Professionalism Advisory Committee2012

“Law students must not forget they are fitting

themselves to be ministers of justice.”

Thomas M. Cooley

“Law students must not forget they are fitting

themselves to be ministers of justice.”

Thomas M. Cooley

Thomas m. Cooley law sChool

Teams1. CommUNITy leaDeRshIP and lawyeR RePUTaTIoN

Team Members: James Alexander, Terry Blakely, Scott Brinkmeyer, Eric Eggan, Katherine Smith Kennedy, Mike McDaniel, Janene McIntyre, Dean Pacific

2. UNPRoFessIoNal CoNDUCT By lawyeRs Team members: Steven Andrews, Peter Falkenstein, Douglas Hampton, Nkrumah Johnson-Wynn, Susan Keener, Michael Riordan, Carl Ver Beek, Mel Wright, Paul Zelenski

3. PUBlIC seRVICe/PRo BoNo Team members: Tim Connors, Jennifer Grieco, Don LeDuc, David Maquera, Susan Martin, Anthony Patti, Daniel Swanson, Ed Pappas

4. PRoFessIoNal IDeNTITy and ChaRaCTeR aND FITNess Team members: Bob Agacinski, John Berry, Patrick Conlin, Joe Farah, Brent Knight, Kathleen McCann, Richard Suhrheinrich, Amy Timmer

5. ImPaCT oF The PaCe oF ChaNGe and The New GeNeRaTIoN Team members: John Dunn, Carol Isaacs, Mark Jane, Tony Jenkins, Neil MacCallum, Daniel O’Brien, Gail Pamukov-Miller

6. eDUCaTIoNal QUalITy, aCCess, and DIVeRsITy Team members: Nancy Diehl, Michael Hartmann, Chris Johnson, Virinder Moudgil, Cheryl Niro, and Richard Pappas

Lovett HaLL Lobby/Second FLoor Foyer

8:00-9:00 a.m. Check-in and proceed to second floor foyer for coffee and light breakfast.

Second FLoor baLLroom

9:00-9:15 a.m. Welcome ~ Ed Pappas

9:15-9:50 a.m. Cooley’s Professionalism Programs ~ Amy Timmer

Second FLoor Foyer

9:50-10:00 a.m. Coffee break and move to team groups.

10:00-11:00 a.m. All teams meet at individual tables to address issues.

Second FLoor baLLroom

11:00 a.m.-noon Full Session: Teams report back.

FirSt FLoor

12:00-12:30 p.m. Lunch12:30-1:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker ~ Hon. Dennis Archer

FirSt FLoor

1:00-1:15 p.m. Break and assemble at staircase for group photo.

FirSt FLoor Stair caSe

1:15-1:45 p.m. Group photo.

Second FLoor baLLroom

1:45-2:45 p.m. Full Session: Issue review, recap, and moving forward.

GinGer meyer Garden (outSide Lovett HaLL)

2:45-4:00 p.m. Networking reception

Henry Ford muSeum (optionaL)

3:30 p.m. Visit the Henry Ford Museum or stay at the Ginger Meyer Garden reception.

Henry Ford muSeum (optionaL)

4:30 p.m. Tickets provided to the 4:30 p.m. showing at the Titanic Exhibit.

Cover Image: The 60’ x 90’ mural was proudly displayed on the south side of the Cooley Law School Temple Building, 217 S. Capitol Ave., downtown Lansing from 2000-2009 and from 2010-2012 until it was damaged in a wind storm. The artwork portrays Michigan Supreme Court jurists (from left to right) James V. Campbell, Benjamin Graves, Thomas M. Cooley, and Isaac Christiancy, who served the court together from 1868-1875. The group was known as “The Big Four.”

AgendaThomas M. Cooley Law School - Professionalism Advisory Committee

Inaugural Meeting - July 13, 2012 Lovett Hall, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan

Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Professionalism Advisory Committee is established to guide Cooley’s future professionalism efforts. The expertise and experience that committee members bring to the table regarding professionalism will help Cooley Law School set a course to continue to graduate law students with well-developed professional identities and excellent character, committed to service. And, just as the law degree contributes to a variety of careers, this Committee’s work may well extend beyond the legal field as we identify professionalism issues that are affecting all professions and other areas of higher education.

