The State Bar of Michigan introduced a new program entitled Law School for Legislators, created to provide state legislators, elected officers, legislative staff, and other policy professionals an up-to-the-minute overview of basic legal information relevant to specific, important policy areas. The 90-minute classes were held at the State Bar of Michigan and presented basic concepts, terms, statutory law, cases, and emerging issues in a nonpartisan and nonbiased manner. Questions were answered by legal experts in each area.
February
Civil Procedure
The Litigation Section & Civil Procedure and Courts Committee discussed the judicial interpretation of legislation and review of its constitutionality, along with the structure and jurisdiction of courts and emerging issues.
Presented Thursday, February 5, 2009
Rules for Statutory Interpretation PDF
Separation of Powers PDF
Structure and Function of Michigan's Courts PDF
Judicial Review of Legislative Action PDF
The Corrections System
The Prisons and Corrections Section gave an overview of the prison and parole processes, their impact on the state budget, and related public policy issues and options.
Presented Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Prisons and Corrections PDF
Labor and Employment
The Labor and Employment Law Section provided an overview of issues in Michigan public and private sector labor and employment case law and statutes. The class had three separate sections focusing on: (1) Michigan public sector labor law, Bullard-Plawecki Right to Know Act, and Wage and Fringe Benefit Act; (2) the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, and an update on federal law; and (3) new developments in private sector labor law.
Presented Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Uniform Laws
The Uniform Law Commission focused on the major laws promulgated by the Commission and adopted in Michigan, and uniform acts likely to be considered in Michigan during the upcoming term.
Presented Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Uniform Laws PDF
Uniform Law Commission Act PDF
Administrative Law
The Administrative Law Section provided a broad overview of administrative law in a quick pace format with a rapid-fire summary of specific processes, including contested case hearings, ratemaking, and rulemaking, and the legislative and court impact on these processes. This class offered insights into the differences between administrative hearings and civil litigation, and the policy implications of those differences.
Presented Thursday, February 12, 2009
Domestic Violence
The Domestic Violence Committee offered a brief description of the nature and dynamics of intimate partner violence, followed by an overview of the policy goals and emerging issues relating to domestic violence in the three areas of law that are most often involved in justice system responses to intimate partner violence. The presentation focused on policy goals and emerging issues in the area of divorce and child custody.
Presented Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Custody and Domestic Violence Myths PDF
Domestic Violence Resource List PDF
Emerging Responses to Children Experiencing Domestic Violence PDF
Family Violence A Model State Code PDF
Navigating Custody and Visitation Evaluations PDF
New Public Acts of Significance PDF
Parental Alienation Syndrome PDF
Post Investigative Situation PDF
Special Investigative Situations PDF
The Batterer as a Parent PDF
Vodvarka v. Grasmeyer PDF
What's the Big Deal? PDF
Brandt v. Brandt PDF
Children's Custody and Visitation Issues PDF
CPS Intake Special Classes PDF
Senior Citizens Rights
The Elder Law and Disability Rights Section described the typical scenarios in which Michigan seniors are financially exploited, and discuss policy issues that may assist in reducing the frequency of these crimes.
Presented Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tax Law
The Taxation Section provided an overview of the primary areas of Michigan taxation: Michigan business taxes, Michigan real and personal property taxes, along with a discussion of “other” taxes and miscellaneous tax-related legislative matters.
Presented Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tax Law PDF
Intellectual Property
The Intellectual Property Law Section provided a practical overview of laws that provide economic muscle to Michigan citizens, businesses, and governmental agencies. The review helped identify fundamental issues surrounding patents, trademarks, and copyrights with an emphasis on how intellectual property is used and implemented by state county and local governments. The discussion also focused on the state laws that impact intellectual property and potential emerging issues such as the Michigan Trade Secret Act and the Michigan Trademark Act.
Presented Thursday, February 19, 2009
Trademarks in a Nutshell PDF
Copyrights in a Nutshell PDF
Intellectual Property PDF
Intellectual Property PPT
Patents in a Nutshell PDF
March
Workers’ Compensation
The Workers’ Compensation Law Section gave a history of the Workers’ Compensation Act, along with examples of conflicting recent court decisions and their implications for statutory proposals. Additional presentation topics included an identification of issues important to employees, a discussion of issues important to employers, and a general discussion of issues of agreement with regard to possible statutory changes.
Presented Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A History of Worker's Compensation PDF 2.3MB
Property Law
The Real Property Law Section’s presentation focused on areas of real property law that have been in the public spotlight and have either been recently addressed by the legislature, or are likely to be considered by the legislature this coming term. Topics included mortgage foreclosure and related title issues, zoning, and eminent domain law.
Presented Thursday, March 5, 2009
Mortgage Foreclosures PDF
A Short History of Zoning PDF
Current Real Property Title Issues PDF
Eminent Domain PDF
Michigan Foreclosures PDF
Education Law
The Committee on Justice Initiatives offered a course describing the legal sources that define education law in Michigan, and the role of local school boards, their districts, and the policies they promulgate. It addressed the structure and system of K-12 education in Michigan, alternative education choices and their financing, and key areas of dispute such as school discipline, diversity, tort and contract liability issues, free speech, and religion.
Presented Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Education Law PDF 4.3MB
Local Government – Peter Letzmann
The Public Corporation Law Section and the Senior Lawyer Section led a discussion on several topics including: (1) the sources of authority of local governments; (2) local government revenue; (3) transparency of government information vs. privacy concerns; (4) ethics and accountability in local government; (5) local government liability and immunity; and (6) public safety issues.
Presented Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Transparency v Privacy in Government Information PDF
Local Government PDF
Local Government part 2 PDF
Local Government Revenues PDF
Public Safety Issues in Michigan PDF
Family Law
The Family Law Section presented a quick overview of six key areas: (1) the psychology of family law dynamics; (2) the role of the Family Court; (3) Custody and the Child Custody Act; (4) child support; (5) property division and spousal support; and (6) emerging trends, such as third party custody, grandparenting time, paternity challenges, change of domicile, mandatory joint physical custody, mediation, and collaborative law.
Presented Thursday, March 12, 2009
Family Law PDF
Health Care Law – Amy Barkholz, Jan Anderson
The Health Care Law Section provided an overview and lead discussion on provider duties, reimbursement and payment issues, and patient rights. The class concluded by demonstrating how these three topics interact to affect health care delivery and what the outstanding policy challenges are with regard to the key issues of cost, access and quality.
Presented Tuesday, March 24, 2009
April
Criminal Law
The Criminal Law Section and Criminal Jurisprudence and Practice Committee provided essential basic information in five key areas: 1) the arrest process, including fundamentals of police and prosecutorial functions; 2) the court’s role, from arraignment through preliminary examination; 3) the trial, from plea through sentencing; 4) the appellate process, including differences between plea cases and those initiated as a result of a trial or motion; and 5) juvenile court proceedings pertaining to delinquency.
Presented Thursday, April 2, 2009
Juvenile Court PPT
Prosecutor Designated v. Court Designated PDF
District Court PDF 2MB
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