– Photo by John Meiu
Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Auburn Hills campus hosted a State Bar of Michigan Professionalism Orientation program. Numerous judges and lawyers from metropolitan Detroit gave up their afternoons to meet in pairs with small groups of six to eight students each to discuss real-life ethics and professionalism issues that the students may confront as lawyers. Among those participating in the program were (front row, left to right) Cooley Auburn Hills Associate Dean John Nussbaumer; Cooley Assistant Dean Lisa Halushka; Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rae Lee Chabot; Administrative Law Judge Denise McNulty; Oakland County 52-3 District Court Judge Lisa Asadoorian; Robert Morad; Cooley Professor Alan Gershel; and Robert Donaldson; along with (back row, left to right) retired Judge Fred Mester; Cooley Associate Professor Dustin Foster; Mike Schloff; Edwar Zeineh; Oakland County 52-4 District Court Judge Dennis Drury; Wayne County Circuit Court Referee Kelly Ramsey; Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Lita Popke; Cooley Professor Mike McDaniel; State Bar Secretary Thomas Rombach, MC for the program; Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Cynthia Thomas, keynote speaker; Neil MacCallum; Paul Stablein; and Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar.
Cooley Law School recently kicked off its fall semester with its annual Professionalism in Action programs held at all five campuses.
Before incoming Thomas M. Cooley Law School students step into their first law school class, they are oriented to the importance of attorney ethics and professionalism through a collaborative program between the State Bar of Michigan and Cooley, called Professionalism in Action.
Launched in 2009 by then State Bar of Michigan President Edward H. Pappas, the program brings students, local attorneys and judges together to discuss the role and importance of ethics and professionalism in both the study and practice of law.
In Auburn Hills, Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Cynthia Stephens gave the keynote address and talked with students about practical professionalism issues.
Assistant Dean Lisa Halushka gave opening remarks while Cooley graduate Thomas Romach, secretary for the State Bar of Michigan, introduced the speaker.
In Grand Rapids, attorney William W. Jack Jr., of Smith Haughey, Rice, & Roegge PC, served as the keynote speaker.
He urged students to “take the higher road” and stressed the importance of consistently ethical behavior.
Bruce Courtade, newly elected president of the State Bar of Michigan, provided welcoming remarks and introduced the speaker.
In Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County District Court Judge Cedric Simpson served as the keynote speaker.
He stressed the importance of honor and integrity in the practice of law, and told students to strive to be an honorable attorney in how they conduct themselves with clients, other attorneys, and in their practice.
He administered the Commitment to Honor to the students. Roundtable discussions on issues of ethics and professionalism, a hallmark of the Professionalism In Action tradition at Cooley Law School, followed the oath.
In Lansing, State Bar of Michigan President Julie Fershtman served as the keynote speaker.
Following that presentation, incoming students participated in roundtable discussions on ethics and professionalism with lawyers and judges.
Fershtman, of Foster Swift, Collins, & Smith PC, emphasized to students the importance of civility, honesty, and competence.
In Tampa Bay, 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Christopher Sabella gave the keynote speech, administered the Honor Code Oath, and led a discussion group.
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