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Solo & Small Firm Section Demographic Report, 2025

Tables of contents

Solo & Small Firm, Active Members by Michigan Residency, 2025

Residency Count Percent
Michigan Resident 794 91.1%
Non-MI Resident 78 8.9%
Total 872 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Members by US Residency, 2025

Residency Count Percent
US Resident 869 99.7%
Non-US Resident 3 0.3%
Total 872 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Gender, 2025

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 503 65.7%
Female 263 34.3%
Other 0 0.0%
Total 766 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Generation, 2025

Generation Count Percent
Traditionalists (pre-1944) 10 1.3%
Boomers (1944—1960) 214 27.0%
Gen X (1961—1980) 309 38.9%
Millennials (1981—1996) 222 28.0%
Gen Z (1997 and later) 39 4.9%
Total 794 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Race or Ethnicity, 2025

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

Race or Ethnicity Count Percent
American Indian 1 0.2%
Asian-Pacific Islander 11 1.9%
African Origin 66 11.5%
European 385 67.0%
Hispanic/Latino 12 2.1%
Multi-Racial 19 3.3%
Arab Origin 27 4.7%
Other Ethnic Origin 54 9.4%
Total 575 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Law School, 2025

Law School Count Percent
Ave Maria School of Law 2 0.3%
Michigan State University/DCL College of Law 127 16.0%
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law 142 17.9%
University of Michigan Law School 52 6.5%
Wayne State University Law School 135 17.0%
Western Michigan University Thomas Cooley Law School 173 21.8%
Other Law School 163 20.5%
Total 794 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by Occupational Area, 2025

Practice Category Count Percent
Academia 3 0.4%
Corporate Counsel 15 1.9%
Government 17 2.1%
Government Relations 1 0.1%
Judiciary 6 0.8%
Law School 1 0.1%
Legal Services 58 7.3%
Military 0 0.0%
Non-Law Related 13 1.6%
Nonprofit Organization 9 1.1%
Not Employed: Not Seeking Employment 2 0.3%
Not Employed: Seeking Employment 5 0.6%
Other 14 1.8%
Private Practice 600 75.6%
Retired 5 0.6%
Not Reported 45 5.7%
Total 794 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents in Private Practice Firm Size, 2025

Firm Size N Percent
Very Large 100+ 7 1.2%
Large 21—99 11 1.8%
Medium 11—20 11 1.8%
Small 2—10 175 29.2%
Solo Full-Time 290 48.3%
Solo Part-Time 101 16.8%
Not Reported 5 0.8%
Total 600 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Michigan Residents by County, 2025

County Count Percent
Alcona 1 0.1%
Alger 0 0.0%
Allegan 2 0.2%
Alpena 2 0.2%
Antrim 1 0.1%
Arenac 1 0.1%
Baraga 0 0.0%
Barry 1 0.1%
Bay 4 0.5%
Benzie 0 0.0%
Berrien 3 0.4%
Branch 2 0.2%
Calhoun 1 0.1%
Cass 4 0.5%
Charlevoix 0 0.0%
Cheboygan 1 0.1%
Chippewa 1 0.1%
Clare 2 0.2%
Clinton 5 0.6%
Crawford 1 0.1%
Delta 0 0.0%
Dickinson 1 0.1%
Eaton 12 1.5%
Emmet 3 0.4%
Genesee 14 1.8%
Gladwin 0 0.0%
Gogebic 0 0.0%
Grand Traverse 18 2.3%
Gratiot 0 0.0%
Hillsdale 1 0.1%
Houghton 1 0.1%
Huron 2 0.2%
Ingham 33 4.2%
Ionia 1 0.1%
Iosco 2 0.2%
Iron 0 0.0%
Isabella 2 0.2%
Jackson 5 0.6%
Kalamazoo 25 3.1%
Kalkaska 0 0.0%
Kent 56 7.0%
Keweenaw 0 0.0%
Lake 0 0.0%
Lapeer 5 0.6%
Leelanau 0 0.0%
Lenawee 3 0.4%
Livingston 15 1.9%
Luce 0 0.0%
Mackinac 0 0.0%
Macomb 52 6.6%
Manistee 2 0.2%
Marquette 4 0.5%
Mason 3 0.4%
Mecosta 3 0.4%
Menominee 1 0.1%
Midland 2 0.2%
Missaukee 0 0.0%
Monroe 4 0.5%
Montcalm 3 0.4%
Montmorency 0 0.0%
Muskegon 4 0.5%
Newaygo 1 0.1%
Oakland 235 29.6%
Oceana 0 0.0%
Ogemaw 0 0.0%
Ontonagon 0 0.0%
Osceola 0 0.0%
Oscoda 0 0.0%
Otsego 1 0.1%
Ottawa 15 1.9%
Presque Isle 2 0.2%
Roscommon 3 0.4%
Saginaw 5 0.6%
Saint Clair 9 1.1%
Saint Joseph 0 0.0%
Sanilac 2 0.2%
Schoolcraft 1 0.1%
Shiawassee 1 0.1%
Tuscola 3 0.4%
Van Buren 4 0.5%
Washtenaw 35 4.4%
Wayne 144 18.1%
Wexford 4 0.5%
Total 794 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, Active Members Residing in Other States or Jurisdictions, 2025

