Want to meet other lawyers? Need a mentor? Looking for a job?
Join a section!
What's in it for me?
All of the above. Section membership allows newer attorneys to meet veteran attorneys practicing in a particular area. These relationships often lead to mentoring, job opportunities, and more. Section membership also offers practice area-specific information and education, plus reduced fees for sponsored CLE programs. Most sections have their own publications in addition to live and social media forums that allow you to communicate regularly with other members, and there is always a path to section leadership for anyone who might be interested.
Which sections should I join?
It's up to you. Most new lawyers join sections focused on the areas of law that interest them most. A snapshot of information for each section and a link to the section website can be found just below.
What's the cost?
Most sections offer free section membership to newly admitted members for a period of one to two years. Other sections charge $20 to $65 depending on the section. The free memberships that are available to new members are explained on the Section Membership Application.
Sections
Administrative & Regulatory Law
Established in 1974 | 600+ members
- Administrative Law Journal
- Active in public policy advocacy & legislative matters
- Law student scholarship
- Luncheon lecture series
Agricultural Law
Established in 2013 | 270+ members
- Articles & links of interest
- Section listserv
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Established in 1991 | 670+ members
- Michigan Dispute Resolution Journal
- Co-sponsor of ICLE’s Advanced Negotiation & Dispute Resolution Institute
- Section listserv
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Links of interest
- ADR issue of Michigan Bar Journal, June 2015
- Annual Conference
- Distinguished Service Award
- Nanci S. Klein Award
- George N. Bashara Jr. Award
American Indian Law Section
Established in 1995 | 200+ members
- Amicus briefs
- Links of interest
- American Indian Law Section newsletter
- Section listserv
- Tecumseh Peacekeeping Award
Animal Law Section
Established in 1995 | 200+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Section listserv
- Animal Law Symposium
- Articles of interest
- Animal Law issue of Michigan Bar Journal, Dec. 2013
- Section newsletter
- Wanda Nash Award
- Brandi Award
- Sadie Award
Antitrust, Franchising & Trade Regulation Section
Established in 1960 | 200+ members
- Section e-newsletter
- Writing contest
- Annual holiday party
- Antitrust issue of Michigan Bar Journal, Dec. 2012
- Summer social
- Links of interest
- Hot Topics seminar
Dues: $35, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
Social Networking: LinkedIn
View Website
Appellate Practice Section
Established in 1995 | 700+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Appellate Practice Journal
- Section listserv
- At least one education program of interest to appellate practitioners each year
Dues: $30, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
View Website
Arts, Communications, Entertainment & Sports Section
Established in 1979 | 290+ members
- Section listserv
- Hensel Award
- Links of interest
- Arts issue of Michigan Bar Journal, Sept. 2012
- Summer social
- Hot Topics seminar
Dues: $20, free to new admittees for the first 2 years
View Website
Aviation Law Section
Established in 1992 | 100+ members
- Innermarker newsletter
- Section directory
- Annual seminars
Dues: $25, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
Social Networking: Facebook
View Website
Business Law Section
Established in 1965 | 3,100+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy & legislation
- Annual Business Law Institute
- Business Law Journal
- Section listserv
- Section e-newsletter
- Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award
Cannabis Law Section
Established in 2015 | 730+ members
- Networking
- Active in Public Policy advocacy and legislative matters
- Young Lawyers scholarships
- Active section listserv
- Annual in-person conference
- In-person training seminars
- Monthly educational webinars
- Free social gatherings & networking events
- Mentorship program
- Section resource library
- Swag available for purchase
- Opportunities to participate in one of our 8 committees
- Maintains relationship with Cannabis Regulatory Agency regarding rules, inspections, hearings, etc.
Children's Law Section
Established in 1996 | 460+ members
- Section listserv
- Annual Transforming Child Welfare Through Representation Seminar
- Amicus briefs
- Child Welfare Journal
- Active in public policy advocacy & legislative matters
- County and court Resources
- List of qualified forensic mental health examiners
Dues: $40, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
View Website
Consumer Law Section
Established in 1989 | 480+ members
- Section listserv
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Articles & briefs of interest
- Consumer Law newsletter
- Consumer Advocacy Award
Dues: $15, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
View Website
Criminal Law Section
Established in 1972 | 2,100+ members
- Public service programs
- News & Views newsletter
- Active in public policy advocacy & legislation
- Section listserv
- Legal links
- Biennial Policy Conference
- Annual Spring Conference
- Annual Mid-Winter Ski Conference
Dues: $25, free to new admittees for the first 2 years
View Website
Elder Law & Disability Rights Section
Established in 1993 | 1,090+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Section listserv
- ELDERS Update newsletter
- Elder law issue of Michigan Bar Journal, Aug. 2010
- Annual Spring Conference
- Annual Fall Conference
Dues: $40, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
View Website
Environmental Law Section
Established in 1980 | 490+ members
- Section listserv
- Education seminars on current issues
- Michigan Environmental Law Journal
- Michigan Environmental Law Deskbook
- Environmental law issue of Michigan Bar Journal, June 2014
- Essay contest
- Annual conference with Michigan Manufacturers Ass'n
- Annual conference with Air & Waste Management Ass'n
Family Law Section
Established in 1974 | 2,460+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Michigan Family Law Journal
