The State Bar of Michigan announced on Apr. 21 that its annual Great Lakes Legal Conference will take place at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island from June 12 to June 13, 2026. The event is designed to provide professional development and leadership opportunities for legal professionals across the state.
The conference is considered important as it offers continuing education and networking in a setting that encourages dialogue among attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals. Elizabeth Weisenbach of the Huron County Bar Association said the event features “well chosen, timely and interesting topics by experts artful in presentation.” Veronica Stachurski of Ward & Stachurski, PLLC highlighted the value of authentic conversations between attorneys and judges not commonly found at other events. “The atmosphere is great, but what’s unique about this conference is that there are real, authentic conversations between attorneys and judges that you don’t normally see at other events,” she said.
Maya Younis of Younis Law, PLLC described her experience attending a previous leadership conference as meaningful: “Attending the State Bar of Michigan Leadership Conference at the Grand Hotel was such a meaningful experience. The updates were timely and helpful, but what stood out most was the chance to connect with passionate, thoughtful leaders from across Michigan,” she said. “I left feeling recharged, supported, and genuinely inspired.”
This year’s keynote speaker will be Michael J. Steinberg—a civil rights lawyer known for his appearances on NPR’s “The Moth Radio Hour”—who will discuss storytelling’s role in law along with perspectives on democracy and civil rights.
Conference attendees can choose from four learning tracks: Leadership; Legal Updates; Litigation; and Practice Management & Technology—allowing participants to personalize their experience.
The State Bar of Michigan promotes diversity, inclusion, public legal education to enhance social wellbeing according to its official website. It uses its Lansing headquarters for administrative operations and member services according to its official website. The association functions as a public body under authority granted by the Michigan Supreme Court according to its official website, enhances justice administration while supporting both legal practices and public relations according to its official website, operates under governance by a Board of Commissioners along with a Representative Assembly according to its official website, administers recognition programs such as Legal Milestones commemorating key legal events statewide according to its official website, serves as Michigan’s unified bar since 1935 offering resources including education partnerships with judicial bodies aimed at fostering diversity within law practice according to its official website.
Registration for this year’s conference is open until May 12 for discounted admission.
