The ICLE Community is a discussion forum where ICLE Partners can ask each other questions, provide answers, and share resources. It’s a unique and valuable way to connect with thousands of other Michigan lawyers. If you haven’t joined the conversation yet, here’s a quick look at a few of its biggest benefits.
Ask Questions and Get Answers
Unlike the excellent SBM section listservs that focus on a particular practice area, the ICLE Community brings together lawyers from all backgrounds to provide a broad range of expertise and potential referrals. It’s a great place for new lawyers to go for basic advice, or for experienced lawyers to go when facing a novel issue. The atmosphere is professional and collegial (see the Code of Conduct), and numerous peers are willing to point you in the right direction or even provide their own helpful analysis. Many times, ICLE staff lawyers will also respond with links to resources in the ICLE Partnership that might help you, or pass your query on to an ICLE contributor who may be able to weigh in.
If you’re feeling uncertain about sharing your question, you can feel free to email me or another ICLE lawyer, and we’ll be happy to post the question anonymously on your behalf.
Get Inside Information from Judges and More
In our Approaching the Bench blog series, dozens of judges from all over the state answer questions about their protocols, preferences, and staff. They also weigh in on which rules lawyers commonly get wrong, and what impresses them most in briefs and oral arguments. ICLE staff lawyers also write blogs (like this one) to update you on legal developments or our own products and services. You can search all of the blogs within the ICLE Community if you’re looking for a particular judge or topic.
Adding Valuable Resources to the Partnership
The Community is also a fertile ground for new ICLE content. ICLE staff lawyers review Community discussions to note practice trends or issues that are coming up with increased frequency. Sometimes a member of the Community will respond to a request by providing a document that we’re able to later add to the Partnership. (Learn more about this in my Spotlight on New Content in the ICLE Partnership blog, which notes an example of some great content originating from a question in the Community.)
Testimonial from an ICLE Partner
If you’re not sold on the advantages of the Community yet, you don’t need to take my word for it. Trent Harris, an ICLE Partner and frequent Community participant, has the following to say:
[The ICLE Community] helps to solicit the collective wisdom of Michigan practitioners from all over the state and country who are always willing to help a colleague untangle novel and tricky situations and suggest paths forward to get around roadblocks. For me in particular, the [Community] allows me to think through and solve problems that other attorneys are having, so I can learn something new just about every day, as well as learn from and network with other attorneys. As a solo practitioner, I don't have the luxury of the open door of a colleague down the hall who is always available to spitball ideas and provide seasoned nuggets of lawyerly wisdom. For me, that is what ICLE provides. I find the more I put into it, the more I get out of it.
Take a few minutes to explore the Community. Whether you are asking a question, providing your insights, or just lurking, you’re sure to benefit from participation.