Seek Attorney with Experience as Disabilities Advocate

The Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. (MPAS) has an immediate opening for a full-time attorney with experience representing individuals with disabilities. They are seeking someone with experience in federal, state and administrative law and disability rights law.

Anyone interested can contact Camilia Limas at the MPAS, 4095 Legacy Parkway, Suite 500, Lansing, MI 48911. Her telefax number is 517.487.0827.

Golfers for Justice

More than 140 friends, staff and board members of Legal Aid and Defender defied the threat of rain June 19 to show up for the organization's ninth annual Golf Outing and fundraiser at Links of Novi. By early morning the rain had passed and a beautiful day ensued. Not only was the weather great, but the food and prizes were outstanding, everyone had a great time as usual, and several thousand dollars were raised to provide legal services to the needy.

Top golfers of the day included Tim Igbawua, Duval Benon, Naomi Jenkins, Ronnie Poset, Bruce Binson and Barbara Dent.

Shown here eyeing up a shot is Nathan White, attorney in our Civil Law Group. Nate didn't win anything but he sure looked good.

Thanks again to Tanya Cleveland and her crew for all the hard work.

Pro Bono Award Goes to Edward Hudson

Legal Aid and Defender Association has bestowed its 2007 Pro Bono Service Award on Edward F. Hudson II of Detroit in recognition of his “commitment to assure equal access to justice for all.”

Hudson is an attorney with the firm of Stull PLC, Detroit. Previously, he was a staff attorney for Legal Aid and Defender and United Auto Workers Legal Service Plan, and an associate attorney for Harris, Karsteadt, Jamison & Powers, P.C., Englewood, Colo.

Hudson is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, W.Va. He and his wife, Dr. Heidi M. Hudson, and their two children live in Detroit.

"I feel strange getting this award because what I did is no more than attorneys are supposed to do,” Hudson said. “We are supposed to give back to our community."

Lynda Krupp, managing attorney of Legal Aid and Defender’s Private Attorney Involvement unit, presented the award to Hudson at the annual meeting of the Oakland County Bar Association June 13.

"Ed helped clients at a number of our assisted pro se divorce clinics for indigent residents of Oakland County,” Krupp said. “We conducted these clinics at our Oakland office in Pontiac after the Women's Survival Center there closed last summer. Ed’s work was critical in assuring that Oakland residents could continue receiving these necessary legal services."

Legal Aid and Defender is Michigan’s largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income residents. It serves metropolitan Detroit through its offices in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. It also represents criminal defendants in Wayne County and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Including brief consultations and comprehensive legal services, the public law firm handles some 15,000 legal matters yearly.

“We work with clients in a comprehensive manner, so that as we solve their legal problems, we help solve other problems as well,” said Executive Director Deierdre L. Weir. “We help people rebuild their lives and help families stay together.”

Legal Aid Fights for Residents of Dangerous Apartment Building

Legal Aid and Defender made news recently with a case being handled by the Civil Law Group on behalf of several residents who have been living under deplorable conditions in an apartment house at 53 Marston in Detroit.

Here, attorney Robert Day of the Civil Law Group is being interviewed by TVFox2 reporter Bill Gallagher in front of the apartment building. Behind Day is Gwen Dozier (left) and Michele Hall-Edwards.

Some of the dangerous conditions of the building include a broken alarm system and elevators that do not operate.

Management Institute Spotlight on Performance Appraisals

The Management Institute will re-convene Wednesday, Sept. 12 for a full-day session on how to conduct performance appraisals, including a review of the organization's current performance evaluation forms and procedures. The session will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. All members of the Management Group are required to attend. Lunch will be served.

The Management Institute was established in 2002 to provide continuous professional training and development for managers, supervisors and directors in all of the Law Groups and Defender Offices at Legal Aid and Defender.

Town Hall Meeting Slated for Sept. 19 at New Headquarters

If all goes according to plan, employees will get a sneak preview of Legal Aid and Defender's new headquarters building at 613 Abbott in downtown Detroit when they attend the next Town Hall Meeting, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. The meeting will focus on the relocation from the Penobscot Building and the current Free Legal Aid Clinic (FLAC) to the new location.

"Attendance at the meeting is mandatory," said Deierdre L. Weir, executive director. "We will cover specific plans and procedures regarding the move, and hear from the various subcommittees of the Facilities Planning Committee, as well as from the Fun-raising Committee."

Stand by for further details -- meanwhile mark your calendar for Sept. 19.

More Than 100 Turn Out for Mothers Day Brunch

Keyboardist Pam Wise provided the mellow background sounds.

