SBM Blog

Michigan Lawyers: Please Participate in 2017 Economics of Law Practice Survey

The State Bar of Michigan Economics of Law Practice Survey only happens once every three years, but the survey results get used daily throughout the state in courtrooms, law firms, and by lawyers in all occupational areas. Private practitioners can take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/17private, and non-private practitioners can take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/17nonprivate. This year’s survey should take no more than five minutes to complete.

In the 2008 Michigan Supreme Court decision Smith v. Khouri, the court referenced the SBM Economics of Law Practice Survey as the primary resource for trial courts in determining attorney fees. It provides the benchmark for more than 50 specific fields of practice by geographic location.

The survey is designed to capture information relevant to the various occupational areas of Michigan attorneys. Private practitioners will be asked questions about their specific practice areas, and those in non-private practice occupations, such as those working as in-house counsel, in government service, non-profit organizations, academia, legal services, and more, will be asked for information about salaries, benefits, hours worked, and job satisfaction.

When members participate in the survey, their privacy will be fully protected and their replies will remain strictly confidential. Results will be reported in the aggregate only—no individual results will be identifiable. The State Bar will not have access to any respondent’s financial information, and attorneys will not be asked to provide a P number or any other identifying information to take the survey. The survey will be conducted by a third-party vendor on an independent website. However, to help members find the survey, a link to the survey will be provided on the State Bar website.

To sweeten the pot and make participation in the survey a little more fun, participants will be eligible to enter a drawing for prizes, including two $500 Amazon gift cards, and five $100 Amazon gift cards.

Join the State Bar for a Town Hall Meeting

Join the leaders of the SBM 21st Century Practice Task Force from 1-4 p.m. on Friday January 29 to discuss the future of the legal profession at a town hall meeting.

The 21st Century Practice Task Force was created in March 2015 to make recommendations on how the State Bar can best serve the public and support lawyers' professional development in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. Since then, over 150 SBM members have developed more than 100 ideas to move Michigan forward toward the best possible legal future.

Now it's your turn!

The State Bar invites you to attend, in person or virtually, a town hall meeting to learn more about why the task force was formed, and offer your insights, ideas, and concerns. If you want to attend in person, make a reservation by e-mailing [email protected]. The State Bar is also arranging live-streaming and virtual participation. If you are interested in virtual participation, e-mail [email protected].

Learn to find great tech at a low price at the SBM Solo & Small Firm Institute

Noted technology cheapskate journalist Rick Broida will teach attorneys at the State Bar of Michigan 2014 Solo & Small Firm Institute how to find great deals on technology that lawyers need. And, as you can see from the You Tube clip below, he's not afraid to let lawyers know what technology is unnecessary and overly expensive as well.

Join the State Bar of Michigan and Institute for Continuing Legal Education September 18 and 19 in Grand Rapids for this year's Annual Meeting and Solo & Small Firm Institute. Scholarships are still available for slots at the Solo & Small Firm Institute. For more information about scholarships, contact Stephanie Fisher via snail mail at 1020 Greene St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1444.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

2014 SBM Economics of Law Practice Survey results posted online

The 2014 State Bar of Michigan Economics of Law Practice survey report has been posted online.

The survey is conducted every three years and the results are used daily throughout the state in courtrooms, law firms and by lawyers in all occupational areas. As referenced by the Michigan Supreme Court in Smith v. Khouri, it is the primary resource used by trial courts to determine attorney fees. It provides the benchmark for more than 50 specific fields of practice by geographic location. 

Survey results also contain data about salaries, benefits, hours worked and job satisfaction for attorneys in non-private practice occupations, such as those working as in-house counsel, in government service, non-profit organizations, academia, legal services and more.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

SBM recognizes law firms for doing pro bono service in 2014 Circle of Excellence

The State Bar of Michigan is proud to announce the 2014 Pro Bono Circle of Excellence, which recognizes every firm that fully complied with the State Bar Voluntary Pro Bono Standard during the 2013 calendar year.

