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Success at the 2010 Bar Passage Program!

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 continued their outstanding tradition of conducting an outstanding and successful Bar Passage Program at the prestigious Wayne State University Law School. The Bar Passage Program was conducted for six (6) weeks prior to the February 2010 State of Michigan Bar Examination. This is the ninth (9th) 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, rain and a myriad of professional responsibilities, Straker’s volunteer lawyers: Elmeka Allen (Grader), Toya Y. Jefferson (Tutor and Grader), Kiana Franulic (Tutor and Grader), Erica Partee (Grader), Vassal Johnson II(Tutor), Ashley Coneff (Tutor and Grader), Hon. Ruth Carter (Grader), Terry L. Johnson (Tutor), Ahmad Roby (Grader & Co-Chair) and Stanley L. de Jongh (Tutor, Grader, Coordinator & Co-Chair) met every week to thoroughly review Bar Exam questions, model answers and essays by the law school graduates. In fact, the law school graduates even took a mock Bar Examination on a Saturday, a few weeks before the actual State of Michigan Bar Examination.

The Bar Passage Program included dynamic lectures by Dean Michelle Miller, Judge Linda Parker and Attorney Joshua Lerner in areas such as essay writing techniques, stress management and tips to passing to the Bar Examination.

The Bar Passage Program would like to pay a special Tribute to Attorney Kelvin Scott (deceased) who served as a lecturer for eight (8) years with the program and whose insight, legal acumen and practical tips will be forever cherished by all of us.

Through weekly examinations, a mock Bar Examination, group and individual tutoring 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 the legal practice in the State of Michigan.

Thank you to all of the participants. This program will be offered again in January 2011.

Stanley L. de Jongh, Esq.