The Legal Aid and Defender Association, Inc., is offering a number of free training sessions for attorneys in May and June. In exchange for taking part one of the programs, attendees are asked to handle two pro bono cases or perform 30 hours of pro bono work on behalf of LADA. The classes are presented in collaboration with the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, the Macomb County Bar Association, and the Oakland County Bar Association.

The offerings are:

• "Wills and Estate Planning for New Attorneys": This course focuses on estate planning techniques for small and modest estates, and discusses types of estate planning for modest estates such as wills, testamentary trusts, living trusts, and medical and durable powers of attorney.
  
• "Probate: Procedures and Tax Aspects": This session acquaints attorneys with probate procedures for decedents’ estates, guardianships, and conservatorships; outlines special procedures for Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County probate courts; and discusses tax aspects of probate.
  
• "Buying, Selling and Transferring Personal Residences": This class centers on representing clients buying, selling, or transferring personal residences, and covers the tax aspects involved in conveying a personal residence.

Joan C. Von Handorf, a solo practitioner in Warren who specializes in estate planning, probate, real estate and tax law, will be the instructor. An author and speaker for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Von Handorf has published articles in the Michigan Bar Journal and the Probate and Estate Planning Journal, and is member of the Probate and Estate Planning Council.

Classes will be presented at three locations: LADA’s Detroit offices at 645 Griswold, Suite 2500; Oakland County Bar Association headquarters in Bloomfield Hills at 1760 S. Telegraph Road, Suite 100; and the LADA office in Clinton Township at 21885 Dunham Road. The complete class schedule:

Detroit

• Tues., May 15, 1-3 p.m.: “Wills and Estate Planning for New Attorneys”
• Thurs., May 24, 1-3 p.m.: “Probate: Procedures and Tax Aspects”
• Fri., June 1, 1-3 p.m.: “Buying, Selling, and Transferring Personal Residences”

Bloomfield Hills

• Wed., June 6, 2-4 p.m.: “Wills and Estate Planning for New Attorneys”
• Tues., June 12, 2-4 p.m.: “Probate: Procedures and Tax Aspects”
• Fri., June 15, 2-4 p.m.: “Buying, Selling, and Transferring Personal Residences”

Clinton Township

• Fri., June 22, 1-3 p.m.: “Wills and Estate Planning for New Attorneys”
• Tues., June 26, 1-3 p.m.: “Probate: Procedures and Tax Aspects”
• Wed., June 27, 1-3 p.m.: “Buying, Selling, and Transferring Personal Residences”

To register for any of the classes, e-mail the Legal Aid and Defender Association at tjohnson@ladadetroit.org. For more information, call the LADA office at (313) 964-4111, ext. 16226.

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