4/7/05

Leaders from the legal and corporate community in Battle Creek will gather on Tuesday, April 19, 2005, for an Access to Justice (ATJ) Reception to benefit Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM).

Contributions raised at the event through the State Bar of Michigan ATJ Campaign will help support LSSCM charitable civil legal assistance programs. Specifically, the event will provide LSSCM an opportunity to cultivate regional corporate and law firm support while acknowledging past donors.

State Bar of Michigan President Nancy J. Diehl and Calhoun County Bar Association President Kent A. Bieberich will host the reception at the Battle Creek Country Club. The event, which is sponsored by the Battle Creek Community Foundation, will begin at 5:30 p.m.

"This is an exciting opportunity to involve our corporate community in an innovative partnership that coordinates financial support for the legal assistance activities of Legal Services of South Central Michigan," said Diehl. "We hope to raise the awareness of our local business leaders on this very serious issue of assuring the availability of civil legal services to low-income individuals and families within the community, " she added.

The ATJ Campaign is one of the State Bar justice initiatives to ensure that a strong civil legal system is available to all regardless of their financial means. All contributions to the ATJ Fund are received and managed by the Michigan State Bar Foundation, a 501 © (3) organization. For more information about this reception please contact Lesa Smith at 800-968.-1442, ext. 6307.