State Bar Of Michigan: On Balance Podcast

The Michigan Supreme Court recently adopted amendments to the civil discovery process, and with these rules becoming effective on January 1, 2020, Michigan lawyers need to be prepared. On Balance podcast hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Katie Hennessey, public policy counsel at the bar, about the drivers behind these amendments and the resources available to help lawyers get up to speed on the changes. Check out the Civil Discovery Resource Center on the State Bar of Michigan website for rule explanations, webinars, practice tips, and more!  Katie Loncarich Hennessey is public policy counsel at the State Bar of Michigan.

Focusing on a new aspect of attorney mental health, On Balance Podcast hosts Tish Vincent and JoAnn Hathaway are joined by Olivia Ash and Jeff Zapor to discuss the prevalence of loneliness in the profession and its effect on lawyers. Olivia shares her research on loneliness in legal professionals and describes the drivers behind their sense of isolation. Jeff talks about his personal experience with loneliness and addiction during law school and as a young lawyer and shares his story of recovery. Together, they offer insight into this issue and the need to promote healthy, connected relationships in the profession. Olivia Ash is an ERISA compliance consultant at Compliancedashboard, LLC and is adjunct faculty at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. Jeff Zapor is an attorney and licensed professional counselor and a clinical case manager at the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program at the State Bar of Michigan.

How can firms create a culture that prioritizes health and well-being? In this On Balance Podcast, Tish Vincent and Rob Mathis talk to Anne Brafford about positive strategies for supporting well-being in the workplace. They focus on concrete ways firms can address problems and emphasize the positive effects that result from investing in a healthier work environment, including better productivity, increased client satisfaction, and greater profitability. Anne Brafford (JD, MAPP, PhD in progress) is a former equity partner at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP and the founder of Aspire, an educational and consultancy firm for the legal profession.

Disconnects in lawyer/client communication often lead to unhappy clients or even the loss of their business. But the State Bar of Michigan: On Balance Podcast has good news—better relationships with clients can be achieved! Hosts Tish Vincent and JoAnn Hathaway talk to Dr. Noelle Nelson about her book, "Connecting with Your Client: Success Through Improved Client Communication Techniques." Dr. Nelson offers simple techniques for connecting with clients of all personalities and temperaments and teaches lawyers how to be an ally, even if they disagree with their client. Later, they also discuss communication within law firms and offer strategies for creating supportive, respectful workplaces. Dr. Noelle Nelson is a respected psychologist, speaker, author, and trial consultant who provides trial/jury strategy, witness preparation and focus groups to attorneys.

Your grandmother may have told you "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"— but maybe you just need to say it the right way. Hosts JoAnne Hathaway and Tish Vincent are joined by Dr. Liane Davey, Ph.D, to discuss a better way to engage in and resolve workplace conflict, building a healthier, more productive team dynamic in the process. Learn practical methods for confronting coworkers, challenging differing positions, and using dissent to improve trust and productivity- all that and more in this episode of the State Bar of Michigan's On Balance Podcast. Dr. Liane Davey Ph.D is an organizational psychologist, public speaker, and a New York Times bestselling author. Find the Conflict Habit Cheat Sheet discussed in the episode here and learn more about Dr. Davey and about her latest book, The Good Fight, at her website.

Many lawyers work haphazardly without making a plan for themselves, and managing projects is a constant struggle. How can lawyers take back control of their time? In this episode of the State Bar of Michigan: On Balance Podcast, hosts Tish Vincent and JoAnn Hathaway talk to Allison Shields about how lawyers can do more in less time. They discuss the importance of setting goals and avoiding the discouraging pitfall of creating never-ending to-do lists. Lawyers who learn to prioritize tasks and manage their activities can accomplish much more in a shorter amount of time. Allison also emphasizes the need for lawyers to stop overworking themselves and strategize ways to create a healthy work-life balance. Allison Shields is president of Legal Ease Consulting, Inc. where she helps attorneys create highly effective law practices and get the clients they really want.

