State Bar of Michigan

The State Bar of Michigan is the governing body for lawyers in the State of Michigan. Membership is mandatory for attorneys who practice law in Michigan. The organization's mission is to aid in promoting improvements in the administration of justice and advancements in jurisprudence, improving relations between the legal profession and the public, and promoting the interests of the legal profession in Michigan. History & Organization Under the authority of the Michigan Constitution Article 6, the Michigan Supreme Court established the State Bar of Michigan in 1935. The organization is governed by the Michigan Supreme Court Rules concerning the State Bar of Michigan. A Board of Commissioners, number 31-33 members, governs the State Bar. The Bar's elected officers include a president, president-elect, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. A 10-member Executive Committee composed of the officers, a Representative Assembly chair and vice-chair, and three other commissioners chosen by the president manage the affairs of the Bar between board meetings. Standing committees of the Board provide oversight to the operations of the Bar in strategic planning, finance, public policy, member services, and other matters. A 150-member Representative Assembly is the final policy making body of the State Bar. In 2019, the Bar had more than 45,000 members. State Bar Programs & Services The State Bar provides a wide variety of programs and services benefiting both the public interest and the attorneys in Michigan. Among them: Conducting the Bar's Character and Fitness investigations to ensure attorneys admitted to the bar meet appropriate professional standards. Investigating and prosecuting parties involved in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL), which helps ensure legal services to the public are provided only by those attorneys who are in good standing. Providing ethics counseling and advising lawyers and judges about the propriety of their conduct with respect to the Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Judicial Conduct. Providing the Practice Management Resource Center, a broad-based information clearinghouse and referral source for Michigan lawyers for all services and goods necessary to successfully manage a legal practice.