February 2011 • Career Center
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Career Center
- A highly targeted focus on employment opportunities in a certain sector, location, or demographic;
- Anonymous resume posting and job application—enabling job candidates to stay connected to the employment market while maintaining full control over their confidential information;
- An advanced “Job Alert” system that notifies candidates of new opportunities matching their own pre-selected criteria;
- Access to industry-specific jobs—and top-quality candidates;
- Employer access to a large number of job seekers.
The State Bar of Michigan has launched a new online career center to connect employers in the legal profession to eligible and qualified candidates looking for job opportunities.
The Bar partnered with JobTarget, an industry leader in job board development, to build a unique SBM employment marketplace with features that are different from generalist job boards in a number of ways, including:
“This new online center is built with the latest technology in career development and will give our members the most effective job searching and recruiting capabilities that exist today,” said SBM President W. Anthony Jenkins. “It’s a valuable member benefit. We realize how difficult it can be to match quality employees with job opportunities—the new online career center will help address that problem.”
The career center is free for job seekers. Employers will pay a fee to post jobs. For more information visit the online center.
Economics of Law Practice in Michigan
The Key Findings Report on the 2010 Economics of Law Practice in Michigan has just been released. This short, early version focuses exclusively on attorney income and billing rates—the two most requested pieces of information by attorneys. The full summary report will be out next month.
Judicial Crossroads Task Force
The Judicial Crossroads Task Force Report points toward a Michigan court system that looks much different from what lawyers and the public are used to. The task force, which consisted of equal numbers of judges and lawyers, made recommendations that include ways to streamline trial courts, harness technology, and fix fundamental problems before they grow worse. Read the Entire Report
Nominations for Major State Bar Awards
Nominations are now open for major State Bar of Michigan awards that will be presented at the September 2011 Annual Meeting in Dearborn. Any State Bar member can propose candidates for awards. To apply online or download application forms, visit the Events & Awards page.
Tips & Tools Seminar
Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Time: 8:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Location: State Bar of Michigan, Lansing
Register online or by mail/fax form before February 25
The semi-annual seminar features presentations on how to maintain mutually beneficial client relationships, draft effective fee agreements, manage trust and business accounts, analyze ethical issues, and use innovative techniques and technology for law office management. Participants will receive seminar materials prepared by the featured presenters. The seminar presents an excellent opportunity for solo practitioners and new lawyers to gain practical information on managing their law practices.
Disabilities Status Report
The Equal Access Initiative Disabilities Workgroup recently published Persons with Disabilities and Access to the Michigan Legal System: A Status Report, 2010, which includes information collected in a survey sent to over 300 lawyers who are either disabled or serve disabled clients. It also includes feedback from focus groups and information gathered with the help of the State Court Administrative Office from judges, court administrators, and Americans with Disabilities Coordinators. View the Report
Diversity Pledge
The State Bar of Michigan actively promotes the importance of diversity and inclusion in the profession. We applaud all who have signed the SBM Pledge to Achieve Diversity and Inclusion and will publicly acknowledge their action.
State Bar President Tony Jenkins in a recent Michigan Bar Journal President's Page quoted an ancient Chinese proverb that says “any journey of a million miles begins with the first step.”
Now that we’ve started the journey, we urge you to join us in this endeavor and to check out who has already signed as of February 16, 2011.
Please join us in this very important effort by becoming a signatory to the pledge today!
Are you Connected?
- e-Journal provides daily summaries of opinions released from the Michigan Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Subscribe Online
- SBM News provides a daily summary of law-related news articles, editorials, and columns carried in major local, state, and national media. Subscribe Online
- Public Policy Update is a weekly journal highlighting public policy issues of interest to the profession. Subscribe Online
- Disability News is a quarterly newsletter addressing issues faced by people with disabilities in the courthouse setting. Subscribe Online
- What's New in Practice Management is a weekly e-mail offering tips and tools from the Practice Management Resource Center. Subscribe Online
The State Bar offers five electronic publications delivered to your e-mail inbox at no cost to you.
Enjoy Your Member Benefits
- InterCall conferencing
- Sprint cell phones & data cards
- Fedex and UPS delivery services
- Staples office supplies
- Casemaker legal research
- Go Next travel
- Paul Goebel Group full range of insurance programs
- Bank of America MasterCard and financial services
- Framing Success document framing
- Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance
- MTG credit card processing
- MyIDsite identity theft program
- Liberty Mutual home and auto insurance
- Car rental
- Clothing: Brooks Brothers and Jos. A. Bank
Learn more about member benefits and discounts online or call 888-SBM-ForU (888-726-3678).
Short Story Contest
The Michigan Bar Journal is seeking original, unpublished, fictional, law-related short stories for its third contest. Winning entries will be published in the August 2011 issue of the Bar Journal. Winners will receive one of these great prizes:
- Bed & Breakfast Overnight Package, Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
- Complimentary Golf for Two—18 Holes w/Cart, Inn at St. John's, Plymouth
- Plaza Dreams Overnight Package, Amway Grand Plaza, Grand Rapids
Visit the Bar Journal page for contest rules and entry form. Entry deadline is March 1, 2011.
Milestone Focuses on Desegregation
The historic U.S. Supreme Court case Milliken v. Bradley, which addressed the planned desegregation of schools and busing in Detroit, is the subject of the State Bar's 36th Michigan Legal Milestone. Details of the program are being worked out. The Michigan Legal Milestones recognizes significant legal cases and personalities in Michigan’s history and uses bronze plaques, placed at featured sites, to relate the historical significance. A new milestone is dedicated each year. The Legal Milestone plaques are on display across the state.
View Past Milestones
Today's Practice Management Tip
Each week a new Tip of the Week is posted at the Practice Management Resource Center.
Do You . . .
Do you know all the passwords? Do you know the password to every computer in your office including the server? Do you have a networked printer which requires a password to make setting changes? Do you know the administrator password for every software application in use in the office? Do you know the password to your website, host account, and domain registrar? What about online services, online banking, legal research, credit card services, health insurance or cafeteria plan, and TurboTax? Does your firm have a blog, a Facebook page, Twitter, or a LinkedIn account? Do you have passwords for your mobile phone, iPad, Kindle, Nook, or iTunes? What about Amazon or Staples and other online transactional services?
You get the idea! If you are managing by using the “Master Password” concept—re-evaluate! If the task of managing your passwords seems insurmountable, read North Carolina Practice Management Advisor Erik Mazzone’s SmallLaw review of LastPass for one solution. (The review is under Recent Issues.)
Bar Journal Online