As promised in my first column, I’ll be discussing the many benefits of your OCBA membership during the next year. The OCBA is proud to be the largest voluntary bar association in Michigan, and we are committed to providing our loyal members with quality services and benefits. The OCBA offers its members the tools, resources, and education to empower them in their legal careers. We strive to fulfill our members’ needs, from continuing legal education to committee participation to fun and meaningful social and networking opportunities with the bench and bar. We want our members to get the most out of their membership with the OCBA, and we strive to be essential in helping them achieve their professional goals.
To that end, I’d like to highlight a lesser-known benefit that may be very helpful for many of our solo- and small-firm members. With so many lawyers now practicing primarily from their homes, there’s a real need for rentable office space. That’s where your friendly OCBA office comes in! If you’ve ever found yourself in need of a conference room to meet with a client or conduct a deposition, or just a quiet place to work, then the OCBA is here for you! Our rooms are also perfect if you’re looking for a neutral location to conduct a mediation, as we are centrally located in Oakland County.
There are four newly renovated and comfortable rooms available to rent at the OCBA office. Our office is just minutes from the Oakland County Circuit Court and has beautiful lakefront views. Room rates are as low as $20 per hour, with discounted rates available for half- and full-day rentals. Our rooms are rented on a first-come, first-served basis. All rentals include coffee and water and free Wi-Fi. The OCBA also has audiovisual equipment and a full kitchen available for additional fees.
The following rooms are available for your rental needs:
• Presidents Room — seating capacity up to eight people.
• Award Honorees Room — seating capacity up to seven people.
• Executive Boardroom — seating capacity up to 20 people.
• Learning Center — seating capacity up to 78 people.
As someone who has personally utilized the OCBA’s rental offices, I can attest that from the OCBA’s friendly staff to the comfortable rooms and Wi-Fi, it’s a great option for those looking for the benefits of an office without the overhead. You can find more information regarding our room rentals on the OCBA website at ocba.org, or feel free to contact the OCBA at 248-334-3400.
Bonus Member Benefit:
The OCBA Lawyer Referral Service
Are you looking to grow your client base? If so, you should consider joining the OCBA’s Lawyer Referral Service. We offer our members an opportunity to build their practices by participating in a referral service for a minimal out-of-pocket cost. Additionally, the Lawyer Referral Service allows the OCBA and its members the opportunity to offer a vital service to members of the community who may not otherwise know where to go to find a lawyer.
As a panelist on the Lawyer Referral Service, you agree to provide a 30-minute consultation, at no cost, to prospective clients. At the conclusion of the initial consultation, you have no further obligation to the client. If the client decides they would like to continue to receive assistance from you, you would then discuss fees and payment options and collect any other information you would need from the client.
Lawyer Referral Service highlights:
• Approximately 90 lawyers participate on the LRS panel.
• Referrals are provided on a rotational basis by area of legal expertise and by geographical location.
• The LRS provides a monthly average of 500 referrals.
• The following categories currently receive the highest number of referrals:
- Landlord/Tenant.
- Probate.
- Divorce.
- General Contracts.
- General Criminal.
For more information on the Lawyer Referral Service, please visit the OCBA website at ocba.org.
Your Oakland County Bar Association can be an invaluable resource for your practice. In the coming months, I’ll continue to highlight how you can get the most out of your membership.
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Melinda N. Deel, of Melinda N. Deel PLLC, is the 91st president of the Oakland County Bar Association.
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