Frequently Asked Questions
Dues |
Name/Address Changes | Publications | Services
Dues
Q.
What do I do after being sworn in?
A. After
being sworn in, you must join the State Bar of Michigan by submitting a membership
application, your original order of admission, and the current year’s
dues. See links on page 14 to submit your
Membership Application online or by mail.
Q.
What is the cost of the dues for Active Members?
A. Active members sworn in between October 1 and March 31
are required to submit $315.00 for the current fiscal year ending September
30. The $315.00 includes dues for the Attorney Discipline System ($120.00),
State Bar of Michigan ($180.00), and Client Protection Fund ($15.00). Active
members sworn in between April 1 – September 30 are required to submit $157.50
for the remainder of the current fiscal year ending September 30 (one half of
a full year’s dues).
Q.
What is the cost of the dues for Inactive Members?
A. Under the new Supreme Court Order, members sworn in between
October 1 and March 31 and choose Inactive member status are required to submit
$217.50 for the current fiscal year ending September 30. The $217.50 includes
dues for the Attorney Discipline System ($120.00), State Bar of Michigan ($90.00)
and Client Protection Fund ($7.50). Inactive members sworn in between April
1 – September 30 are required to submit $108.75 for the remainder of the current
fiscal year ending September 30 (one half of a full year’s dues). Inactive members
may not practice law in the State of Michigan while on this status. An inactive
member for over 3 years must be recertified by the Board of Law Examiners and
may be required to take the Bar Exam again.
Q.
What other statuses are available?
A. Emeritus
Status – For members 70 years of
age or over 30 years of membership in the State Bar of Michigan. Not eligible
to practice law. This is a voluntary status, but it is intended to be permanent
so emeritus members wishing to reactivate their status must re-take and pass
the Michigan Bar exam.
Resigned/Withdrawn – Members who do not qualify for emeritus status but do not want to have a dues obligation to the State Bar of Michigan can choose to resign their membership- this is a voluntary status. After resignation is received, they are no longer considered to be members of the State Bar of Michigan, and are no longer eligible to practice law in Michigan. Members who have resigned must re-take and pass the Michigan Bar exam if they wish to reactivate their membership.
Suspended for Non-Payment of dues, Disciplinary Suspension, Revocation – These are non-voluntary statuses that members may be placed on. Members who are suspended or who have had their licenses revoked are no longer eligible to practice law in Michigan.
Q. When
will I be billed for dues after the first year?
A. The fiscal year for the State Bar of Michigan is October
1 through September 30. Every State Bar member is billed each year on or before
September 20, to your address of record, for the next Bar year beginning October
1.
Q. What
if I don’t pay my dues?
A. Members
who do not pay their dues will be suspended for non-payment and will be ineligible
to practice law in Michigan. A certified letter of delinquency is mailed each
year members who fail to pay their dues by November 30th. The member’s
name is included on a list of attorneys suspended for non-payment of dues that
is disseminated the courts of Michigan, the Attorney Grievance Commission,
the Attorney Discipline Board, the Clerk of the Supreme Court, and published
in the Michigan Bar Journal and on the Bar's website. If the member
is not subject to a disciplinary order and the suspension is for less than
three years, the member is automatically reinstated upon the payment of dues
and late charges owing from the date of suspension to the date of reinstatement
plus a reinstatement fee.
Q. How
long can I remain on inactive status or suspended?
A. A member who is suspended or remains on inactive status
for three years or more, must apply for recertification with the Board of Law
Examiners. More detailed information can be found in Supreme Court rules Concerning
the State Bar of Michigan published in the April directory issue of the Michigan
Bar Journal.
Q.
What is the Client Protection Fund?
A.
The State Bar of Michigan’s Client Protection Fund was established
in 1966 for the purpose of reimbursing clients who have been victimized by
the few attorneys who misappropriate funds entrusted to them. The goal of the
fund is to promote public confidence in the administration of justice and the
integrity of the legal profession by compensating those who have been victimized
by dishonest lawyers. The Client Protection Fund is not a substitute for malpractice
insurance; it only reimburses the willful taking of a client's money or property
with an intent to defraud within the scope of an attorney-client relationship.
Please see page 14 of this orientation to link to more information
on the Client Protection Fund.
Q.