Friday, July 13, 2012 is the date of the Committee’s inaugural meeting. Committee members have already identified the issues they believe are affecting the legal profession, law school, and higher education in the area of professionalism. In July, we come together to get to know one another, share thoughts about those identified issues, and devise approaches Cooley Law School can take to positively impact the professionalism of our graduates.

One of Cooley Law School’s professionalism principles is “Focus on Students: Acknowledge that all of us — staff, students, faculty, alumni, and community members — have a stake in educating the law student in the ways of professionalism.”

We are at a critical time in our continuing commitment to professionalism: we must fashion plans for the future steps we can take to cement the progress we have already made and to reach beyond our current grasp to continue to graduate the most professional and ethical lawyers in the country. We hope this Committee can help us do that.

Thank you for offering your time and energy to guide the development and education of the next generation of law school graduates.

amy TImmeR Associate Dean of Students

and Professionalism, Thomas M. Cooley Law School

eDwaRD h. PaPPas Chairman of Dickinson Wright

Chair, Professionalism Advisory Committee and

Board of Directors, Thomas M. Cooley Law School

When I was President of the State Bar of Michigan in 2008-2009, I made professionalism the theme of my administration. Part of my effort to improve the professionalism of lawyers included reaching out to law schools to find ways to communicate to law students the importance of professionalism in our legal careers. Cooley immediately reached back to partner with the State Bar to pilot a program during its orientation for incoming students.

That pilot program brought State Bar member lawyers and judges to the school to meet in small groups with entering law students to talk together about the real professionalism issues and ethical challenges those students might face while they are in school and when they graduate. We lawyers and judges also use that opportunity to impress upon the students our commitment to professionalism, and attempt to inspire them to incorporate that ideal into their education, their conduct, and their relations with others.

Following the pilot, Cooley immediately began offering the “Profession-alism in Action” orientation program at all of its campuses during each of its three orientations per year, and continues to do so, discovering that it is the students’ favorite part of their law school orientation. I am able to report just this year that all of the other Michigan law schools are also offering this program.

As a result of the partnership between Cooley and the State Bar of Michigan, I took note of Cooley’s significant emphasis on professionalism and ethics and was pleased to learn that professionalism is ingrained in the School’s culture and has been since 2002 when Cooley adopted its Professionalism Plan. After studying and appreciating Cooley’s substantial efforts to positively impact the hearts and minds of its students, I was pleased to join Cooley Law School’s Board of Directors.

I am equally pleased to Chair Cooley’s newly established Professionalism Advisory Committee. I hope to learn from all of you what the professionalism issues are that Cooley should anticipate its applicants will bring from their undergraduate education, and what professionalism challenges its graduates will encounter as they leave law school and enter the work force. I anticipate that the committee’s work may very well extend beyond Cooley Law School and lawyers to other areas of higher education and other professions. I also look forward to working with you to identify approaches to prepare Cooley law students to address those challenges and become positive and ethical members of the legal profession who will work toward its constant improvement.

I appreciate your help and your commitment to professionalism, and welcome you to this inaugural meeting.

W elcomeForeword

denniS Wayne arcHer

Dennis W. Archer is Chairman and CEO of Dennis W. Archer PLLC and Chairman Emeritus of Dickinson Wright PLLC, a Detroit-based law firm with more than 270 attorneys, with five offices in Michigan; an office in Toronto, Canada; Nashville, Tennessee; Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Washington, D.C. He sits on the corporate boards of Johnson Controls Inc., Compuware Corporation and Masco Corp.

Archer served two four-year terms as mayor of the city of Detroit (1994-2001) and earned national and international respect for his success in changing Detroit’s image and direction. In 2000, Mayor Archer was named Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine. Archer served on the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was president of the National League of Cities from 2000-2001. He received an Award of Excellence and was named 1998 Newsmaker of the Year by Engineering News-Record magazine, a sister publication of Business Week. He has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans by Ebony magazine; and one of the 100 Most Powerful Attorneys in the United States by the National Law Journal. Archer was named one of the 25 Most Dynamic Mayors in America by Newsweek magazine.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Western Michigan University and taught learning disabled students in the Detroit Public Schools. Archer earned his Juris Doctor from Detroit College of Law in 1970. He began practicing law thereafter, working as a trial lawyer and a partner in several Detroit firms, serving as associate professor of the Detroit College of Law and adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School.

In 1985, Gov. James Blanchard appointed Archer an Associate Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. He was elected to an eight-year term the following year. In his final year on the bench in 1990, Archer was named the most respected judge in Michigan by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Archer has long been active in the organized bar. He was the first person of color elected president of the American Bar Association (2003-2004) as well as the State Bar of Michigan. He has also served as president of the Wolverine Bar Association and the National Bar Association. Archer is a Life Member of the Fellows of The American Bar Foundation and the National Bar Association, a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, a Fellow of the College of Law Office Management and Life Member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Archer is married to Trudy DunCombe Archer, retired Judge of Michigan’s 36th District Court. They have two sons, Dennis W. Archer, Jr. and Vincent DunCombe Archer, and two grandsons.

Keynote Speaker

Dennis W. Archer Chairman/CEO

Dennis W. Archer PLLC

Cooley Law School’s Professionalism Advisory Committee

MembersServes in the Oakland County Circuit Court’s Civil/Criminal Division, and has served as Presiding Judge of the Family Division and as the Court’s Chief Judge Pro Tempore. Previous positions include Director of Governor Engler’s Southeast Michigan Office, practitioner with Foster Swift Collins & Smith P.C., and sole practitioner.

hon. James m. alexander

A partner at Varnum Attorneys in Kalamazoo, Mich. A graduate of University of Michigan, A.B. and J.D., and University of Windsor ADR Program, he is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate practicing in commercial law, litigation, and professional responsibility, a member of the Bars of Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and active in numerous professional associations.

John allen

Served as an assistant Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney from 1974-2000. In August 2000 he was appointed Grievance Administrator by the Michigan Supreme Court to investigate and prosecute alleged misconduct by licensed Michigan attorneys. His staff of 33, with a budget of $4 million, receive about 3000 complaints per year about Michigan attorneys.

Robert agacinski

(Retired) Served as Circuit Judge for 34 years, including three terms as Chief Judge and last served in the 6th Judicial Circuit of Michigan. He is past president of the Oakland Bar Association, South Oakland Bar Association, and OCBA Inn of Court. He earned his Honorary Juris Doctorate from New England College of Law.

hon. steven N. andrews

Serves as the Florida Bar’s Legal Division Director supervising professionalism. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the State Bar of Michigan, served as Chair of the ABA’s Professionalism Committee and was the 2001 recipient of the American Bar Association’s Michael Franck Award.

John T. Berry

Executive Director of Michigan law firm Foster Swift Collins & Smith. Before that he was COO of Michigan Association of Home Builders. He retired from the Army in 1999 after 20 years of active duty in tactical and academic positions. He holds an MA in English from Northwestern University and a BS in Psychology from Western Michigan University.

Terry Blakely

Focused his law practice since 1975 in litigation, dispute resolution, and facilitation, as a certified civil neutral arbitrator and a court approved mediator. He has been active in lawyer organizations, holding leadership positions in many, including president of the Federal Bar Association Western Michigan Chapter, and past president of the State Bar of Michigan.

scott s. Brinkmeyer

Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Ethics at Olivet College. She worked previously at USF School of Law in San Francisco. She holds a B.A. from MSU (James Madison College), an M.Div. from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

Dr. Karen Chaney

Comes from a long line of judges and lawyers in Washtenaw County.  He graduated from Notre Dame and Wayne School of Law, and is an associate and shareholder in the Chelsea law firm of Keusch, Flintoft & Conlin, a 100+ year-old firm, practicing Probate/Estate Planning, Family, Real Estate, and Business Law. 

Patrick J. Conlin, Jr.

A State Court Judge since 1991. He served as Chief Judge of the 15th District Court from 1991 to 1997. He served as Chief Judge of the Washtenaw County Trial Court from 1998-2001. He teaches at three Michigan law schools, U-M, Wayne State, and Thomas Cooley, and trains new judges.

hon. Timothy P. Connors

A commercial litigator with Rhoades McKee in Grand Rapids, Mich. His practice emphasizes construction law and shareholder disputes. He is the State Bar President-elect, and will assume the organization’s presidency in September 2012. He is an Attorney Discipline Board panelist, and past recipient of the John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award.

Bruce Courtade

A 1978 graduate of Wayne State University Law School and a past president of the State Bar of Michigan. Her career as a Wayne County Prosecutor spanned 28 years. Diehl has co-authored four booklets pertaining to children in the justice system and is a sought-after lecturer on child abuse and family violence related matters.

