8/18/05

Over $2,500 has been raised for the State Bar of Michigan's Access to Justice (ATJ) Fund by ice hockey clubs from five Michigan law schools. They competed against each other in a charity benefit in East Lansing recently at the Clarence L. Munn Ice Arena on the campus of Michigan State University.

For the third year in a row, Skate for Justice law student organizers recognized that the ATJ Fund was the most appropriate cause to support, and expanded the tournament format to include more schools and to raise its visibility. Participants included the University of Michigan Law School, Ave Maria School of Law, the University of Detroit Mercy Law School, Wayne State University Law School, and Michigan State University College of Law. This event grew out of an annual charity game between Wayne State University Law School and University of Detroit Mercy Law School teams that took place for nearly two decades. Detroit Mercy emerged the victorious team this year.

The ATJ Fund supports private giving to civil legal aid programs in Michigan, with over $5 million raised in donations, pledges, and planned gifts. More than $2 million of that has been directed to endowment funds to ensure that legal aid is supported in perpetuity. This ensures that individuals and families to have fair access to the justice system, regardless of their ability to pay. Access to Justice donations are received and managed by the Michigan State Bar Foundation, with the net proceeds from this year's Skate for Justice benefiting the ATJ Operations Fund for use throughout the state.

For more information about the Access to Justice Fund and the non-profit programs that provide civil legal services, visit www.atjfund.org or call Lesa Smith at 800-968-1442.