Why does Michigan have an assessment for the Client Protection Fund?
A. The 1999 Conference of Chief Justices National Action Plan
on Lawyer Conduct and Professionalism recommended that all client protection
funds create a structure to ensure a stable source of funds and to make full
reimbursement of client claims the goal of each state’s fund. To that end,
in 2003 the funding for the State Bar of Michigan’s Client Protection Fund
changed to an assessment–based program bringing it in line with the majority
of other states fulfilling the recommendation of the conference. Prior to
this change, Michigan was one of only fifteen states that financed the Client
Protection Fund through a line item budget appropriation from the Bar’s general
budget with the last appropriation in 1998. Please see page 14 of
this orientation to link to more information on the Client Protection Fund.
Q.
How can I access the Client Protection Fund Rules?
A. You may go to the State Bar of Michigan website at www.michbar.org
and click on "Client Protection Fund" from the "Public Resources"
menu, or see page 14 to link to the Client Protection
Fund web page.
Q.
How can I get an application for the Client Protection Fund?
A. You may go to the State Bar of Michigan website at www.michbar.org
and click on "Client Protection Fund" from the "Public Resources"
menu and then click on Claim Application, or see page 14 to
link to the Client Protection Fund web page. You may also call the Client
Protection Fund Administrator at (517) 346-6379 to request an application.
Q. What
is an address of record?
A. It is the address that you provide to us where you can
be reached. If you use a P.O. Box, you must also submit another physical address,
which will be kept confidential if requested.
Q. What
happens if I move out of state and/or no longer wish to practice law in Michigan?
A. You can request, in writing, to go on inactive status as
long as you are not subject to any disciplinary action in any jurisdiction.
Q.
How do I change my name?
A. The request must be in writing along with a copy of the
marriage license, divorce decree, social security card or driver’s license.
Please include the exact way you would like your name to read.
Q.
How do I change my address?
A. In order to safeguard your member information, changes to your member record must be provided in writing. Members may update their own member record using the online, e-Commerce tool or by using the Address Change Form. See page 14 for links.
Q.
How can I order different publications or additional directories?
A. Orders
must be in writing and must be prepaid. A 6% Michigan sales tax is added to
all orders except directory orders.
Q. When
is the directory issue of the Michigan Bar Journal published?
A. The directory issue is mailed mid to late April of each
year. It can take up to four weeks to be delivered because it is mailed fourth
class.
Q. Does
the State Bar of Michigan have an online Member Directory?
A. Yes, members may go to the State Bar of Michigan website
at www.michbar.org and click on "Member Directory",
or see page 14 to link to the Online Member
Directory.
Q. Where
can I find the publication order form?
A. You can request a publication order form be faxed to you
by calling (517) 346-6326, or see page 14 to download a Publication Order Form.
Back
to Orientation
Q.
Do you accept purchase orders?
A.
No.
Q. What
do I do if I don’t receive the directory, or it is damaged or missing pages?
A. If you have not received your directory by June 10, please
send us something in writing stating that the directory has not been received
and we will have another one sent to you. If it has been damaged or is missing
pages, please let us know in writing and another will be sent.
Q. Can
I come to the State Bar office to pick up a directory?
A. No, the directories are stored and distributed off-site.
Q.
How do I order additional directory copies for my office?
A. You may order additional copies as you would order any other
publication. The cost per directory for members and their staff is $30.95 and
$55.95 for non-members. These costs include shipping and handling.
Q.
How can I get a Certificate of Good Standing?
A. Requests must be made in writing either by fax or
by mail, and there is a $10.00 processing fee per certificate. Use the form
on page 14 or call (517) 346-6322 for more information regarding Certificates
of Good Standing.
Q.
How do I request a certified copy of my bar application?
A. The fee for this service is $25.00. Use the form
on page 14 or call (517) 346-6346 for information about obtaining a copy of
your Affidavit of Personal History.
Q.
How do I remove my name from promotional mailings?
A. See page 14 of this orientation to dowload the Member Preferences.
Q. How can I get
a replacement Bar card?
A. Requests must be made in writing either by fax or
by mail. Call (517) 346-6341 for more information about replacing your bar
card.
For additional information, please call the Member Services Representative at (517) 346-6322 or (517) 346-6326.