By Mike Scott
Legal News
Volleyball, barbecue, and … lawyers?
Yes sports, food and attorneys do go together.
At least that is the case every year in Macomb County as part of the Macomb County Bar Association’s Annual Young Lawyers Section BBQ.
Held this year on Friday, Aug. 6 starting at 4 p.m. at The Law Offices of DeMoss, Dempsey, and DeMoss in Clinton Township, the Young Lawyers Section BBQ will feature a coed volleyball match between Young Lawyer members of the Macomb and Oakland County bar associations.
And while the event starts at 4 p.m. it likely will continue deep into the night.
One of the main reasons for having the third annual “248 v. 586” Challenge during the barbecue this year is to increase turnout for what is traditionally one of the most attended networking events of the year for Macomb County lawyers.
Two years ago the 248 v. 586 Challenge was initiated between the Young Lawyers of both bar associations with Macomb winning a softball game in 2008 and Oakland capturing a kickball match on its turf.
“We’re excited to get some Oakland County attorneys over here and the athletic event is part of a friendly rivalry that we all have fun with,” said Jeff Burns, chair of the Macomb Young Lawyers and an associate with Simasko, Simasko & Simasko in Mt. Clemens.
“Right now we’re trying to pull together a team but we’re not going to get too competitive,” he added with a laugh.
The Volleyball Challenge begins at 6:30 p.m. but the networking will go on all night.
The Young Lawyers BBQ in Macomb County has been particularly beneficial for bar association members the last few years because, as the labor market has contracted in southeastern Michigan’s legal market, more new law school graduates have been forced to start their own law practice, Burns said.
So while these students have a strong legal background, they may have more questions, and fewer lawyer colleagues to bounce ideas off each other, than a lawyer who joins a mid-sized or larger firm.
“Firms still aren’t hiring too much so its status quo for those of us at a firm and it’s really tough for the new lawyers passing the bar each year,” Burns said. “It’s through events like this barbecue that young lawyers can ask questions, meet judges and get a better understanding of how to run their own businesses from attorneys who have been there.”
One of the trends that is common among new lawyers is that they often will share overhead and support staff expenses, Burns said.
Some members of the Macomb County Young Lawyers’ group may rent space in the same location and share other costs as a way to save money and improve productivity as sole practitioners, Burns said.
And if they lawyers have different specialties, such a relationship serves as a natural referral opportunity.
“You might meet a judge and have an opportunity to learn about a court appointment,” Burns said of the annual barbecue. “It’s a pretty casual setting.”
By holding the 248 v. 586 Challenge as part of this networking event, it may also draw in more experienced lawyers who no longer qualify to be members of the Young Lawyers group as well, Burns said.
Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Mary Chrzanowski has agreed to be the honorary referee for the match.
“We all have (billable) work and client needs and families so it can be difficult to find a time to network with other lawyers in a casual way,” Burns said. “But this will provide our members and those coming from Oakland County with great referral opportunities.
“So if you’re a litigator you will get a chance to meet a criminal lawyer, an immigration lawyer and an estate planner.”
The location at DeMoss, Dempsey, and DeMoss also lends itself to being an ideal setting for volleyball. There is already a grass court located behind the firm’s office off Gratiot just south of Hall Road.
There will be food, drinks and music all night for all to attend. It is free for all Macomb County and Oakland County Bar Association members.
The Macomb County Bar is asking for RSVPs by July 30 if possible by calling (586) 468-2940.
It is expected that a raffle will be held to help pay for the cost of food and other refreshments.
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