8/26/05

The Legal Assistants Section of the State Bar of Michigan will commemorate its 15th anniversary by honoring its founders at a special ceremony Friday, September 23, 2005 in East Lansing. The event will be held in conjunction with the State Bar Annual Meeting at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

Nine individuals who played a central role in the formation of the section will be honored. They are:

• The Honorable Gene Schnelz, who chaired the State Bar of Michigan Task Force on Law-Related Professions.
• Robert McKenzie, Esq. (Deceased), a Macomb County lawyer who was active in obtaining legal assistant membership in the American Bar Association, and co-chaired the Michigan Task Force.
• Jennifer Cote, Esq., paralegal program director at Madonna University, who assisted the Michigan Task Force.
• Dr. Margaret Rose, the first program director at Macomb Community College and one of her instructors, John F. Mayer, Esq.
• Kathleen Wilczewski, a graduate of Dr. Rose's Macomb Community College Program, a liaison to the Michigan Task Force, and the section's first chairperson.
• Charlotte Curiston, president of the Legal Assistants Association of Michigan and a liaison to the Michigan Task Force
• Suzanne Fogle Schultz and Maurine Payne, paralegals who assisted in drafting the section by-laws and membership requirements.

As part of the tribute, Linda S. Jevahirian, President, Legal Search and Management, Inc., will present a short history of the Section and of paralegals in Michigan.

Members are invited to attend the morning program, which begins with a continental breakfast at 9:00 a.m., election of officers at 9:30 a.m., and tribute and awards at 10:00.a.m. The morning will conclude with an educational program from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Attorney Jon D. Vander Ploeg of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge will be the featured speaker. His presentation will focus on changes in appellate court practices. Please Contact Linda S. Jevahirian at 248-471-3443 for more details or visit www.michbar.org/legalassistants.