The Representative Assembly of the State Bar of Michigan has unanimously approved the Bar's Strategic Plan, a comprehensive and evolving document that is a blueprint for programs and policies, and passed recommendations approving changes in the dues and fees paid by Michigan attorneys in order to support the plan. At a meeting Feb. 22 in East Lansing, the Assembly voted to support proposals that:

• Increase by $40 the basic membership rate from $160 to $200, effective in the 2003-04 fiscal year. In the future, dues would be automatically increased or decreased based on the Consumer Price Index.
• Establish an annual Client Protection Fund assessment of $15 for all active and inactive status members. The Client Protection Fund is used to reimburse clients who have been victimized by attorneys who violate ethical standards and misappropriate client funds. Although such misappropriation is rare, in the last few years the size of the claims has increased dramatically.
• Increase the age at which active members are exempt from paying dues from age 70 to age 75. This change would not apply to members born before October 1, 1933.
• Increase the fees for the licensing process to reflect higher costs - an administrative reinstatement fee of $100 following suspension, a $50 fee for late payment of dues and an inactive status dues assessment equaling 50 percent of active membership dues.

The adopted proposals will now be forwarded to the Michigan Supreme Court for consideration. The Representative Assembly has not considered dues and fees since 1993 when the current membership dues rate was set. Under Michigan Supreme Court rule, the Representative Assembly must authorize petitions to the Court for an increase in State Bar dues.

Thomas C. Rombach, Chair of the Representative Assembly and a member of the Special Issues Committee advancing the proposal, said that the Assembly's action would help ensure that the State Bar has sufficient resources to serve lawyers and the public. "Our legislative process sought input from attorneys across the state, combining the planning talents of Assembly Clerk Elizabeth Jamieson, the expert draftsmanship of Assembly Vice-Chair Daniel Levy and Francine Cullari's Drafting Committee, and the scheduling prowess of Lori Buiteweg's Rules and Calendar Committee. After an extensive study by the Special Issues Committee, chaired by Allyn Kantor, and an exhaustive hearings process conducted by Edward Haroutunian's Hearings Committee, the Assembly agreed to pay more money in membership dues to fund the programs envisioned by the State Bar's Strategic Plan," Rombach said.

Reginald M. Turner, the president of the State Bar of Michigan, pointed out that the Representative Assembly's overwhelming votes in favor of the State Bar's Strategic Plan and the proposed dues structure indicate great confidence in the direction of the Bar. "It is further validation of the Bar's focus on our core mission in the justice system and our improved services to members to enable them to have more efficient, effective and enjoyable practices. Our leadership team will continue to work hard to ensure that we remain one of the most respected lawyer associations in the nation," Turner added.

The full text of the dues proposal and supporting materials are posted on the State Bar website at www.michbar.org under the News from the Bar column.