Leaders Recommend New Management-Staff Committee

If there was a singlemost message to come from the January 19 All-Staff Plenary Conference it is that communications between the organization's management and its employees must improve. That issue will be addressed soon as one of the priorities of a new committee comprised of managers and employees to work ways to improve internal communications as well as other concerns employees identified at their conference.

Managing Attorney Richard Helfrick of the Federal Defender Office and Chief Counsel Miriam Siefer of the Federal Defender Office join the discussion on improving employee-management communications.

Managers discussed internal communications in great detail at their recent Management Institute becaause it was identified by staff as being so important. A committee of managers and employees to address this and other issues was also a recommendation from the All-Staff Plenary Conference that was heartily endorsed by the managers.

Management Institute Convenes March 27

Working on a vision statement for Legal Aid and Defender, and reviewing the top 10 skills and knowledge requirements for the future workplace are just two items on the agenda for the upcoming Management Institute Spring Session. .

All members of the Management Group will attend the session Tuesday, March 27noon- 4 p.m. in the 25th floor conference center.

The session will be a follow-up to the February Leadership Conference attended by the management group, and the February 19 plenary conference attended by all staff -- both facilitated by Dr. Brenda Pridgen.

"We will use the information obtained and learned from those two meetings to begin to plot a strategy and vision for moving us forward," says Executive Director Deierdre L. Weir.

At the March 27 session the Management Group will use the issues and concerns raised at both prior sessions to develop recommendations, Weir said. She also urged any employee or manager to bring her any issue to consider at the March 27 session.

Lunch will be served at the March 27 session.

Legal Information in Arabic Moves Forward

For the past several months, a group of Legal Aid and Defender employees have been working on a project that will create a streaming video presented in Arabic on Michigan's statewide legal website assisting residents of Middle Eastern descent in working with local courts.

Two members of that group are attorney Mayada Saroki (left) and Gina Polley, director of government and community affairs, shown here reviewing a draft script for the video.

The project is made possible through a technical initiative grant from Legal Services Corporation.

Employees Briefed on Internal Fundraising

Some 75 Legal Aid and Defender employees attended two sessions March 20 to learn more about their participation in the Legal Legacy Campaign.

The campaign has a goal of $1.5 million in donations and pledges from the entire community over a three-year period to cap off the relocation costs of moving to the organization's new headquarters building at 613 Abbott in downtown Detroit later this year.

Deierdre L. Weir, executive director, and consultant James Yunker were on hand to present details of the campaign and to answer questions.

"The important point we want to stress is that we are asking for 100 percent participation," said Yunker. "When we approach corporations, foundations and law firms they will ask what kind of support are we getting from within the organization and we want to be able to say 100 percent participation from our employees and our board of directors." Asking employees to donate to a campaign of this nature is typical, said Yunker.

Weir stressed that an employee's decision to make a contribution is entirely voluntary and that no employee is required to participate. She said that making a contribution is more important than the actual amount an employee can contribute, so that the organization can demonstrate strong internal support for the project. Employees can pledge to make their contribution over a three-year period, she said.

An internal "fun-raising" committee of employees has already been at work raising money for the Legal Legacy Campaign through social events. So far they have held two successful bowling parties and upcoming events include a theatre party, April 15, Mothers Day brunch, May 6, wine tasting, Oct. 6, and a black tie affair. The committee has set a goal of $100,000 for the campaign.

Employees can contact Evetta Adams regarding any questions about the Legal Legacy Campaign.

Hall-Edwards Speaks at Beaumont Hospital

Michele Hall-Edwards, deputy chief counsel of the Civil Law Group spoke recently to the Diversity Council of Beaumont Hospitals on African-Americans and health care. She discussed the changing demographics of the Metro Detroit area served by both Beaumont and Legal Aid and Defender as it becomes more racially and ethnically diverse.

"Having health care professionals who reflect the diversity of the community we serve helps build trust," she noted. In this photo Hall-Edwards is introduced by Beaumont Director of Diversity Lauren Hill.

Personnel Changes in Civil Law Group

Michelle Johnson (left) and Alicia Skillman

Several changes in the Civil Law Group were announced recently by Michele Hall-Edwards, deputy chief of the group. Effective April 1, Michelle Johnson has been promoted to coordinator of litigation and Alicia Skillman has been promoted to director of the Fair Housing Unit, both reporting to Hall-Edwards.

Several re-assignments will also take place at the same time. Anson Rhodes will be reassigned as a staff attorney in the Detroit-Wayne office. Nathan White will be reassigned as a staff attorney in the Free Legal Aid Clinic. Shalini Nagia and Mark Trombly will be reassigned as staff attorneys in the intake unit. Angenique Smiley will be reassigned as a staff attorney in the Oakland Office.

Johnson joined Legal Aid and Defender as a Civil Law Group staff attorney in 2002, later becoming director of the newly-created Fair Housing Unit. Her experience includes positions as case law editor for Lexis/Nexis and assistant corporation counsel for the city of Detroit. She is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School and earned her B.S. at Eastern Michigan University.

Skillman joined the Civil Law Group as a staff attorney in 2004, after working at several law Detroit area law firms. She earned her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School and her B.S. in business administration from Florida A&M University.

All Staff Invited to Internal Fundraising Information Session Tuesday, March 20

All employees of Legal Aid and Defender will be briefed on the internal fundraising campaign Tuesday, March 20 in the 25th floor conference center. Employees have a choice of attending either a 10 am. or 2:30 p.m. session -- both lasting one hour.

Executive Director Deierdre L. Weir and fundraising consultant James D. Yunker of Smith, Yunker Beers will present information and materials on the campaign and field questions from employees.

"I hope that everyone will attend a session, " said Weir. "We want to make sure everyone understands the campaign, and we want to clear up any questions that people still have about it."

Golf Alert: June 19

We are all looking forward to a great day of golf at The Links of Novi on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 benefiting LAD and its low-income clients, residents of metropolitan Detroit who turn to our experienced lawyers and staff for expert legal advice. Last year, we provided free legal services to more than 20,000 clients in civil and criminal cases.

LAD is one of the oldest (founded in 1909) and largest legal services organizations in the country and The oldest and largest in Michigan. In addition to proceeds from our golf outing and other charitable gifts from individuals, law firms, foundations and corporations, LAD depends upon funding from the Legal Services Corporation, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Michigan State Bar Foundation, City of Detroit, County of Wayne, and the Administrative Offices of the U.S. Courts.

This year is special for LAD, our clients and staff! In the fall, we will cease being a tenant in the Penobscot Building and take ownership of our own building at 613 Abbott in downtown Detroit. This cost-effective decision to better serve our clients, and own rather than rent, culminates years of planning by our board of directors and executive leadership.

Your participation in this year’s golf outing will directly benefit this exciting new chapter in our 98-year history of serving Detroit’s low-income citizens. Proceeds from the golf outing will help purchase of furniture, fixtures and technology for the new building.

We look forward to your support and seeing you on the green, Links of Novi on Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Contact Tanya Cleveland at tcleve@ladadetroit.org for details.

Skills for Future: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

The two most important skills to develop for success are the ability to think critically and solve problems, according to a recent management survey. Legal Aid and Defender's management group was asked recently to rank these and nine other skills in order of importance. The respondent with the best score was Michelle Johnson, managing attorney of the organization's Fair Housing Center.

According to the study the other critical skills in order of importance include the application of information technology, teamwork and collaboration, creativity and innovation, diversity, leadership, oral communications, professionalism and work ethic, ethics and social responsibility, and written communication.

The Management Group's top three are: leadership, teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving.