The State Bar of Michigan's 65th Annual Meeting will take place Wednesday through Friday, September 20-22, 2000 at the Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center in downtown Detroit.

This year's Annual Meeting will feature three days of practical seminars and programs with Wednesday's events devoted to the theme of "Corporate/Business," Thursday will focus on "Access to Justice" and Friday will cover "Litigation/Probate" topics and issues.

Special CLE programs sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education will include "21st Century Mark-ups: Document Sharing on the Internet," "E-Commerce: the 10 Legal Questions you Should be Asking Yourself," "Attorney Speech and the First Amendment," "Class Action Litigation," and "Office Automation Using Technology," to name a few.

The Annual Meeting kicks off on Tuesday, September 19 with the Jack Born Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program. There will also be a "Race for Justice" sponsored by the Young Lawyers Section (date and location to be announced).

Each year, the State Bar honors outstanding members of the Bar and the legal community with various awards presented during the Annual Meeting luncheons. These awards are presented over the course of the three days the last of which also includes the swearing-in of the incoming State Bar president (this year, Thomas J. Ryan). The awards presented include the Distinguished Service Award, the John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award, Liberty Bell , Champion of Justice, Respected Advocate, and Roberts P. Hudson Awards. Information on nominating persons for these awards can be found on the Bar's Web site at www.michbar.org or contact State Bar Director of Communications, Nichole Kelley-Korson at 800-968-1442, extension 6334.

The Annual Meeting Planning Committee is in the process planning a Wednesday evening at Comerica Park (New Tiger Stadium) where Annual Meeting attendees can enjoy a Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox game. The Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellows Reception and various section receptions and dinners will also be held on this evening.

A Grand Reception honoring 50-year members of the State Bar and Access to Justice donors will be held on Thursday evening featuring entertainment by "A (Habeus) Chorus Line." Law school reunions for the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Michigan State University's Detroit College of Law, Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy and various out-of-state law schools will also take place on Thursday evening.

More information on the State Bar's 65th Annual Meeting will be mailed to State Bar members with the July issue of the Michigan Bar Journal. Also look for information coming soon to the State Bar's Web site.