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| Member Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Your membership in the Oakland County Bar Association allows you a myriad of opportunities to participate in programs and services that benefit you both professionally and personally. The following is a list and description of services and programs offered by the OCBA.
ADR What our members are saying: "Membership in the OCBA has given me the opportunity to meet and work with hundreds of lawyers. I've been privileged to serve on numerous committees, attend Bench/Bar conferences, and be actively involved in efforts to improve the legal and judicial systems.More than any other organized bar, the OCBA has enhanced our profession in this community." "There is a do-something organization which benefits lawyers and society. Mandatory sentencing laws often were disproportional to first -time offenders. Through its committees, board, and lobbyist, the OCBA spoke up. Criminal assignments have long been a contentious issue - working with Oakland County judges, the OCBA is actively participating in improving indigent representation. Through specific mentoring programs and the Inn of Court, new lawyers are exposed to good lawyering. Good friends, good programs, good values - I'm proud to be a member." "One of the early things I did as a new attorney was to join the CLE committee of the OCBA. Committee membership gave me a chance to interact with some very experienced attorneys and to become exposed to some new areas of practice. When I look back at my years as an attorney, my involvement with the OCBA was one of my most positive experiences." The OCBA encourages the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a better way to avoid litigation and resolve all manners of disputes. The OCBA provides ADR education, training, and services through its monthly journal, seminars, speakers' bureau, referral program, cooperative research, and jointly sponsored community initiatives including the ADR Pledge Partnership.
The Case Evaluation Service provides orientation and application processing for both Circuit and District Court. The administration of District Court Case Evaluation is handled by the Association. Attorneys are chosen on a rotation basis and are called to become evaluators approximately every two years. Case Evaluations are scheduled 2-4 times a month. The Circuit Court Administrator's office handles the administration and assignment of case evaluators for the Circuit Court. For "Guidelines for Case Evaluator" or for Applications for District and/or Circuit Court, Please see the attached PDF documents. The following PDF documents require Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe. Oakland County Circuit Court & District Court Oakland County District Court Oakland County Circuit Court
OCBA offers over 40 committees to members for networking. Discussions and presentations at these meetings enable members to keep current with new information & ideas concerning the practice of law. Please see OCBA services, committees section for a description of each committes as well as its leadership. The following PDF documents require Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe. OCBA Practice & Service Committees Registration Form
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Continuing Legal Education at the OCBA offers a variety of educational seminars for new attorneys and seasoned professionals. If you are interested in learning how you can get involved in our CLE seminars, please see the Calendar of Events. Registrations can be faxed to the OCBA at (248) 334-7757 or can be made online on this website. For more information on all CLE seminars, please call Kristen Bennett at (248) 334-3400, or email cle@ocba.org.
As a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, you enjoy numerous discounts on products and services. Your bar card is your passport to obtain these discounts. For a complete overview of discounted programs and services please see the Member Discount Listing. Member Discounts Listing
File-By-Fax Services The OCBA operates a delivery and retrieval file-by-fax service. Documents may be filed with the clerk's office and court personnel. Retrieval of cases, statutes and codes are also available from the library and County Clerk. Requests must be accompanied by our transmittal form. This service is discounted to OCBA members. The following PDF documents require Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe.
Guide to the Courts Publication Guidelines for the 6th Circuit Court, district courts and federal court are published by the OCBA as a reference for its members. It contains helpful information from each judge regarding their court and procedures: motion practice, discovery, teleconferencing and other practices. Included are the names of staff for each judge and additional useful forms.
Laches is the OCBA's monthly publication offered exclusively to our members. It is one of our most valued benefits. Laches provides an array of informative legal articles. Of particular interest to members are the photo stories of bar events, member announcements and the opportunity to write substantive articles. To receive Laches, join the OCBA. Attorneys, firms and companies interested in advertising in Laches should contact Jan Anson at (248) 334-3400 or e-mail janson@ocba.org
The OCBA is proud to offer a Legislative Committee. We are the only local voluntary bar association in the state of Michigan to retain a professional lobbyist to represent our members. The Legislative Committee is comprised of two co-chairs and over 20 OCBA members. Many of these individuals serve as liaisons from OCBA committees and provide reports to the full Legislative Committee concerning legislative priorities. The Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the OCBA offices. The Legislative Committee takes positions on proposed legislation and forwards those positions to the OCBA’s Board of Directors for their review and approval. The Legislative Committee may not present positions to the full OCBA membership or to the Legislature without prior approval and endorsement of the Board.
The Oakland County Bar Association’ Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) offers its members an opportunity to build their practices and to participate in a referral service at a minimal out-of-pocket cost. Additionally, the LRS provides a vital service to the community who may not otherwise know how to locate a lawyer. The LRS clerk provides a referral to a caller based on the caller’s legal need and geographical location. Panelists receive referrals based on a strict rotational system of legal expertise requested and location. For more information about the OCBA’s Lawyer Referral Service, please contact the OCBA at (248) 334-3400 or email lrs@ocba.org. For Lawyer Referral Service Overview and Lawyer Referral Service Application and Registration, please see the attached PDF documents. The following PDF documents require Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe. Lawyer Referral Service Application and Registration
Members of the OCBA who join the Mentor Program can help new attorneys fresh out of law school to learn the ropes and steer their goals in the right direction. The process is simple: Once you inquire about becoming a mentor, you will be required to complete a mentor registration form and then be included on our mentor list. When new attorneys call to request a mentor, we will match the mentor's field to the mentee's request and send letters to both parties. If you have questions or would like a form concerning the Mentor Program please call Kristen Bennett at (248) 334-3400, or email cle@ocba.org.
As a member of the OCBA, you can rent space in the Bar Center at very reasonable rates. The offices have expanded facilities for depositions, conferences, meetings, and a variety of professional activities. It features a seminar training site with audio and visual equipment. The following PDF documents require Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe.
In an organization as large as the Oakland County Bar Association, social events are a good way for members to get to know each other better. We offer many opportunities for the Bench and Bar to meet, work, and socialize. In addition to the Annual Meeting and Holiday Gala, members are invited to participate in events such as the Golf Outing, Race Judicata, Inn of Court, and Bench/Bar Conferences.
This is your chance as a member of the OCBA to provide a great community service. Members can help enhance the public image of the legal profession by providing information to schools and community groups. Once you join the Speakers Bureau, we will include you with your area of practice and available times on our list of speakers. When schools and community groups request speakers with your area of law expertise, you will be notified of the opportunity. If you have questions concerning the Speakers Bureau, please call Kristen Bennett (248) 334-3400, or email cle@ocba.org. Attachments: |
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