How has legal education evolved, and what unique challenges do today's law students face? In this episode of On Balance, hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Victoria Vuletich about what the law school experience is like for the current generation of students. They discuss a broad scope of current law school issues including: restructuring trends in the legal profession, technology advancements, shifting student learning styles, and increased support of student mental health. Victoria Vuletich is the assistant dean at the Grand Rapids, MI campus of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.

The opioid crisis is deeper, broader, and more nuanced than many people realize. In this episode of the State Bar of Michigan: On Balance Podcast, hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Harry Nelson about the opioid crisis and his book, "The United States of Opioids: A Prescription For Liberating A Nation In Pain." They discuss the needs for reform in healthcare laws and greater access to treatment for opioid addictions. Harry Nelson is founder and managing partner of Nelson Hardiman and author of the book, "The United States of Opioids: A Prescription For Liberating A Nation In Pain."

Many people have unmet civil legal needs because of their inability to get legal representation. In this episode of On Balance, guest host Darin Day talks with Judge Michelle Rick and attorney Kim Jones about Michigan's rule changes for limited scope representation that aim to lessen the justice gap. They describe the new rules and give examples of how Michigan attorneys can provide these types of limited legal services to clients. They also encourage lawyers to check out the Limited Scope Tool Kit available at michbar.org.

Historically, lawyer well-being has not been a major focus of the legal profession, but many see a need for a complete cultural shift. In this episode of On Balance, JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Terry Harrell about her work with the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. They discuss the "Well-Being Report" created by the Task Force, which was written to be a road map forward for the profession as it shifts its mindset on lawyer well-being. They also talk about the recently developed "Well-Being Toolkit" – a resource for encouraging wellness that lawyers and legal employers can use in their firms. Terry Harrell is the executive director of the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program and a member of the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being.

Judge Joseph J. Farah of Michigan's 7th Judicial Circuit Court shares how attorneys can prepare a proper motion. In this episode of On Balance from the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Rob Mathis talk to Judge Joseph J. Farah about lawyers' motions being too nebulous. Judge Farah, who spoke at the conference, also describes a game he helped create to test judge's and attorney's knowledge of the rules of evidence. Judge Joseph J. Farah serves on Michigan's 7th Judicial Circuit Court.

Part 2 of this installment from the State Bar of Michigan NEXT Conference 2018 holds even more wisdom from master lawyers with long years of experience. In this episode of On Balance, we hear the continuation of interviews with members of the bar who reached 50 years in the practice of law in 2018. Guest hosts Samantha Meinke and Syeda Davidson of the Young Lawyers Section interview Carolyn Williams, Joseph Golden, and Susan & Ed Haroutunian about what they valued most in their careers as lawyers, their most challenging learning experiences, and what work-life balance advice they have to offer young lawyers. Judge Carolyn Williams is a retired Kalamazoo County probate judge and the first African American president of the Michigan Probate Judges Association. Joseph Golden is a partner at Burgess, Sharpe, and Golden in Clinton Township, MI, has been president of the National Employment Lawyers Association, and is currently secretary of the Macomb County Bar Association. Susan Haroutunian is a member of the

Young lawyers gain immeasurable knowledge from the wisdom of their elders. From the State Bar of Michigan NEXT Conference 2018, On Balance guest hosts Samantha Meinke and Syeda Davidson of the Young Lawyers Section interview members of the bar who reached 50 years in the practice of law in 2018. They hear valuable insight from these master lawyers about what they valued most in their careers, their most challenging learning experiences, and what work-life balance advice they have to offer young lawyers. This episode includes interviews from Leonard Suchyta, Bruce Neckers, Susan Howard, and L. Brooks Patterson. Leonard Suchyta is the former chief patent counsel for Verizon and its predecessor companies. Bruce Neckers was president of the State Bar of Michigan from 2001-2002 and is a partner with Rhodes McKee in Grand Rapids, MI. Susan Howard was a referee for the Ingham County Friend of the Court, an adjunct professor for Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and was the first woman to serve as chairperson of the State

Does work-life balance exist in the day-to-day lives of lawyers? Maybe not, and that's okay. From the NEXT Conference 2018, host Rob Mathis gets Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget McCormack's take on how lawyers can balance their careers and personal lives in a healthy way. Justice McCormack encourages lawyers to look at their career as a whole and not be too hard on themselves when some days, months, or even years tilt further one way than the other. Justice Bridget Mary McCormack joined the Michigan Supreme Court in January 2013. Her wide-ranging years of perspective have given her great insight into the work-life balance lawyers need.

