Chances are when you meet Joseph McGill — and chances are pretty decent that you will meet him — you will find him in casual conversation doing far more listening than talking. A scholar with six degrees, McGill is naturally inquisitive, eager to learn, and committed to understanding and representing his fellow attorneys’ views and ideas.

McGill is the 90th president of the State Bar of Michigan. Elected by his fellow Board of Commissioners colleagues into leadership, McGill brings an eagerness to meet attorneys, hear their concerns, and bring those issues to the forefront during his one-year term.

Since being sworn in by Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra on Sept. 19, McGill has crisscrossed the state, meeting with attorneys at annual conferences, luncheons, meetings, and even a golf outing. Every event is an opportunity to serve and to learn, and he says it is an honor to get to know so many attorneys and to work on behalf of the profession he loves.

“If someone had told me 35 years ago that I would be sitting here, I would not have believed them,” McGill said.

To others, though, it seems only natural that McGill has risen yet again into leadership. Joe seems to always rise to the top, from president of his college fraternity to the Catholic Lawyers Society Detroit, the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, Irish Network Detroit (formerly known as the Michigan Irish American Chamber of Commerce), the State Bar Representative Assembly, and now the entire State Bar.

He credits football for teaching him how to methodically work toward his goals. Under the glow of the Friday night lights, McGill saw how training and persistence shaped him into a strong player and a formidable lineman.

“You learn that if you set goals and you are systematic about it, you can achieve results,” McGill said.

Some of his teammates from Royal Oak Shrine High School went on to play Big Ten-level football, but even back then, McGill had his sights set a legal career. Still, he does reminisce a bit about his glory days on the field. “I still have four years of eligibility left,” he jokes.

James Heath, Wayne County Corporation counsel and 2022-2023 SBM president, calls McGill an inspiration.

“I cannot think of another person I admire more than Joe. He is one of the hardest working commissioners I’ve ever seen, and I think he is going to be one of our best State Bar presidents ever,” Heath said. “I am proud to be a lawyer practicing under his leadership.”

A GOOD START IS HALF THE WORK

The youngest of 11 children, McGill hails from a proud Irish- Catholic family. They had food delivered from wholesalers and his eldest brother graduated from law school when Joe was in elementary school.

The family lived in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park. His father, William, was known to most people simply as “Doc,” and his medical office was on the same block as the family home. He walked to work and back home for lunch every day and continued to treat patients well into his 80s. His mother, Betty, earned a bachelor’s degree in music and worked briefly as an elementary school teacher before becoming a stay-at-home mom.

Young Joe watched and learned from a young age. He saw his older brothers and sisters grow into adults and took note of their youthful missteps and successes. Like all of us, he certainly had his own adventures growing up, but “I learned quite a bit about what not to do from my older siblings,” he said with a chuckle.

When Joe went off to college at Michigan State University, Betty McGill went back to college, too, studying humanistic psychology, earning a master’s degree at the age of 60, and starting another career as a therapist. She practiced for 10 years before retiring.

The couple lived to see all 11 of their children grow to become successful adults in their own right — including several healthcare professionals, teachers, a park ranger, and, of course, lawyers in the mix — before passing. William Henry McGill died at age 85 in 2004, and Elizabeth Jane McGill passed at age 95 in 2020.

HAVING SOMEWHERE TO GO IS HOME;
HAVING SOMEONE TO LOVE IS FAMILY;
HAVING BOTH IS A BLESSING

It was a beautiful day in 1975 and 10-year-old Joe was in awe of the pomp and circumstance as his brother, Liam, graduated from the University of Detroit Law School. The day was filled with greatness and promises for more.

“I was hooked,” McGill said. “Honestly, I never saw myself being anything other than an attorney.”

McGill prioritized his education, even over football. He graduated from high school in 1982 and got an associate’s degree from Oakland Community College that same year. He headed off to Michigan State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, then went to the University of Detroit, where he simultaneously earned his law degree and MBA. He finished up at Wayne State University Law School with two master of law degrees — one in corporate and finance law and a second in taxation.

He started his career as a commercial litigator at a large firm where he became coordinator for the firm’s pro bono efforts. While there, he got involved with a State Bar committee on pro bono services. In 2003, he and a group of other attorneys formed their own firm in Livonia now known as Foley, Baron, Metzger & Juip, where McGill is a member. Community engagement is a hallmark for the firm and one fully embraced by McGill.

It seems only natural that McGill married a fellow attorney. He married Lauren after what they would later discover was a series of serendipitous near-meetings that would be fit for a Hallmark movie. He proposed on her birthday in a castle during a trip to Ireland. Together, they have one son, William Henry McGill III, named in honor of Joe’s father. The family lives in Plymouth, where Lauren McGill also runs her own private practice.

In his spare time, McGill dives the Great Lakes exploring old shipwrecks. He’s been a certified master diver since 1995, and he also is a competitive racquetball player. He has completed one marathon (which should be enough) and several half marathons. He is also an expert downhill skier.

THE LONGEST ROAD OUT IS THE SHORTEST ROAD HOME

McGill first ran for the SBM Board of Commissioners in 2014 in the competitive Wayne County District H but lost by one vote to none other than James Heath. Undeterred, McGill instead landed a seat on the Representative Assembly and quickly was elected to its leadership, which also afforded him a seat on the Board of Commissioners and its Executive Committee.

Along the way, McGill sought out Heath, introducing himself at a luncheon. He approached with no animosity, only with an eagerness to learn as he prepared to run again for election to the Board of Commissioners. The two became fast friends — and carpool buddies. As Heath traveled the district to meet with his attorney constituents, McGill was a constant companion, going anywhere and everywhere to meet attorneys and campaign for his election.

McGill easily won the District H election in 2018, prevailing over six highly qualified candidates for the lone open seat. Sometimes, he is still a bit in awe of the opportunities he is afforded. He has been able to meet legal legends like Dennis Archer, Victoria Roberts, and Reggie Turner (all former SBM presidents) and break bread with a series of mentors who inspire him daily.

“Professionally, it’s very enriching and both intellectually rigorous and stimulating,” McGill said. “The way the governance is set up, you really get an opportunity to get involved and make a difference.”

He also has been able to have an inside view of the many programs and services offered by the State Bar of Michigan, participating in and leading the Professional Standards, Finance & Audit, Communications and Member Services, and Public Policy committees. As president, McGill wants to educate attorneys about the many resources available to them through the Bar including ethics guidance, practice management assistance, and wellness services.

While on the Board of Commissioners, McGill has been appointed to head a special workgroup on artificial intelligence. That group expects to issue its report early next year summarizing the current issues around AI and outlining steps for the State Bar to address the emerging issue.

When he looks over his years of Bar involvement, McGill expresses deep gratitude for the mentors, knowledge, and friendships he’s gained. He shrugs off the endless hours he has given back, conceding a true reverence for the profession and his true motivation for attending all those meetings, luncheons, and chicken dinners.

“Attorneys are trusted advisers, officers of the court, and defenders of the rule of law,” he said. “Our work is not easy and is often thankless, so I want to meet as many Michigan attorneys as I can to say thank you. Thank you for what you do for your clients, your communities, and our system of justice.”