price for an individual goes up $20 on September 30, 2019. The registration deadline is October 31, 2019 (Jan. 27 for Plymouth).

To register for Grand Rapids: online or mail form

To register for Plymouth: online or mail form

For more information, see the Program Brochure

Agricultural Law Section Annual Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Time: 9:30 a.m.–Noon
Location: Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC, 313 S Washington Sq, Lansing
Cost: Free, but registration required to attend

Register: online or by mail form
Must register to attend.

Mark your calendar and register for the Agricultural Law Section's Annual Meeting and program in Lansing on September 24. Business meeting to start at 9:30 a.m., with the program following at 10:00 a.m. A networking lunch is scheduled for after the program. Parking will be available on the street side and in the city lot nearby.

For more information about the event contact John Dresser at [email protected] or (269) 689-8527.

NCBE Testing Task Force 2019 Practice Analysis

The Testing Task Force of the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) is interested in your insights regarding the job activities of newly licensed lawyers. Complete the Task Force’s nationwide 2019 practice analysis survey, which is gathering current data on the knowledge, skills, abilities, other characteristics, and technology newly licensed lawyers use to accomplish the job tasks they perform. To participate and learn more about the study, visit https://www.testingtaskforce.org/2019PAsurvey. The results of this survey will be used by NCBE to develop the next generation of the bar exam and will benefit the profession as a whole. Let’s make sure the survey includes the voices of attorneys from our state!