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 largest and oldest law firm in Michigan, Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone has contributed over $60,000 to the fund. More than 100 firm members contributed at least $300 each to the fund in recognition of the pro bono standard set by the State Bar of Michigan's Representative Assembly.

"Miller Canfield is pleased to help set the standard for private bar support of legal aid," said Tom Linn, managing partner. "Supporting Access to Justice is an excellent way to celebrate the firm's 150 years of serving our clients in the state of Michigan."

For the second consecutive year, Howard & 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 firm of Bodman, Longley and Dahling made a total contribution of over $27,000 last year. "We are pleased to support this much needed fundraising effort on behalf of civil legal aid," said Larry Shulman, firm chairman.

The Clark Hill firm has given over $26,000 to the Access to Justice Fund. "Clark Hill recognizes that over the long-term, the Access to Justice endowment fund will provide an important supplement to the funding for legal aid," said J. Thomas Lenga, CEO of Clark Hill and past president of the State Bar of Michigan. "Clark Hill was one of the first law firms to support the fund, consistent with our history of leadership in the Michigan Bar."

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 for setting an excellent example for firms in other parts of the state."