New Lawyers' Seminar scheduled for December 5-6

Denise Page Hood, chief judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has announced the annual New Lawyers' Seminar, which will be held in Room 115 of the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette, Detroit, Michigan 48226 on Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Wednesday, Dec. 6. The program is designed to assist recent law graduates in understanding the fundamental procedures followed in both federal and state courts and to provide practical teaching in a variety of subject matter areas. The program's goal is to bridge the gap between the more theoretical learnings in law school to the actual practice of law. The seminar is co-sponsored by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, and the State Bar of Michigan's Young Lawyers' Section. Chief Judge Hood encourages attendance at the seminar but it is a voluntary educational program and is not a prerequisite for an individual to be admitted to practice in the courts. The seminar begins at 8:30 a.m.on Dec. 5 with registration and a welcome to the practice of law in Federal Court by Chief Judge Hood. The day continues with presentations on various federal practice areas by experienced attorneys including Stan Bershad on Bankruptcy Practice, David DuMouchel on Criminal Practice in Federal Court, Richard Hewlett on Civil Practice and "Do's and Don'ts" presented by several career law clerks. The program continues on Dec. 6 with presenters in various state law practice areas including Grievance Administrator Alan Gershel on how to avoid a grievance; Albert Dib on Evaluating and Litigating Personal Injury Claims; Brian Legghio on practicing criminal law in state courts; Kay Malaney on Domestic Relations; Anrea Hamm on Workers' Compensation; and Peter Kupelian on Alternate Dispute Resolution. There will also be a luncheon address by Chief Judge Robert Columbo of the Wayne County Circuit Court. Judges Denise Page Hood, Anthony Patti, Victoria Roberts and Laurie J. Michelson, are among those who are expected to speak at the seminar. Co-chairs for the seminar are attorneys Christine Dowhan-Bailey, Cathrine Wenger, Grant Gilezan and Lauren Mandel. The cost of the seminar is $125. Admission includes both days of the seminar, the luncheon on Dec. 7, and course materials that include form pleadings and memoranda expanding on the topics covered by the speakers and one year of local FBA membership. On-line registration is available at www.fbamich.org, under "Events and Activities." There will also be a ceremony admitting attorneys to practice in federal court coordinated with this program on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. in the United States Courthouse for all those who have been admitted to the state bar and meet requirements for admission to the bar of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. This is a separate ceremony with a separate admission fee of $231 payable to the Clerk, United States District Court. Additional information is available at www.mied.uscourts.gov. Although the focus of the program is on recent graduates, experienced attorneys wishing to attend the seminar are welcome. Attendance satisfies the federal practice seminar requirement for admission to the District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Space is limited to 125 participants and is expected to be sold out. It is suggested that reservations be mailed in early to ensure a place. Published: Thu, Nov 16, 2017