Nancy J. Diehl

Ed.D. In 2007, Dunn was named president of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. He has dedicated his life to the education of young people and individuals with disabilities. He is an active participant in state and community efforts that focus on quality-of-life issues and enhancing economic development.

Dr. John m. Dunn

A partner with Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn practicing civil litigation, including complex business and government disputes. He worked 23 years as an Assistant Michigan Attorney General including Chief of the AG’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Michigan. He teaches experienced lawyers trial skills.

eric J. eggan

Director of Professional Standards with the State Bar of Michigan. Administers departments pertaining to bar applications, ethics, the client protection fund, the lawyers and judges assistance program, the lawyer referral service, and the unauthorized practice of law. A University of Texas School of Law graduate.

Dawn m. evans

A partner in the Ann Arbor Office of Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C. He concentrates in intellectual property law and commercial litigation.  He is a 1988 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and is just completing his term as President of the Washtenaw County Bar Association.

Peter Falkenstein

Judge Farah was a private practitioner until appointed to the 7th Circuit Court. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and a board member of the Genesee County Bar Association, Centennial Inns of Court, Michigan Judges Association, Cooley Law School Board of Directors, Metro Community Development, and Michigan Board of Law Examiners.

hon. Joseph Farah

Deputy Director, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility,  author of  The Paralegal’s Guide to Professional Responsibility,  director of the National Conference on Professional Responsibility, editor of The Professional Lawyer and Journal of the Professional Lawyer, and  co-author and editor of the  Annotated Model Code of Judicial Conduct.

art Garwin

Specializes in complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on business tort claims, contract and shareholder disputes, insurance coverage and construction litigation. She was elected to the SBM Board of Commissioners in 2011. She previously served as president of the Oakland County Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association.

Jennifer m. Grieco

Owner, Law Office of Douglas D. Hampton P.C., specializing in commercial, business and criminal  litigation, entertainment and film, and international law. He graduated from MSU and Iowa College of Law, and teaches Trial Skills at Cooley, serves on State Bar Leadership Advisory Council, is past president of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and Past Barrister of the Year.

Douglas D. hampton

Chief Executive Officer of Miller Canfield.  He is recognized by Best Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and by DBusiness Magazine as a Top Lawyer. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.

michael w. hartmann

In 2003, named first female Chief Deputy Attorney General. Prior, she was an Advisor and Counsel to the Michigan Senate and advisor to the Governor. She has served two Attorneys General and manages the 460-person state department that is legal counsel for state government and the interests of Michigan citizens. B.S., MSU; J.D., Cooley Law School.

Carol l. Isaacs

An Associate at Butzel Long in the Employee Benefits Group. Prior to joining Butzel Long in October 2007, Mark practiced at Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C. (2006–2007). He graduated from the University of Michigan (B.A. 2002 with high distinction) and Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., 2006 cum laude).

mark Jane

Immediate past president of the State Bar of Michigan and a member and Chief Diversity Officer of Dickinson Wright PLLC. He handles corporate and real estate transactional matters and writes and lectures on minority business enterprise joint ventures and strategic alliances.  He holds degrees from Harvard, Princeton and NYU.

w. anthony Jenkins

Cooley Law School Professor Johnson is a West Point and New York Law School graduate who values his Christian faith and his family. A former general counsel of General Motors North America, he is committed to ending human trafficking and ensuring equal access to justice and equal educational opportunities for all.

e. Christopher Johnson, Jr.

A collaborative divorce lawyer and mediator. She is former chair of the Litigation Section of the State Bar and immediate past president of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. J.D., cum laude, from Indiana University. Graduated from DePauw University, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

susan wilson Keener

President of Butzel Long. He has extensive experience in securities regulation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general corporate matters.  He is a former chairperson of the State Bar Business Law Section and has received numerous professional recognitions and awards.

Justin G. Klimko

President of Lansing Community College, has extensive background with various educational institutions and experience with an investment firm and a large regional retail chain which brings a unique blend of expertise to LCC. He served as president of Morton and Triton Colleges in Illinois, and Pierce College in Washington.

Dr. Brent Knight

Of-Counsel with the firm of Warner Norcross & Judd, where he has practiced law for 42 years, and was the first chairman of its Health Law Practice Group, and a trial expert in condemnation and probate litigation. Logie was first elected Mayor of the City of Grand Rapids in 1991 and re-elected in 1995 and 1999.

