OCBA president makes most of volunteer service

By Tom Kirvan Legal News Kurt Schnelz, who took office as the president of the Oakland County Bar Association in July, served an 18-year legal "apprenticeship," one in which he never prevailed at trial. "I didn't win a case," Schnelz admitted. "I never even won an objection, although my mother did her best to plead my petitions." It was the school of legal hard knocks for the Birmingham lawyer who over the course of a 25-year career has been recognized and honored by several local and national organizations and publications for his impressive work in the area of family law. Justice, in Schnelz's case, was meted out by a judge with a sterling legal reputation - his father, the irrepressible Gene Schnelz, now two years retired from the Oakland County Circuit Court bench. "Growing up in his household, I'm not sure I ever came out on the winning side of an argument," Schnelz said a smile. "The Judge always had the power of getting in the last word." Now it may be an entirely different matter, despite his father's almost revered legal status as a judge emeritus in Oakland County. The family pecking order changed in July 2007 when the judicial retiree joined his son's firm in downtown Birmingham, becoming one of three "Of Counsel" attorneys associated with the practice. Son tops father on the legal letterhead. Judge Schnelz's dedication to the profession and zeal for volunteer service are traits inherited by his son, one of three principal shareholders in the firm of Schnelz Wells. Those desires prompted him to form his own general practice in 1988 after he departed from the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, where he "had the pleasure of serving" under L. Brooks Patterson. "I started a small general practice with Robert Bondy, now a district judge in Novi," Schnelz recalled. "Steve Wells joined us a couple years later and eventually we formed Schnelz Wells, P.C. with Steve's brother Todd, moved our practice to Birmingham, and Robert went on to become a judge." Over time, Schnelz's legal focus shifted almost entirely to family law, nearly by default. "Initially it was because no one else in the firm was really interested in it," he said. "Once I began to develop my reputation and acumen in that field, more and more cases starting coming my way. I discovered it was a vehicle to use my talents to help clients at a very difficult time in their lives." His work as a matrimonial attorney coincided with his deepening involvement in county and state bar activities, volunteer service that was encouraged by his father. "He really stressed the importance of being involved in bar activities and how the benefits of participating would help me grow professionally and as an individual," Schnelz related. "He couldn't have been more right about that. I have made friends and built legal relationships across the state because of my involvement with the bar. So many of the people that I have met and worked with have become friends for life. Lawyers are wonderful people." His involvement in bar activities began when he was a law student at the former Detroit College of Law, now part of the Michigan State University College of Law. "I was part of the Law Student Section and later became chair of the Young Lawyers Section, chair of the Representative Assembly and a member of the Board of Commissioners for the State Bar," Schnelz said. "It was a great way to get my feet wet and to gain an appreciation for the importance of the bar's work in the legal profession and in the community." Now, Schnelz has achieved elder statesman status on the board of the State Bar of Michigan, currently serving his 14th year as a commissioner. For almost two decades, he also has been a member of the Attorney Discipline Board, the disciplinary arm of the State Bar. "I'm currently one of the longest serving commissioners on the board of the State Bar and my involvement with the Oakland Bar Association will be pushing 25 years when I complete my term as president," said Schnelz. "It's been great to be involved with both bars. My time with the bar has been a very enriching, rewarding, and thoroughly enjoyable experience." Schnelz became president of the OCBA in July, succeeding Mike Schloff. Like his predecessor, Schloff served in various leadership capacities on the OCBA board en route to the presidency, gaining a full appreciation for the inner workings of the largest county bar association in Michigan. "We are blessed with an incredible staff at the OCBA and a great director in Lisa (Stadig Elliot)," Schnelz said. "They set a positive tone for everything we do as an organization." Schnelz has set a series of goals for the year ahead, including a "revised strategic plan" for the OCBA, "numerous fellowship and professional events, continuing a strong relationship with the bench," and has plans to attend at least one meeting of each of the OCBA's many committees, a task that figures to broaden his legal horizons even further. "I've actually found that my work with the Oakland and State bars really rejuvenates me," Schnelz said. "It's inspiring to see how much time and effort that the members and the staff put into the programs and activities.They go all out." The same can be said of Schnelz, who has agreed to rally to the cause of the drug and sobriety court programs in Oakland County as they face budget cutbacks. "Many of us who have served in the Prosecutor's Office are willing to donate our time to serve in similar capacities to keep the drug and sobriety court programs going," Schnelz said. "If we can work out some of the details with the state and county, we will be in a position to help out now and in the future. It's a program that deserves our continued support." A graduate of Walled Lake Western High School, Schnelz is the oldest of three children. His sisters, Rebecca and Elizabeth, and his parents, Betty and Gene, all live within a few miles of each other, continuously cementing the family bond. His sister, Elizabeth, is a drama teacher at Walled Lake Central High School, while Rebecca is an attorney and administrator of the Oakland County Probate Court. Schnelz played football and baseball at Walled Lake Western, displaying his athletic talents as a wide receiver on the gridiron and as a pitcher on the diamond. He received an academic scholarship to attend Alma College. There, Schnelz earned a bachelor of arts degree in history. "I knew a career in medicine wasn't an option since I wasn't exactly a star student in science and math, and I couldn't sing or dance," Schnelz said with a smile. "I love history, so the most logical place for me to end up was either in teaching or law school." The legal career path is being followed by his daughter, Stephanie, a Michigan State grad who has earned a full academic scholarship to the MSU College of Law. She also received a fellowship from the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society and has a special connection with her grandfather, the retired Oakland County judge. "They share a common enemy - me," Schnelz laughed. Schnelz's son, Steve, graduated from Orchard Lake St. Mary's last spring and now is a freshman at the University of Michigan. "He's out of the will now," said Schnelz, a longtime MSU supporter. "Steve actually has been talking about pursuing a career with the FBI, mainly because it would be a job where he could carry a gun." In a serious vein, Schnelz said he would be "honored" to have his son in "government service" and has encouraged him in that regard. A sense of humor, nevertheless, is a key element in the Schnelz family DNA. It is a character trait that he shares with his wife, Maha, who left Beirut, Lebanon in 1974 because of her father's love for the United States and his desire to raise his family here. "Maha has been a godsend to me," Schnelz said of his wife. "She is very smart woman, compassionate as well as tough, and God really blessed me when Maha came into my life." Schnelz enjoys long walks with his wife, who acts as a sounding board and counselor on the rigors of his law practice and volunteer service. One day, Schnelz joked, he figures to get a "big bill from her for all the advice she has given." The Schnelz family also enjoys time at their home in Charlevoix, regularly boating on Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix. Schnelz, the boater, has been dubbed "Captain Kirk" by the kids. The Schnelz clan is tight-knit and gathers regularly. With three lawyers already in the mix and one on the way, banter around the dinner table can sound more like a courtroom than a family meal, according to Schnelz. With so much "legalese" in the air, Schnelz's mother and his wife have laid down their own "law" and now prohibit shoptalk during dinner. Despite Schnelz's commitment to the law and volunteer service, he said that his faith and family are the most important elements in his life. "A close and loving family is the greatest gift a person can have," Schnelz said. "It is comforting to know that you are loved unconditionally." Nevertheless, he noted, "It is important for a lawyer to understand that their job is the protection of others through service to their clients and community involvement," a difficult balancing act when framed in the context of quality of life issues. "I guess that is why they call it 'the practice of law,'" Schnelz said. "Because you never totally perfect it." Published: Wed, Dec 30, 2009

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