Professionalism issues examined

By Debra Talcott Legal News The Auburn Hills campus of Cooley Law School will host the State Bar Professionalism Orientation program for its incoming class of freshmen on Thursday, Jan. 7, from 6:15-8:15 p.m. About 60 freshmen and 20 lawyers and judges are expected to participate in this year's event. "This will be the third time we have partnered with the State Bar of Michigan to introduce our incoming students to professionalism issues as part of their orientation week," says Auburn Hills Dean John Nussbaumer. "The vision that former State Bar President Ed Pappas had for this program was to get students thinking about ethics and professionalism first, so that they will have that focus as they work through their first semester." Tom Cranmer, a defense attorney with Miller Canfield and former president of the State Bar of Michigan, will be the keynote speaker. Cranmer was recently elected to serve a four-year term on the Board of Directors for Cooley Law School. He will draw upon his 30-plus years of civil and criminal litigation experience when he addresses the freshman class. "Our hope is to impress upon incoming law students the importance that professionalism and legal ethics play in the practice of law," says Cranmer. "Perhaps more so than in any other profession, your reputation and ethical conduct is critical not only to your personal success, but to the well-being of the justice system as a whole." Cranmer explains that rather than treating legal ethics as an "afterthought," Cooley Law School and the State Bar of Michigan want to establish ethical conduct as an essential part of the law student's conscience from day one of his or her law school career. Mistress of ceremonies for the event will be State Bar Vice President Julie Fershtman, who is Of Counsel to Zausmer, Kaufman, August, Caldwell & Tayler. Fershtman specializes in the areas of general insurance defense, insurance coverage, business litigation, premises liability, and sporting and recreational liability. She is a national leader in equine law and has authored a number of books on the subject. Earlier this year, Fershtman spoke at the National Conference on Equine Law in Lexington, Ky. Participants will include Macomb County Bar President Anthony Bellanca and past Oakland County Bar presidents Mike Schoff, Jay Cunningham, and Judith Gracey. Judges Annette Berry, Leo Bowman, and Eric Cholack will be on hand to share their expertise as well. "We are honored to help the State Bar continue this valuable program," said Nussbaumer. Published: Tue, Dec 29, 2009

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