John logie

Don leDucPresident of Cooley Law School. He joined Cooley in 1975 as a professor. He served as dean from 1982 to 1987 and again from 1996 to the present. He was named president in 2002. He formerly taught Professional Responsibility and helped organize the Thomas M. Cooley Inn of Court.

Senior attorney with the Office of General Counsel for DTE Energy. He is also the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan. Maquera obtained his law degree from Notre Dame Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.

David maquera

Ph.D. Joined Eastern Michigan University as its first woman president in July 2008. Having attended grade school in a one-room school house, she focuses daily on  the importance of education.  She believes it is critical we provide educational opportunities to students in order to help them reach their full potential. 

Dr. susan w. martin

Neil w. macCallumHandles asbestos/toxic tort cases in Michigan courts and U.S. Army Courts of Military Review and Military Appeals. He teaches at Cooley Law School and is active in bar associations and is a U.S. Army, Major, Ret., Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He has degrees from Cooley Law School (J.D. 1981), U.S. Naval Academy, and Michigan State University (B.A. 1973).

Chief Judge of the 16th District Court is past chair of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, past president of the Michigan District Judges Association, and current member of the Michigan Judicial Council. She is a Criminal Jury Instruction Committee member and is a board member of Botsford Hospital.

hon. Kathleen J. mcCann

Director of Homeland Security LL.M. and associate professor of Constitutional Law at Cooley Law School. He was formerly Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense, Department of Defense, 2009-2011, Brigadier General and Michigan Homeland Security Advisor, 2003-2009, and Assistant Attorney General for Litigation in the Michigan Department of Attorney General from 1984-2003.

michael mcDaniel

A Public Finance/Corporate Law attorney. She has a passion for mentoring and volunteering in professional and community organizations. She is the president of the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association. She graduated from Cooley Law School, and was admitted to practice in Michigan in 2007.

Janene mcIntyre

President of Fraser Trebilcock, P.C. based in Lansing, Mich. A graduate of Albion College and the University of Detroit School of Law, he is a former assistant prosecutor and assistant attorney general. He has served on a number of State Bar committees and local commissions in East Lansing, Mich. where he lives.

Thaddeus e. morgan

Ph.D., President of Lawrence Technological University. He was formerly a professor of Biological Sciences and was Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost at Oakland University. He championed Cooley Law School’s presence in Oakland County and its satellite on OU’s campus, and promotes collaborative academic programs and pre-college initiatives with Cooley.

Dr. Virinder moudgil

The second female president of the Illinois State Bar Association, is a principal in the professionalism consulting firm of RobinsonNiro PC and has served as Director of the Illinois Commission on Professionalism, Special Counsel to the Illinois Attorney General, founding director of the National Center for Conflict Resolution Education, and Illinois delegate to the ABA House of Delegates.

Cheryl Niro

Judge O’Brien learned from his father, Judge Francis X. O’Brien, the common and most important characteristics of being a man, lawyer, and judge: honesty and hard work.  From God and his family he has learned responsibility and the meaning of unconditional love.

hon. Daniel Patrick o’Brien

Immediate past president of the Macomb County Bar Association, practices family law and criminal defense in Sterling Heights. Mich. A former registered nurse, she attended Wayne State Law School, graduating cum laude, and received the 2006 State Bar Champion of Justice Award for her work on Ken Wyniemko’s exoneration based on post conviction DNA testing.

Gail Pamukov-miller

Dean PacificDefends employers against suits for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge and statutory employment-related claims. Counsels employers on avoiding litigation, advising on discipline and discharge decisions, employment policies, and employee-relations issues. Litigates claims related to non-compete agreements and advises employers regarding the protection of trade secrets and confidential business information.

Chairman of Dickinson Wright. He focuses his practice in complex commercial and business litigation, arbitration and mediation.  He is a past president of the State Bar of Michigan and a Fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators and International Society of Barristers. 

edward h. Pappas

President of Davenport University, the largest private, non-profit university in Michigan. He previously served as president at three other colleges and universities. Dr. Pappas earned doctorate and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.  

