The Third Invitational Michigan Bench-Bar Conference will be held on May 24 and 25 at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant. The conference, entitled "2001 - A Court Odyssey: Effective Practices for the New Millennium", will be presented by the State Bar of Michigan and all three judicial associations in cooperation with the Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrator's Office and the Michigan Judicial Institute.

Topics such as redesigning the court systems, effective bench/bar strategies for case management and enhancing confidence in the bench and the bar will be discussed. The conference is an opportunity for attorneys and judges to join forces and develop plans for improving the Michigan court system. Attendees will be able to focus on the critical issues facing today's legal professionals and plan strategies to improve the justice system for all citizens. The ideas and conclusions of the Bench-Bar Conference will be forwarded to the Bench-Bar Implementation Committee of the State Bar of Michigan to ensure follow-up and implementation.

This year's two-day format will provide the participants with a special evening of creative, relaxed and informal socializing. For more information, please contact Karen Sprague of the State Bar of Michigan at (517) 346-6380 or 800-968-1442 ext. 6380.