More than 100 guests turned out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the Detroit Yacht Club to participate in the pre-Mothers Day brunch at the Detroit Yacht Club -- a fundraiser for Legal Aid and Defender's Legal Legacy Campaign. Here are a few early scenes from the enjoyable afternoon.

Theatre Draws 125 Supporters for LAD Campaign

More than 125 supporters turned out at the Detroit Repertory Theatre recently to see a performance of the play "Wrongful Death" and raise funds for the Legal Legacy Campaign of Legal Aid and Defender.

Among the crowd were Ken Till of Redico,

and Deierdre L. Weir, LAD Executive Director.

Managers Confer

Regina Daniels Thomas (left) and Joan Puscas were two members of the Management Grop confering at the recent Management Institute session regarding the organization's future direction.

Federal Defender Officer Manager Carole McQuire listens intently to points being made.

Leaders Recommend New Management-Staff Committee

If there was a singlemost message to come from the January 19 All-Staff Plenary Conference it is that communications between the organization's management and its employees must improve. That issue will be addressed soon as one of the priorities of a new committee comprised of managers and employees to work ways to improve internal communications as well as other concerns employees identified at their conference.

Managing Attorney Richard Helfrick of the Federal Defender Office and Chief Counsel Miriam Siefer of the Federal Defender Office join the discussion on improving employee-management communications.

Managers discussed internal communications in great detail at their recent Management Institute becaause it was identified by staff as being so important. A committee of managers and employees to address this and other issues was also a recommendation from the All-Staff Plenary Conference that was heartily endorsed by the managers.

Management Institute Convenes March 27

Working on a vision statement for Legal Aid and Defender, and reviewing the top 10 skills and knowledge requirements for the future workplace are just two items on the agenda for the upcoming Management Institute Spring Session. .

All members of the Management Group will attend the session Tuesday, March 27noon- 4 p.m. in the 25th floor conference center.

The session will be a follow-up to the February Leadership Conference attended by the management group, and the February 19 plenary conference attended by all staff -- both facilitated by Dr. Brenda Pridgen.

"We will use the information obtained and learned from those two meetings to begin to plot a strategy and vision for moving us forward," says Executive Director Deierdre L. Weir.

At the March 27 session the Management Group will use the issues and concerns raised at both prior sessions to develop recommendations, Weir said. She also urged any employee or manager to bring her any issue to consider at the March 27 session.

Lunch will be served at the March 27 session.

Legal Information in Arabic Moves Forward

For the past several months, a group of Legal Aid and Defender employees have been working on a project that will create a streaming video presented in Arabic on Michigan's statewide legal website assisting residents of Middle Eastern descent in working with local courts.

Two members of that group are attorney Mayada Saroki (left) and Gina Polley, director of government and community affairs, shown here reviewing a draft script for the video.

The project is made possible through a technical initiative grant from Legal Services Corporation.

Employees Briefed on Internal Fundraising

Some 75 Legal Aid and Defender employees attended two sessions March 20 to learn more about their participation in the Legal Legacy Campaign.

The campaign has a goal of $1.5 million in donations and pledges from the entire community over a three-year period to cap off the relocation costs of moving to the organization's new headquarters building at 613 Abbott in downtown Detroit later this year.

Deierdre L. Weir, executive director, and consultant James Yunker were on hand to present details of the campaign and to answer questions.

"The important point we want to stress is that we are asking for 100 percent participation," said Yunker. "When we approach corporations, foundations and law firms they will ask what kind of support are we getting from within the organization and we want to be able to say 100 percent participation from our employees and our board of directors." Asking employees to donate to a campaign of this nature is typical, said Yunker.

Weir stressed that an employee's decision to make a contribution is entirely voluntary and that no employee is required to participate. She said that making a contribution is more important than the actual amount an employee can contribute, so that the organization can demonstrate strong internal support for the project. Employees can pledge to make their contribution over a three-year period, she said.

An internal "fun-raising" committee of employees has already been at work raising money for the Legal Legacy Campaign through social events. So far they have held two successful bowling parties and upcoming events include a theatre party, April 15, Mothers Day brunch, May 6, wine tasting, Oct. 6, and a black tie affair. The committee has set a goal of $100,000 for the campaign.

Employees can contact Evetta Adams regarding any questions about the Legal Legacy Campaign.

Hall-Edwards Speaks at Beaumont Hospital

Michele Hall-Edwards, deputy chief counsel of the Civil Law Group spoke recently to the Diversity Council of Beaumont Hospitals on African-Americans and health care. She discussed the changing demographics of the Metro Detroit area served by both Beaumont and Legal Aid and Defender as it becomes more racially and ethnically diverse.

"Having health care professionals who reflect the diversity of the community we serve helps build trust," she noted. In this photo Hall-Edwards is introduced by Beaumont Director of Diversity Lauren Hill.