Dr. Richard J. Pappas

Partner at the Hooper Hathaway law firm in Ann Arbor, where he has practiced as a civil    litigator since graduating from Notre Dame Law School in 1990, after obtaining his bachelors degree from the University of Michigan. He and his wife Helen have seven children. He teaches as an adjunct professor of Political Science and Law at various institutions, including Cooley Law School. 

anthony P. Patti

Appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to the Michigan Court of Appeals  in 2012. Previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan; as an Assistant General Counsel for the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network; and as a Senior Attorney in the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

hon. michael J. Riordan

Senior Judge with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, appointed as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. Distinguished Jurist and professor at Cooley Law School. Helped found Kitch Suhrheinrich law firm, served on Michigan’s Attorney Discipline Board, and was president of the Board of Trustees of the Detroit College of Law.

hon. Richard F. suhrheinrich

A senior shareholder at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. in Southfield, Mich. He specializes in employment and complex commercial litigation matters, handling breach of employment contract claims, discrimination, non-competition agreements, severance negotiations and other employment related actions.

Daniel D. swanson

Professor and Associate Dean of Students and Professionalism at Cooley Law School. Previously, she practiced in litigation with Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn, and worked for 10 years in state government while earning her law degree in the evenings. She graduated summa cum laude from Cooley Law School.

amy Timmer

Practiced law since 1962 at Varnum’s Grand Rapids office representing employers. He was invited to be a member of the SBM Character and Fitness Committee, the Attorney Grievance Commission, and the Attorney Discipline Board. He is also privileged to serve on several nonprofit boards.

Carl Ver Beek

Douglas wagnerA litigator and managing partner of Warner Norcross & Judd, earning his JD magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School. Recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America, he is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, member of the Federal Bar Association, and past president of the Western District of Michigan chapter.

Practiced law for 26 years before being named first Executive Director of the NC Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism in 1999. Along with local/state bar leadership roles, Mel served as chair of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Professionalism and the Professionalism Consortium, and teaches Professional Responsibility at UNC School of Law and Campbell School of Law.

melvin F. wright, Jr.

Ph.D. Cooley Law School’s Associate Dean for Enrollment and Student Services. Zelenski began his career in higher education in 1982, having worked at two state institutions prior to coming to Cooley. He has committed his career to providing opportunities for students to realize educational and life goals.

Dr. Paul Zelenski

Not Pictured

Katherine smith Kennedy Charles Turnbull

elias J. escobedo, Jr.hon. Julian CookAppointed U.S. District Judge in 1978 and served as Chief Judge from 1989-1996. He served as Chairman of Michigan Civil Rights Commission, Special Assistant Attorney General for Michigan, and as a member of the Michigan Board of Ethics. Pennsylvania State University, B.A., Georgetown, J.D., and University of Virginia, L.L.M.

Graduated from Wayne State Law School and formed his general practice law firm. He has tried numerous civil and criminal cases including homicide, armed robbery, criminal sexual conduct, divorce, personal injury, wrongful death and employment discrimination. He was named a Michigan Super Lawyer in 2010 & 2011.

Partner with Pinsky, Smith, Fayette & Kennedy in Grand Rapids, Mich. Named the first woman president of the Federal Bar Association of Western Michigan in 2010. She earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan and her law degree from Southern Illinois University, and has practiced law for 17 years.

Shareholder and board member of O’Reilly Rancilio in Sterling Heights, Mich. He practices in business, corporate and tax planning; was named a Michigan Super Lawyer in 2009 & 2010; and is president of the board and member of the Macomb County Bar Association. JD and LLM from Wayne State Law School.

Programscooley’s professionalism programs

1. Professionalism Orientation and Oath (I promise I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, or tolerate those who do.)

2. Ethics and Professionalism Library (4,000+ volumes)

3. Ethics in the Curriculum (ethical dilemmas discussed in required and elective courses)

4. Enforcing Student Conduct Codes/Honor Code and Disciplinary Procedures (35% of investigations result in finding of violations; violators <1% of student body)

5. Integrity in Our Communities Speaker Series (professionals speak about ethical challenges in their work)

6. Ethics Speakers’ Bureau (faculty teach lawyers, paralegals, business and government leaders about ethical obligations)

7. Commitment to Our Communities/Cooley Cares (public service for Cooley Law School employees)

8. Leadership in the Law (Cooley faculty and staff hold leadership positions)

9. Pro Bono Programs/Pro Bono Pledge (over 400,000 hours of free legal service per year)

10. Service to Soldiers: Legal Assistance Referral Program (eligible Michigan and Florida servicemembers receive pro bono help with civilian legal issues)

