MSU Law professor George Roumell receives State Bar award for Michigan impact

Professor George T. Roumell, Michigan State University College of Law’s longest-serving adjunct faculty member, received the John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award from the State Bar of Michigan, that honors Michigan legal educators “whose influence on lawyers has elevated the quality of legal practice in our state.”

Roumell started his teaching career at Detroit College of Law in 1957 and made the move to Michigan State University with DCL in 1997.

He has never missed a year, sometimes teaching multiple classes in a semester, and his students populate the bench and bar in Michigan and throughout the country.

He recently concluded his spring 2016 class, Problem-Solving Approaches to Conflict Resolution, in his 59th year with the Law College. He also teaches Labor Law and Arbitration.

Dean Joan W. Howarth praised Roumell for his impact on thousands of law students. “Professor Roumell is the kind of professor who students never forget,” she said. “They remember the law they have learned. And they remember his kindness, his intelligence, and his commitment to their learning.”

Roumell’s personal impact on the legal profession extends beyond the classroom. A respected attorney and leader of the profession, he has arbitrated over 6,000 cases, and has acted as one of the Detroit Police Officer’s Association’s impartial umpires for over 25 years. He also served as president of the State Bar of Michigan.

MSU Law created the Roumell Scholars Fund as a lasting legacy to Roumell’s career. Over $100,000 has been raised to benefit students with an interest in labor law.