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Solo & Small Firm Section Demographic Report, 2024


Tables of contents


Solo & Small Firm, Active Members by Michigan Residency, 2024

Residency Count Percent
Michigan Resident 832 94.2%
Non-MI Resident 51 5.8%
Total 883 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Members by US Residency, 2024

Residency Count Percent
US Resident 882 99.9%
Non-US Resident 1 0.1%
Total 883 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Gender, 2024

Gender excludes No Answer and Prefer Not to Answer. The 'other' category was added in 2022 and was not reported for previous years.

Gender Count Percent
Male 526 65.6%
Female 276 34.4%
Other 0 0.0%
Total 802 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Generation, 2024

Generation Count Percent
Traditionalists (pre-1944) 20 2.4%
Boomers (1944—1960) 231 27.8%
Gen X (1961—1980) 330 39.7%
Millennials (1981—1996) 232 27.9%
Gen Z (1997 and later) 19 2.3%
Total 832 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Race or Ethnicity, 2024

Race or ethnicity excludes No Answer and Prefer Not to Answer.

Race or Ethnicity Count Percent
American Indian 2 0.3%
Asian-Pacific Islander 10 1.7%
African Origin 61 10.2%
European 398 66.8%
Hispanic/Latino 16 2.7%
Multi-Racial 18 3.0%
Arab Origin 25 4.2%
Other Ethnic Origin 66 11.1%
Total 596 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Law School, 2024

Law School Count Percent
Ave Maria School of Law 2 0.2%
Michigan State University/DCL College of Law 125 15.0%
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law 150 18.0%
University of Michigan Law School 50 6.0%
Wayne State University Law School 125 15.0%
Western Michigan University Thomas Cooley Law School 193 23.2%
Other Law School 187 22.5%
Total 832 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Occupational Area, 2024

Practice Category Count Percent
Academia 4 0.5%
Corporate Counsel 18 2.2%
Government 17 2.0%
Government Relations 1 0.1%
Judiciary 7 0.8%
Law School 1 0.1%
Legal Services 63 7.6%
Military 1 0.1%
Non-Law Related 13 1.6%
Nonprofit Organization 7 0.8%
Not Employed: Not Seeking Employment 2 0.2%
Not Employed: Seeking Employment 5 0.6%
Other 15 1.8%
Private Practice 633 76.1%
Retired 4 0.5%
Not Reported 41 4.9%
Total 832 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents in Private Practice Firm Size, 2024

Firm Size N Percent
Very Large 100+ 8 1.3%
Large 21—99 15 2.4%
Medium 11—20 9 1.4%
Small 2—10 204 32.2%
Solo Full-Time 294 46.4%
Solo Part-Time 97 15.3%
Not Reported 6 0.9%
Total 633 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by County, 2024

