While its origins date back to around the turn of the last century, the Oakland County Bar Foundation, as we know it today, was formally created in 1999. Before, after, and to this day, the OCBF shares a close relationship with the Oakland County Bar Association. In fact, the OCBF is a source of funding each year for a number of programs offered by the OCBA to its members and the general public. These programs serve to further the OCBA’s mission: to serve the professional needs of its members, improve the justice system, and ensure the delivery of quality legal services to the public. Included in this column are the highlights of some of the programs offered by the OCBA this bar year that would not occur but for the financial support of the OCBF.
—Youth Law Conference
The Youth Law Conference is a one-day interactive program for high school juniors and seniors designed to teach them about career options in the legal profession and about the legal system, generally. Volunteer attorneys and judges present at the event, and the students participate in breakout sessions on myriad topics of interest to high school students. Past topics have included social media use, computer forensics, street law, forensic evidence, K-9 units, military law, domestic violence, identity protection, TV shows: fact or fiction?, law school and admission, and many others.
—Senior Law Day
Senior Law Day takes place each spring in two locations: the Waterford Senior Center and the Costick Center in Farmington Hills. Senior Law Day volunteers present on a number of topics, such as Medicaid planning, wills and trusts, reverse mortgages, veterans benefits, small claims court, and credit card and financial scams. Each attendee is provided with lunch and has the opportunity to participate in a free “Ask a Lawyer” session throughout the day.
—New Lawyers Admission Ceremony
In conjunction with the Circuit Court Administrator’s Office, the OCBA plans and coordinates swearing-in ceremonies at the Commissioners Auditorium for new attorneys who recently passed the bar exam. Each new attorney is also provided a resource book on how they can jump-start their practice and navigate the various courts in Oakland County.
—Pro Bono Mentor Match
Launched in 2012, the Pro Bono Mentor Match program provides mentorship to new lawyers and legal services to the indigent at the same time. The program is targeted to lawyers who have been in practice less than five years or who are unemployed or underemployed. From a pool of volunteer attorneys who are more experienced, a new lawyer is matched with a mentor and a pro bono case. With the guidance of the mentor, the mentee takes the case from start to finish.
—Circuit-Probate Court Bench/Bar Conference
Last month, the OCBA hosted the Circuit-Probate Court Bench/Bar Conference at The Community House in Birmingham. The conference is a biennial event and is intended to bring together members of the Oakland County Circuit/Probate Court benches and attorney members of the OCBA to learn, collaborate, and exchange ideas designed to assist in the delivery of quality legal services and justice in Oakland County. Funding from the OCBF helps underwrite the cost for speakers to attend as well as lower the cost for newer attorneys, law students, and paralegals.
Each of the OCBA programs highlighted provides value to our members and the community. But, the funding provided by the OCBF is only possible with the support of our members and the community. Without donations and revenue generated through fundraising events, the OCBF would be unable to provide the financial support for many of the OCBA programs offered each year. The largest single fundraising event for the OCBF is its annual Signature Event, which this year takes place on Thursday, May 4, at Orchard Lake Country Club. You can learn more about the Signature Event and purchase tickets by visiting ocba.org/signature-event. On behalf of the OCBA, I hope to see you there!
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Elizabeth L. Luckenbach is the 90th president of the Oakland County Bar Association. Luckenbach is a member in Dickinson Wright LLP’s Troy office.
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