“Lawyers have a unique ethical responsibility to support legal services for the poor, and the law firms recognized today in the 2014 Circle of Excellence are our leaders in this important obligation,” said SBM Executive Director Janet Welch.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

How do SBM dues stack up compared to those paid by attorneys in other states?

Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that the portion of dues paid by State Bar of Michigan members to fund the disciplinary system in Michigan will decrease by $20 for every Michigan attorney during the next dues cycle. That means the total amount of dues paid by active Michigan attorneys will drop from $305 a year to $285 a year.

After that decrease in dues takes place, how expensive will Michigan's dues be compared to those in other states?

First, it's important to note that every state in the country and the District of Columbia require attorneys to pay some sort of licensing fee or membership dues to practice law.

There are 33 mandatory bar jurisdictions, which are comprised of 32 states and the District of Columbia. There are six jurisdictions (comprising 18.2 percent of all mandatory jurisdictions) with required dues and fees that will be less expensive than the new State Bar of Michigan dues, and 26 jurisdictions (78.8%) that will be more expensive than the new SBM dues. The mean of the dues of the 33 mandatory bar jurisdictions is $378 and the median of the dues of the mandatory jurisdictions is $385.

So the State Bar of Michigan's dues will be less expensive than those charged to attorneys in more than 75 percent of mandatory bar states.

There are 18 voluntary bar jurisdictions, but within these voluntary jurisdictions, attorneys are still required to pay dues or fees. Taking these into consideration in combination with the 33 mandatory jurisdictions (the District of Columbia and all of the states, totaling 51 jurisdictions), 18 jurisdictions (35.3%) have required dues and fees that are less expensive than the SBM, and 32 jurisdictions (62.7%) are more expensive. The mean of dues and required fees of the 51 jurisdictions is $323 and the median is $325.

In sum, it will be cheaper to practice law in Michigan than in more than 60 percent of all other jurisdictions, mandatory and voluntary combined, across the country.

Posted by Samantha Meinke
Statistics were compiled by SBM Director of Finance and Administration Jim Horsch, from data gathered by the American Bar Association

Michigan Supreme Court lowers disciplinary portion of attorney dues by $20

The Michigan Supreme Court issued the following order on Friday, June 20:

In 2011, the Court directed the discipline portion of the dues members pay to the State Bar of Michigan to be reduced by $10 (to $110) in light of the $5 million surplus of the discipline system. Today, there is an even greater surplus. Therefore, the Court directs that the amount of discipline dues be adjusted to $90. This change will be reflected in the dues notice for the 2014-2015 fiscal year that is distributed to all bar members under Rule 4 of the Rules Concerning the State Bar.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Last Call: Participate in the 2014 Economics of Law Practice Survey Now

Friday, May 23, is the last day you can participate in the 2014 State Bar of Michigan Economics of Law Practice Survey.

The survey will take less than five minutes to complete, and is divided into questions directed at private practice attorneys and questions aimed at attorneys employed in other sectors. When members participate in the survey, their privacy will be fully protected and their replies will remain strictly confidential. Results will be reported in the aggregate only—no individual results will be identifiable.

Survey participants will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including an iPad, two $250 gift cards, and two $150 donations to the Access to Justice Fund in the name of the prize winners.

Private practice attorneys take the survey here:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/privatepractice14

Non private practice attorneys take the survey here:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/nonprivatepractice14

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

This Law Day, serve your profession by participating in the Economics of Law Practice Survey

This Law Day you have an opportunity to help improve your profession by participating in the 2014 State Bar of Michigan Economics of Law Practice Survey.

The survey will take less than five minutes to complete, and is divided into questions directed at private practice attorneys and questions aimed at attorneys employed in other sectors. When members participate in the survey, their privacy will be fully protected and their replies will remain strictly confidential. Results will be reported in the aggregate only—no individual results will be identifiable.

Survey participants will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including an iPad, two $250 gift cards, and two $150 donations to the Access to Justice Fund in the name of the prize winners.

Private practice attorneys take the survey here:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/privatepractice14

Non private practice attorneys take the survey here:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/nonprivatepractice14

Posted by Samantha Meinke