- Section listserv
- Attend family law section seminars at reduced cost, including the Family Law Institute
- Annual Mid-Summer Conference
- Annual Winter Conference
- Mentoring roundtables
- Supports S.M.I.L.E. & other pro bono programs of the section
- Membership certificate, suitable for display, for an additional $5
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Amicus briefs
Dues: $60, free for first year of original admission to practice
View Website
Government Law Section
Established in 1957 | 650+ members
- Public Corporation Law Quarterly newsletter
- Winter Seminar
- Annual Spring Conference
- Summer Conference
- Amicus briefs
- Section listserv
Health Care Law Section
Established in 1994 | 870+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- E-newsletter
- Health Law Institute
- Teleconference series
- Health law issue of Michigan Bar Journal, June 2011
- Section listserv
- Legal resources
- Fellows program
- Law student writing competition
Immigration Law Section
Established in 2019
Information Technology Section
Established in 1985 | 500+ members
- Michigan IT Lawyer newsletter
- Annual IT Law Seminar
- IT issue of Michigan Bar Journal, July 2011
- Articles of interest
- Section listserv
- E-newsletter
- Writing Competition
Dues: $25, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
Social Networking: Facebook
View Website
Insurance & Indemnity Law Section
Established in 2007 | 880+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Journal of Insurance & Indemnity Law
- Insurance issue of Michigan Bar Journal, June 2009
- Pre-holiday reception & program
- Lawyer-to-lawyer referral database
Dues: $35, free to new admittees for the first 2 years
View Website
Intellectual Property Law Section
Established in 1988 | 1,080+ members
- IPLS Proceedings newsletter
- Sponsor of Pro Bono Patent Project
- Annual Intellectual Property Law Summer Institute
- Articles of interest
- Section listserv
- Writing contest
Dues: $35, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
View Website
International Law Section
Established in 1988 | 480+ members
- Michigan International Lawyer Journal
- Mentor Program
- Articles of interest
- International law issue of Michigan Bar Journal, Nov. 2013
- Section listserv
Labor & Employment Law Section
Established in 1948 | 2,090+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Lawnotes newsletter
- Links of interest
- Labor issue of Michigan Bar Journal Nov. 2016, June 2019, & Jan. 2023
- Distinguished Service Award
- Mid-Winter Meeting & Seminar
- Diversity and Wellness Luncheon Series
- Annual ICLE Labor & Employment Law Institute
- Zoom Webinars
- Octoberfest
- Annual Holiday Party
Law Practice Management & Legal Administrators Section
Established in 1991 | 310+ members
- Section listserv
- Section e-newsletter
- Q & A Forum at Annual Meeting
- Law school outreach
Dues: $25, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
View Website
LGBTQ+ Law Section
Established in 2016 | 160+ members
- The purposes of the section shall be to review those law, cases, regulations and other legal mattes that affect LGBTQ+ residents of this State and to promote the fair and just administration of those laws.
Dues: $45; free to new admittees for first year
View Website
Litigation Section
Established in 1995 | 2,280+ members
- The Litigation newsletter
- Summer Conference Skills Workshop
- ICLE Masters in Litigation
- Links of interest
Military & Veterans' Law Section
Established in 2013 | 200+ members
- Networking
- Section e-newsletter
Negligence Law Section
Established in 1955 | 1,650+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Section e-newsletter
- Annual Spring Meeting
- Annual Summer Meeting
Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section
Established in 1990 | 400+ members
- Michigan Paralegal newsletter
- Section NewsBlast
- Links of interest
- Scholarship program
- Section listserv
- Annual Day of Education
- Shining Star Awards
Prisons & Corrections Section
Established in 1997 | 120+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Prisons & Corrections Forum newsletter
- Links of interest
- Substantive law trainings
Dues: $30, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
Social Networking: Facebook
View Website
Probate & Estate Planning Section
Established in 1948 | 3,240+ members
- Probate & Estate Planning Journal
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Section listserv
- Probate issue of Michigan Bar Journal, May 2014
- Michael Irish Award
- Cooney Award
- Annual Probate & Estate Planning Institute & significant number of seminars co-sponsored with ICLE
- Probate & Estate Planning Certificate with ICLE
- EPIC Q&A with Phillip E. Harter
Dues: $35, free to new admittees for the remainder of the year
View Website
Real Property Law Section
Established in 1973 | 3,270+ members
- Michigan Real Property Review newsletter
- Section listserv
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Section e-newsletter
- Annual Winter Conference
- Annual Summer Conference
- Real property issue of Michigan Bar Journal, Nov. 2007
- Hot Topics seminars
- Homeward Bound Series
- "Groundbreaker" Breakfast Roundtables
- Special Committees
- Amicus briefs
- Michigan Land Title Standards
- Links of interest
Religious Liberty Law Section
Established in 2018 | 90+ members
Senior Lawyers Section
Established in 2019
Social Security Lawyers Section
Established in 1997 | 390+ members
- Section listserv
- Social Security newsletter
- Quarterly seminar series
- Links of interest
Solo & Small Firm Section
Established in 1973 | 970+ members
- Active in public policy advocacy
- The General Practitioner newsletter
- Luncheon lecture series
- Section listserv
- Outstanding Achievement Award
Taxation Section
Established in 1957 | 1,160+ members
- Michigan Tax Lawyer newsletter
- Section listserv
- Annual Tax Conference
- After Hours Tax Law Series
- Tax issue of Michigan Bar Journal, July 2012
- Active in public policy advocacy
- Amicus briefs
- Tax Grant Program
- Tax Pro Bono Referral Panel Program
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Workers' Compensation Law Section
Established in 1948 | 520+ members
- Workers' Compensation Section newsletter
- Annual Winter Seminar
- Active in public policy advocacy