Christopher Anderson has helped thousands of lawyers work toward greater success in their firms. In this Episode of On Balance, hosts Rob Mathis and Laurin Thomas talk to Chris about the four sessions he presented at the State Bar of Michigan's NEXT Conference 2018, all centered around law firm owner freedom. Highlighting each session, Chris discusses his expertise in impactful business planning, wise uses of time, smart money decisions, and rockstar salesmanship: all ways to help lawyers learn how to take their businesses to new levels of success. Christopher Anderson is a law firm business expert and Headmaster of Million Dollar Solo Lawyer Preparatory Academy.

Some lawyers may find themselves perplexed when working with non-citizen clients. At NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Rob Mathis and Laurin Thomas break down some of the complexities of immigration law with Susan E. Reed, the Managing Attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). Susan encourages lawyers to be educated on how immigration law relates to other areas of the law, and offers ways lawyers can partner with clients at MIRC. She feels that all lawyers, regardless of practice area, should be aware of the vulnerability of immigration law clients. Susan E.Reed is Managing Attorney with the Michigan immigrant Rights Center, a legal resource center for Michigan's immigrant communities.

In this episode of On Balance from the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Robert Mathis talk to Nicole Black about artificial intelligence and other legal technology. She shares tips for automating your practice, with and without AI, and ethics advice to keep in mind when using the cloud and social media. Nicole Black is an attorney in Rochester, New York, and the legal technology evangelist at MyCase.com, a law practice management software company.

Michigan attorneys Tom Rombach and Odey Meroueh discuss limited scope and access to justice initiatives in their state. In this episode of On Balance from the NEXT Conference 2018, Rombach, a former State Bar of Michigan president, shares with host Robert Mathis about Michigan Supreme Court rules that provide guidance regarding limited scope representation. Meanwhile, Meroueh highlights efforts by the Detroit Bar Association to promote pro bono opportunities to its members, especially those in solo and small-firm category. Odey Meroueh is the founding partner of Meroueh & Hallman LLP in Michigan. Tom Rombach is a past president of the State Bar of Michigan and the owner of the Law Offices of Thomas C. Rombach in Michigan.

Experiencing a legal dispute is hard enough without going through a trial, but there are ways to settle these disputes outside of a courtroom. In this episode of On Balance from the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Robert Mathis and Laurin Thomas talk to Judge Wendy Baxter and Graham Ward about the benefits of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and how this form of practice is still evolving. They also discuss the different types of ADR and what a practitioner needs to know in order to do it effectively. Judge Wendy Baxter is the attorney/mediator for Win Win Facilitation which uses alternative dispute resolution to aid the resolution of litigation for civil cases. Graham Ward is a director and adjunct professor at the Center for the Study and Resolution of Conflict at WMU-Cooley Law School.

Do your summary disposition motions secretly bother the judges that observe them? In this episode of On Balance from the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Robert Mathis talk to Hon. Christopher Yates, Hon. Jon Hulsing, and Hon. Tim Hicks about the right way to present summary disposition motions. From organizing your documents to knowing every detail of your case, tune in for tips directly from these judges. In their discussion, they also underscore the importance of civility and respect in the courtroom. Hon. Christopher P. Yates is a judge of the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County, Michigan. Hon. Jon Hulsing is a judge for the 20th Circuit Court in Ottawa County, Michigan. Hon. Timothy Hicks is a judge for the 14th Circuit Court in Muskegon County, Michigan.