County Count Percent
Alcona 2 0.2%
Alger 1 0.1%
Allegan 5 0.6%
Alpena 4 0.5%
Antrim 1 0.1%
Arenac 1 0.1%
Baraga 0 0.0%
Barry 1 0.1%
Bay 3 0.4%
Benzie 0 0.0%
Berrien 5 0.6%
Branch 1 0.1%
Calhoun 2 0.2%
Cass 3 0.4%
Charlevoix 0 0.0%
Cheboygan 0 0.0%
Chippewa 0 0.0%
Clare 2 0.2%
Clinton 2 0.2%
Crawford 2 0.2%
Delta 0 0.0%
Dickinson 2 0.2%
Eaton 9 1.1%
Emmet 3 0.4%
Genesee 13 1.6%
Gladwin 1 0.1%
Gogebic 0 0.0%
Grand Traverse 17 2.0%
Gratiot 2 0.2%
Hillsdale 1 0.1%
Houghton 1 0.1%
Huron 2 0.2%
Ingham 47 5.7%
Ionia 0 0.0%
Iosco 2 0.2%
Iron 1 0.1%
Isabella 3 0.4%
Jackson 5 0.6%
Kalamazoo 23 2.8%
Kalkaska 0 0.0%
Kent 60 7.2%
Keweenaw 0 0.0%
Lake 0 0.0%
Lapeer 4 0.5%
Leelanau 0 0.0%
Lenawee 2 0.2%
Livingston 19 2.3%
Luce 0 0.0%
Mackinac 0 0.0%
Macomb 56 6.7%
Manistee 1 0.1%
Marquette 5 0.6%
Mason 3 0.4%
Mecosta 3 0.4%
Menominee 2 0.2%
Midland 2 0.2%
Missaukee 0 0.0%
Monroe 3 0.4%
Montcalm 2 0.2%
Montmorency 0 0.0%
Muskegon 6 0.7%
Newaygo 1 0.1%
Oakland 242 29.1%
Oceana 0 0.0%
Ogemaw 1 0.1%
Ontonagon 0 0.0%
Osceola 0 0.0%
Oscoda 0 0.0%
Otsego 4 0.5%
Ottawa 15 1.8%
Presque Isle 0 0.0%
Roscommon 2 0.2%
Saginaw 4 0.5%
Saint Clair 8 1.0%
Saint Joseph 1 0.1%
Sanilac 3 0.4%
Schoolcraft 1 0.1%
Shiawassee 0 0.0%
Tuscola 1 0.1%
Van Buren 2 0.2%
Washtenaw 52 6.2%
Wayne 143 17.2%
Wexford 3 0.4%
Total 832 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Members Residing in Other States or Jurisdictions, 2024

State or Jurisdiction N Percent
Arizona 1 2.0%
California 2 3.9%
Colorado 2 3.9%
District of Columbia 2 3.9%
Florida 3 5.9%
Illinois 4 7.8%
Indiana 9 17.6%
Massachusetts 1 2.0%
Minnesota 4 7.8%
Mississippi 1 2.0%
Missouri 1 2.0%
New York 2 3.9%
Ohio 10 19.6%
Ontario Canada 1 2.0%
Tennessee 2 3.9%
Texas 4 7.8%
Wisconsin 2 3.9%
Total 51 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, All Active Members by Section Membership, 2024

Section Number Percent
Administrative & Regulatory Law 63 7.1%
Agricultural Law 33 3.7%
Alternative Dispute Resolution 65 7.4%
American Indian Law 18 2.0%
Animal Law 18 2.0%
Antitrust, Franchising & Trade Regulation 15 1.7%
Appellate Practice 52 5.9%
Arts, Comm., Entertainment & Sports 41 4.6%
Aviation Law 14 1.6%
Business Law 211 23.9%
Cannabis Law 79 8.9%
Children’s Law 36 4.1%
Consumer Law 66 7.5%
Criminal Law 200 22.7%
Elder Law & Disability Rights 143 16.2%
Environmental Law 25 2.8%
Family Law 185 21.0%
Government Law 40 4.5%
Health Care Law 26 2.9%
Immigration Law 28 3.2%
Information Technology Law 50 5.7%
Insurance and Indemnity Law 51 5.8%
Intellectual Property Law 41 4.6%
International Law 34 3.9%
Labor & Employment Law 80 9.1%
Law Practice Management & Legal Admin 89 10.1%
LGBTQ+ Law 17 1.9%
Litigation 141 16.0%
Military and Veterans’ Law 29 3.3%
Negligence Law 94 10.6%
Paralegal/Legal Assistant 8 0.9%
Prisons & Corrections 17 1.9%
Probate & Estate Planning 345 39.1%
Real Property Law 251 28.4%
Religious Liberty Law 34 3.9%
Senior Lawyers 41 4.6%
Social Security Lawyers 22 2.5%
Solo & Small Firm 883 100.0%
Taxation 40 4.5%
Workers’ Compensation Law 17 1.9%
Young Lawyers 245 27.7%