11. Ingham County Veterans’ Treatment Court (student veterans are mentors to veteran defendants)

12. Cooley Student Mediation Board (students trained in mediation help resolve students’ personal disputes)

13. Cultural Competence Workshops (recognizing cultural expectations through speech registers)

14. Professional Development and Mentoring (episodic or “60-Minute” mentoring, pro bono mentoring, affinity mentoring)

15. Professionalism Portfolio and Pathway to Success Course (developing professional identity through reflection on service, mentoring, career, personal ethics, and pro bono work)

16. Public School Mentoring and Assistance Programs (mentoring high school students in Ypsilanti, Pontiac, Saginaw, Lansing, and Grand Rapids public schools)

17. Student Wellness (social, financial, physical, emotional, career, and spiritual)

cooley’s professionalism principles

Principles1. Be Accountable: Acknowledge that each member of the Cooley community is accountable for

their own development as a professional and for establishing and maintaining a professional school environment.

2. Characteristics of a Professional:

• Take responsibility for your own actions and words• Correct misunderstandings and misinformation• Pay attention to detail• Don’t criticize without offering a solution• Volunteer to fix what is broken• Try to figure it out yourself, first• Follow appropriate channels in an appropriate manner• Treat others with respect and dignity• Work toward improvement, not destruction or the status quo• Anticipate the effect of your behavior• Behave in a way that will get a positive effect• Take into account the demands on and limitations of others• Commit to personal growth and learning

3. Serve the Community: Acknowledge that affiliation with the law profession entails public service as its primary purpose. Acknowledge that the profession may provide a means of livelihood, but that makes it no less a public service (with credit to Dean Roscoe Pound, Harvard Law School). Know that professionalism requires providing excellent quality service to your clients and participation in the work of the legal community.

4. Focus on Students: Acknowledge that all of us — staff, students, faculty, alumni, and community members —have a stake in educating the law student in the ways of professionalism.

5. Promote an Ethical School Community: Acknowledge that the school community is us — it is nothing more than a composite of all the people who associate with it and in it. Creation of an ethical community can only be accomplished through the ethical acts of its stakeholders.

Pro Bono P l edge“I support the Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s commitment to pro bono legal service, and

regard the provision of such service as a personal commitment as well as a professional and

ethical obligation. I support the principle that members of, and those aspiring to enter the

legal profession have an obligation, regardless of professional prominence or workload, to

participate in or otherwise support the provision of legal services to the disadvantaged. I

hereby pledge to complete at least one pro bono experience in the coming year. Further,

I pledge to continue to do so every year throughout my legal career or to comply with or

exceed the pro bono expectations of my state bar association.”

1. Indigent Defense Case Development Sessions

2. Hurricane Victims Assistance

3. Service to Soldiers: Legal Assistance Referral Program

4. Advent House Ministries

5. Child Welfare Training Institute

6. Cristo Rey Community Center

7. Lansing Teen Court

8. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

9. Project Homeless Connect and Stand Down

10. Homeless Assistance and Prevention Project

11. Cooley Clinics: Cooley’s many legal clinics allow students to do actual legal work for indigents, and receive academic credit for that. As it turns out, many Cooley students and clinic faculty end up working many hours in excess of what is required of them. We consider those extra hours — beyond what is needed to earn school credit — as pro bono work by both our students and faculty.

12. Dégagé Ministries

13. Ferguson Apartments

14. Mel Trotter Ministries

15. Kent County Legal Assistance Center

16. Nonprofit Incorporation Project

17. Pro Bono Consumer Bankruptcy Program

18. Prisoner Civil Rights Training

AgenciesPro bono services have been provided by Cooley’s faculty and staff to the following agencies:

19. Individualized Education Program Community Education Project

20. Wills and POA Program

21. Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association/ Cooley Pro Bono Mentorship Program

22. Oakland County Bar Association Pro Bono Mentor-Match Program

23. Federal Defender Office

24. Federal Bar Association Law Day

25. Ford Motor Company Pro Bono Project

26. Land Conservancies

27. State Appellate Defender Office/ Detroit Police Crime Lab

28. Foreclosure Education: 10CORE/ The Ten Commandments of Real Estate

29. Senior Pro Bono Outreach

30. Federal Defender Office

31. Legal Aid and Defender Association Expungement Clinic

32. Immigration Law Outreach

33. Bankruptcy Education Outreach

34. Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Partnership

35. Washtenaw County Bar Association Road Show

36. Washtenaw County Public Defender Office

37. Safe House

thomas m. cooley law school300 s. capitol avenue

lansing, michigan 48933cooley.edu