New Bar and Court Rules Stress Need for Interim Administration, as well as Attorneys' Succession Plans

On June 15, 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a new State Bar Rule 21, titled “Mandatory Interim Administrator Planning,” which adds new requirements for private practitioners to name an interim administrator to manage their practices in the event that they become temporarily or permanently unavailable to practice law.1 Naming an administrator, which can also be accomplished by participating in the State Bar of Michigan’s Interim Administrator Program,2 is intended to protect clients from the often negative consequences of their lawyers becoming unavailable to practice. This may include abrupt termination of legal support and guidance; missed statutes of limitations, court hearings or other deadlines; lost rights of appeal; or lack of adequate preparation for trial. 

The new Rule 21, along with a new Subchapter 9.300 of the Michigan Court Rules, and amendments to MCR 9.119, will become effective September 1, 2023, corresponding to the next annual State Bar of Michigan registration cycle. The new rules provide substantially greater requirements and guidance for attorneys’ law practice succession plans. 

This article provides the guidance and resources attorneys will need to prepare for the new rules. See the full published article on Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

This article was also featured in the Summer 2023 edition of the State Bar of Michigan's Negligence Law Section's e-newsletter.