Conklin Joins SBM as Justice Initiatives Program Manager

2/27/08

Kathleen Conklin has joined the State Bar of Michigan as program manager in the Justice Initiatives division. Among her duties are overseeing the SBM Equal Access, Pro Bono, and Criminal Issues initiatives, increasing the number of attorneys volunteering to participate in the programs, and working with legal aid providers statewide to supplement their efforts.

Prior to joining the State Bar of Michigan, Conklin was lead attorney for the Civil Justice Project of the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence in Okemos. In her nearly six years at MCADSV, she trained lawyers, judges, legal advocates, mental health professionals, physicians, and other professionals who worked with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She also provided technical assistance and case consultation to Michigan attorneys representing children and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in family court and other civil proceedings.

Under Conklin’s leadership, the Pro Bono Project for Domestic Violence Victims, a joint effort of MCADSV and the State Bar of Michigan, earned the 2003 LEXIS/NEXIS Community and Educational Outreach Award from the American Bar Association. In 2005, she received the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan’s Ford Menttium 100 Award, which is presented annually to a female attorney who demonstrates leadership and commitment to her own growth.

Conklin has also served as supervising attorney for the Legal Services of South Central Michigan’s domestic violence unit, and worked with the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service’s HIV/AIDS Advocacy Program. She has more than 12 years legal experience focusing on civil legal representation and litigation in family law, personal protection orders, disability law, probate matters, employment law, personal injury, criminal defense, housing, property and landlord-tenant matters, and administrative hearings. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

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