The State Bar of Michigan’s Young Lawyers Section is pleased to host its “So You Have Your P Number, Now What? Practice Essentials for New Lawyers” seminar on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Baronette Renaissance Detroit-Novi Hotel, 27790 Novi Rd in Novi. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
This half-day training seminar is designed especially for new lawyers and will feature the following seminars and added benefits:
• Judicial Perspectives on Motion Practice and Courtroom Etiquette
Benchmarks of good oral advocacy include an attorney’s ability to appear confident and prepared. Learning how to present in front of a judge and knowing what your judge expects is a paramount part of any case preparation. Attendees will listen to the distinguished panel of judges who will provide their perspectives on pitfalls to avoid and best practices to adopt to maximize a court appearance.
• Tips on Avoiding Grievances, Ethical Pitfalls, and Malpractice
No lawyer ever wants to receive a grievance or malpractice claim. When grievance and malpractice issues arise, they can be quite time consuming, and unfortunately, the resolution can take the form of a sanction, suspension, or even disbarment. Fortunately, most client problems can be avoided through good client communication, proper conflicts checks, and separation of client funds. This seminar featuring Alan Gershel, grievance administrator (Attorney Grievance Commission), Danon Goodrum-Garland, director of Professional Standards (State Bar of Michigan), and malpractice attorney Donald Campbell (Collins, Einhorn, Farrell PC) is designed to provide practical tips and resources on how to avoid and handle these issues.
• Different Paths to Success: Practice Tips From Experienced Lawyers
The legal profession offers enormous opportunities and benefits for those who pursue a future in it. While the classroom teaches us the law, practical experience is an ongoing, lifelong lesson. During this panel discussion, attendees will hear from several young lawyers with various expertise who will share tips for practice, procedure, and how to launch a career.
• Keeping Your Overhead Under Budget: Optimizing Free and Low Cost Practice Resources
Now that you are licensed to practice law, you have probably started to realize that the business of practicing law can be expensive. The good news is that there are a plethora of free and low cost resources to help your practice thrive and be cost efficient. In this age of rapid change attorneys often struggle to keep up with the latest developments and identify the right resource for their needs. JoAnn Hathaway, State Bar of Michigan Practice Management advisor, will discuss many of the free or low cost options currently available to help you start your practice on the road to success.
• Strategies and Insights for Balanced Living
It’s no secret the legal profession can be a stressful one. With stress, chances of substance abuse, poor health, and other negative aspects can plague attorneys. How does one avoid these problems before they start? Tish Vincent, the program administrator for the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program and licensed clinical social worker, provides an informative seminar on achieving balance in the profession and combating stress.
• Launching Your Career with Assistance of the State Bar of Michigan
As a new attorney venturing into the legal profession, the State Bar of Michigan offers a wealth of services and opportunities to assist you with launching your career. This presentation on the benefits of bar membership and available resources features State Bar of Michigan President Donald Rockwell, Darin Day, State Bar of Michigan director of Outreach, and Robert Mathis, State Bar of Michigan Pro Bono Service counsel.
• Civility and Professionalism 101
PPR and the MPRE often feels like light years in the past once the P number is earned. Yet the basic principles are essential skills to maintain in practice but often overlooked. Equally of interest are numerous stories and cautionary tales of lawyers who cannot (or will not) cultivate civility, both professionally and personally. Ethics expert Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Auxiliary Dean and Professor Martha Moore will addresses practical advice and skills to become a consummate professional.
• Money Decisions on Trial
Early in your career you will make numerous money decisions that will have ripple effects for the rest of your career and even into retirement. Paying off student loans is a priority for many new lawyers and it’s important to protect yourself and start building wealth at the same time. In this seminar, learn how to balance your financial responsibilities to create positive outcomes under multiple circumstances.
Added seminar benefits include:
—Professional Headshots by Emma Burcusel (emmaburcusel.com)
A headshot is like the logo of your personal brand. As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression. When it comes to your online presence, your profile photo often creates that impression. It also helps to define who you are and how you want to be perceived by others. If you use any of your social networks in relation to your career, it is best to use an appropriate photo for your profiles. Taking a photo with your phone’s camera just doesn’t cut it. Take advantage of the on-site photographer to update your headshot. Appointments will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
For additional information, contact Shenique A. Moss at Sheniquemoss@gmail.com.
—Resume and Cover Letter Review
The resume and the cover letter are the two most important pieces of correspondence you will write during your job search. 30-60 seconds… that’s on average how long a potential employer looks at a cover letter or resume. Meaning that you have less than a minute to impress the reviewer and differentiate yourself from other candidates. Standing out in a positive and meaningful way is important when trying to impress the reader and distinguish yourself from other, highly qualified candidates. As an added benefit to the seminar, sit down with an experienced attorney to receive tips and feedback for putting your best foot forward in the legal job market. Submit your cover letter and resume to Kristina Bilowus at kristinabilowus@yahoo.com by Monday, Aug. 6.
—Writing Sample Review
During your job search, many prospective employers will request a writing sample. Employers use the sample to evaluate your ability to research and analyze legal issues. Take time to select and submit a strong piece of work that demonstrates your capacity to effectively analyze case law or a statutory scheme. For many employers, a candidate’s writing sample is a critical component in the hiring process. While you will not receive an offer of an employment based solely on your writing sample, a poor sample most certainly can prevent you from getting an offer. Your writing sample should be the best legal writing you have done. As a general rule, 5-10 pages will be of sufficient length. It can be a memo from a summer job, the writing competition note you submitted for the journals, a portion of a moot court brief, or part of a memorandum or brief that you wrote for a law school class. As an added benefit to the seminar, sit down with Prof. Mark Cooney, notable Research and Writing professor at WMU-Cooley, to discuss possible edits or areas for improvement. To reserve a spot, submit your writing sample to Shenique A. Moss at Sheniquemoss@gmail.com by Friday, Aug. 3.
There is no charge for the seminar but space is limited so attendees must register. To register, email Shenique A. Moss sheniquemoss@gmail.com by Friday, Aug. 3.
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