Latest News

2009 Bar Passage Program a Success!

by Stanley L. de Jongh, Esq.

The D. Augustus Straker Bar Association in conjunction with the Wolverine
Bar Association and the Association of Black Judges of Michigan conducted another
outstanding and successful Bar Passage Program at the prestigious Wayne
State University Law School for six (6) weeks prior to the February 2009
State of Michigan Bar Examination. This is the eighth (8th) year that
Straker has volunteered to assist law graduates in honing their writing and
local essay skills in preparing for the rigorous Bar Examination. Despite
sleet, snow and rain, Straker's volunteers (Stanley L. de Jongh,
Chairperson, Adrienne Johnson (Tutor), Victor Mansour (Tutor), Caryl
Williams (Tutor), Leland Garrett (Tutor), Robert Paige (Tutor), Toya
Jefferson (Tutor), Aina Watkins (Tutor), Todd Innis (Grader), David
Tillman (Grader), Hon. Sheila Miller (Grader) and Eric Cockrell (Grader)
met every week to thoroughly review Bar Exam questions, model answers and
the essays by the law school graduates. In fact, the law graduates even took
a mock Bar Examination on a Saturday, a few weeks before the actual Bar
Examination.

The Course encompassed dynamic lectures by Dean Michelle Miller, Atty.
Kelvin Scott and Atty. Joshua Lerner in areas such as essay writing
techniques, stress management and tips to passing the Bar Examination.

Through weekly examinations, a mock Bar Examination, and group one-on-one sessions and lectures by the volunteers, the law graduates were
provided assistance in the areas of: (i) Essay Writing Skills/Strategy;
(ii) Test Taking Skills/Strategy; (iii) Time Management; and (iv) Stress
Management.

D. Augustus Straker Bar Association looks forward to working with its partners, the
Wolverine Bar Association and the Association of Black Judges of Michigan, to continue
to provide critically important programs to the community to enhance the
image and quality of legal practice in the State of Michigan.

Again, thank you to all the participants. This program will be offered again in January 2010.

Stanley L. de Jongh, Esq.