Foundation Honors Two Exemplary Lawyers
The Michigan State Bar Foundation is pleased to announce our 2021 Award Recipients. The Founders Award recognizes lawyers who exemplify professional excellence and outstanding community contributions. The Access to Justice Award honors persons who significantly advanced access to justice for the low-income individuals in Michigan. The awards will be presented during the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Fellows Reception being held virtually on September 22, 2021.
FOUNDERS AWARD
Janet K. Welch
Janet Welch is the Executive Director of the State Bar of Michigan. Before becoming the executive director in 2007, she was SBM’s general counsel for six years. Ms. Welch oversees the day-to-day operations of the State Bar, implements policies set by the Board of Commissioners and the Representative Assembly, and directs the efforts of State Bar staff. She has provided significant leadership in access to justice efforts including the Judicial Crossroads Task Force, which created an in-depth report on ways of reforming the justice system in the face of the changing economic and demographic conditions. Ms. Welch is a national expert on the future of the legal profession and regularly presents on topics related to innovation and technology. Ms. Welch has participated on the leadership team of the Justice for All Task Force, created in 2019, that led to the development of the Justice for All Commission. The Commission is comprised of 30 individuals with the purpose to expand access to and enhance the quality of the civil legal justice system in Michigan. Ms. Welch is on the Executive Team of the Commission and is co-chairing, with Justice Brian Zahra, the Justice for All Regulatory Reform Working Group. Ms. Welch exemplifies the Founders Award criteria of professional excellence and outstanding community contributions.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE AWARD
Khalilah V. Spencer
Khalilah Spencer is a partner at Honigman and serves as Honigman’s Inclusion, Equity and Social Responsibility Partner. In this role, Ms. Spencer serves as an ex-officio member of the firm’s Board of Directors, chairs the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and leads the firm’s women and minority recruitment and community outreach activities. Ms. Spencer is also responsible for development and implementation of Honigman’s pro bono and social responsibility programs. Ms. Spencer serves on the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Access to Justice Campaign Steering Committee and ATJ Campaign Statewide Fundraising Committee. Ms. Spencer continues to help lead the legal community in ensuring access to justice for under-served populations. Ms. Spencer also serves on the State Bar of Michigan’s Justice Initiative Committee and on the Board of Directors of Michigan Community Resources and Lakeshore Legal Aid. Her leadership, wisdom and passion have been instrumental in increasing resources for civil legal aid.
Foundation President Edward Pappas congratulates the award recipients, “The Michigan State Bar Foundation is very pleased to recognize the contributions of Janet Welch and Khalilah Spencer. I have had the privilege to work closely with Ms. Welch and Ms. Spencer and am inspired by their leadership on access to justice and commitment to the profession.”
Past recipients of the Founders Award have included Dennis Archer, Wallace Riley, Charles Rutherford, Former Judge Julian Cook, Patrick Bruetsch, Kim Cahill, Judge Avern Cohn, John W. Cummiskey, Former Judge Hilda Gage, Former Judge Harold Hood, Jon Muth and George Googasian, Linda Rexer, Thomas Linn, Former Judge Alfred Butzbaugh, Chief Justice Bridget McCormack and Justice Brian Zahra. Past recipients of the Access to Justice Award have included Robert Gillett, Candace Crowley, Hon. Chad Schmucker, Michael Chielens, Holli Wallace, Marilyn Mullane, Angela Tripp and Michigan Legal Help and Ari Scharg and Edelson PC, Lorray Brown and Bradley Gayton, Ford Motor Company and James Keedy.
The Michigan State Bar Foundation provides leadership and grants to improve access for all in the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution. For more information, visit www.msbf.org.