Michigan lawyers contributed $700,000 to the State Bar's Access to Justice Fund last year, nearly doubling the total amount raised since the fund began in 1998, to $1.5 million. The largest law firms contributed nearly $250,000 last year.

The Access to Justice Fund supports programs that provide civil legal services to low income people. The money for these programs is raised solely from within the legal profession.

The west Michigan firm of Warner, Norcross and Judd contributed over $52,000 to the fund to benefit the operations of legal aid programs in the communities where its offices are located. John Tully, a member of the firm and statewide co-chair of the Access to Justice Development Campaign, which handles the fundraising, said "Warner, Norcross and Judd believes strongly in using the fund to support its role in coordinating private support of legal aid."

Another Grand Rapids based firm, Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt and Howlett gave over $30,000. Spokesman Jonathan Anderson said the firm's attorneys were "committed to providing financial support as well as pro bono service for legal aid." He added that attorneys must lead the way in ensuring equal access to justice.

The firm of Miller, Johnson, Snell and Cummiskey, P.L.C. contributed about $25,000 to legal aid operations using the Access to Justice Fund. Firm member J. Michael Smith said John Cummiskey, one of the firm's founding members, is regarded as a leading national champion of legal aid. "He has set the example for supporting legal aid with private donations and our firm is pleased to participate," Smith said.

For the second consecutive year, Howard and Howard made a contribution to the Access to Justice Fund of $300 for each of its nearly 100 attorneys. "Our founder, said 'much should be expected from attorneys in the line of good citizenship,'" said Gina Torielli, president and CEO. " We take that charge seriously, and that is why we have joined the State Bar's efforts to increase Access to Justice. We encourage other major Michigan law firms to make a similar commitment."

The law firm of Mika, Meyers, Beckett and Jones gave over $10,000 to program operations, doubling its donation from the previous year. Firm member, Fred Goldberg said the company believes in the vision of centralized support for legal aid through the Access to Justice Fund. "Law firm support is critical," Goldberg said. "We urge other firms to support the fund, and to increase the amount of support they provide."

Reginald Turner Jr., member of Clark Hill and chair of the Access to Justice Task Force, described the financial support from Michigan law firms for legal aid as unprecedented. "Combined with the untold amount of pro bono work done by the attorneys in these firms, it shows that members of the State Bar really care about providing equal access to justice," he said.

"Access to Justice is one of the highest priorities of the State Bar of Michigan, and a major reason why I joined as executive director," said John Berry, executive director of the State Bar of Michigan. "I would like to commend these firms and their members for participating in the campaign and