State or Jurisdiction N Percent
Alabama 1 1.3%
Arizona 2 2.6%
California 2 2.6%
Colorado 2 2.6%
District of Columbia 1 1.3%
Florida 8 10.3%
Georgia 3 3.8%
Illinois 10 12.8%
Indiana 9 11.5%
Louisiana 1 1.3%
Maryland 1 1.3%
Massachusetts 1 1.3%
Minnesota 3 3.8%
Mississippi 1 1.3%
Missouri 1 1.3%
New Jersey 1 1.3%
New York 4 5.1%
North Carolina 2 2.6%
Ohio 10 12.8%
Oklahoma 1 1.3%
Ontario Canada 3 3.8%
Pennsylvania 1 1.3%
Tennessee 1 1.3%
Texas 4 5.1%
Washington 2 2.6%
Wisconsin 3 3.8%
Total 78 100.0%

Solo & Small Firm, All Active Members by Section Membership, 2025

Section Number Percent
Administrative & Regulatory Law 59 6.8%
Agricultural Law 26 3.0%
Alternative Dispute Resolution 74 8.5%
American Indian Law 20 2.3%
Animal Law 19 2.2%
Antitrust, Franchising & Trade Regulation 15 1.7%
Appellate Practice 64 7.3%
Arts, Comm., Entertainment & Sports 44 5.0%
Aviation Law 16 1.8%
Business Law 196 22.5%
Cannabis Law 58 6.7%
Children’s Law 45 5.2%
Consumer Law 60 6.9%
Criminal Law 197 22.6%
Elder Law & Disability Rights 135 15.5%
Environmental Law 20 2.3%
Family Law 188 21.6%
Government Law 45 5.2%
Health Care Law 26 3.0%
Immigration Law 27 3.1%
Information Technology Law 49 5.6%
Insurance and Indemnity Law 52 6.0%
Intellectual Property Law 43 4.9%
International Law 38 4.4%
Labor & Employment Law 83 9.5%
Law Practice Management & Legal Admin 90 10.3%
LGBTQ+ Law 19 2.2%
Litigation 141 16.2%
Military and Veterans’ Law 23 2.6%
Negligence Law 88 10.1%
Paralegal/Legal Assistant 9 1.0%
Prisons & Corrections 18 2.1%
Probate & Estate Planning 322 36.9%
Real Property Law 233 26.7%
Religious Liberty Law 32 3.7%
Senior Lawyers 35 4.0%
Social Security Lawyers 21 2.4%
Solo & Small Firm 872 100.0%
Taxation 36 4.1%
Workers’ Compensation Law 17 1.9%
Young Lawyers 252 28.9%
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