Paralegal TasteFest and Day of Education Slated for May 1-2

4/7/08

Sampling worldwide cuisine and opportunities for learning and networking are planned for May 1-2 by the Legal Assistants Section of the State Bar of Michigan. They will be hosting for the first time, a TasteFest in Plymouth at the Inn of St. John's on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The following day, the section’s Annual Day of Education, which this year focuses on Alternative Dispute Resolution, runs from at 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The education program will kick off with a continental breakfast and visits with the vendors, followed by the keynote address by attorney Rebecca Simkins Seslar. Seslar focuses her practice on labor and employment law. A former paralegal, she will highlight her talk with a unique perspective on the role paralegals can play in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Other speakers are:

• Janice M. Holdinski, whose topic is ADR 101. Holdinski is a Vice President at the American Arbitration Association.
• Paula K. Manis will teach “How to Become a Mediator, and ADR Opportunities for Non-Lawyers.”  Manis practices oil and gas law and is a lead trainer for mediation at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and at the MSU-Detroit College of Law. She is also an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
• Geoff Seidlein will present “Labor and Employment ADR.” Seidlein specializes in drain, construction, municipal, and environmental law.  He currently serves as a labor and employment law professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
• Attorney John V. Tocco of Tocco Construction Consulting will focus on Construction Law and ADR. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association Panel of Construction Arbitrators and Mediators for large, complex cases. He is also an adjunct professor at MSU-Detroit College of Law, Eastern Michigan University, and Lawrence Technological University.
• Michael Turco, a shareholder at Butzel Long will cover Commercial Arbitration. His practice focuses on litigating significant commercial disputes and serving as lead counsel in business transaction and acquisition matters.

A number of breakout sessions will offer participants further opportunity to network and meet with the vendors. For reservations at the Inn of St. John's located at 44045 Five Mile Road call (734) 414-0600. Mention the Section to receive a discount.

The cost of the Annual Day of Education is $80 for members, $100 for non-members and $60 for students. The fee includes lunch and breakout snacks. For participants attending the Annual Day of Education, the cost of the TasteFest is $15. It's $25 for all others. There will be a cash bar at the TasteFest.

For more information, contact Nicole M. Cook at ncook@lsaservices.com or (517) 203-7590, or go to www.michbar.org/legalassistants/events/cfm for details.  Online registration is at www.michbar.org/sections/registration.cfm.

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