Section Awards

Outstanding Achievement Award

Outstanding Achievement Award Nominations Due by July 15, 2023

The Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar of Michigan is proud to announce that nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Award are open. All nominations are due by 6 p.m., July 15, 2023, via email to sbmsolosmallfirms@gmail.com.

The Outstanding Achievement Award is given annually to attorney(s) who are current members of the Solo & Small Firm Section, and who have exhibited the highest standards of practice and commitment for the benefit of our section and/or others. The recipient's contribution may have been made during the past year or by virtue of cumulative effort or service during their career.

Criteria/Requirements

  1. Current Section Member
  2. Good Standing with the State Bar of Michigan
  3. Solo Attorney or Attorney in a Small Firm (less than 5 attorneys)
  4. Nominated by a fellow attorney and/or judge
  5. Current Resume/CV
  6. Up to 3 awardees will receive a plaque and $500 to assist with their practice
  7. Nominees will be announced August 17, 2023, and awarded in person at the Annual Meeting on September 14, 2023. Registration coming soon.

Award Winners

2018: George W. Gregory
2017: Elizabeth A. Silverman
2016: Gary P. Bauer
2015: Thomas C. Rombach
2014: William A. Roy & Edward Sosnick

Annual Lifetime Award

Annual Lifetime Award Nominations Due by July 15, 2023

The Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar of Michigan is proud to announce that nominations for the Annual Lifetime Award are open. All nominations are due by 6 p.m., July 15, 2023, via email to sbmsolosmallfirms@gmail.com.

The Annual Lifetime Award is given to retired attorney(s) who are current members of the Solo & Small Firm Section, and who have demonstrated a track record of dedicating their practice to advocating on behalf of the legal community for at least 15 years.

Criteria/Requirement

  1. Current Section Member
  2. Retired Solo Attorney or Retired Attorney from a Small Firm (less than 5 years)
  3. Nominated by a fellow attorney and/or judge
  4. Current Resume/CV
  5. Up to 2 awardees will receive a plaque and $250
  6. Nominees will be announced August 17, 2023, and awarded in person at the Annual Meeting on September 14, 2023. Registration coming soon.

 

Pauli Murray New Solo Award

Pauli Murray New Solo Award Nominations Due by July 15, 2023

The Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar of Michigan is proud to announce that nominations for the Pauli Murray New Solo Award are open. All nominations are due by 6 p.m., July 15, 2023, via email to sbmsolosmallfirms@gmail.com.

The Pauli Murray New Solo Award is named after attorney Pauli Murray who was forced to go into private practice because law firms would not hire her even though she was number one in her law school graduating class. She was a proponent for seeking mental health when necessary. She is more widely unknown for formulating the idea that separate but equal violated the Equal Protections Clause of the Constitution but only the men on the case were given credit and notoriety. She also formulated arguments used to gain rights of women. You can learn more about her here.

Criteria/Requirements/Stipend

  1. Current Section Member
  2. True Solo Attorney in practice less than 3 years (no other attorneys in the firm)
  3. Nominated by a fellow attorney and/or judge
  4. Current Resume/CV
  5. Up to 5 awardees will receive $1,000 each to assist with their practice
  6. Nominees will be announced August 17, 2023, and awarded in person at the Annual Meeting on September 14, 2023. Registration coming soon.

 

Section Chair Continuing Education Scholarship(s)

Submissions for the Section Chair Continuing Education Scholarship(s) are Due by July 15, 2023

The Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar of Michigan is proud to announce that submissions for the Section Chair Continuing Education Scholarship(s) are being accepted. All submissions are due by 6 p.m., July 15, 2023, via email to sbmsolosmallfirms@gmail.com.

The Section Chair Continuing Education Scholarships were created to assist solo practitioners and small firms in securing additional training, attending conferences, legal research subscription and/or office equipment, etc.

Criteria/Requirements/Stipend

  1. Current Section Member
  2. Solo Attorney or Attorney in a Small Firm (less than 5 attorneys)
  3. Written description of need and/or training (Trial Lawyers College, ICLE, ABA/NBA Conferences, etc.) (no more than 250 words)
  4. Up to 6 recipients will receive $1,000 each to assist with their practice
  5. Nominees will be announced August 17, 2023, and awarded in person at the Annual Meeting on September 14, 2023. Registration coming soon.