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Joan Vestrand

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Joan Vestrand

Professor

B.A. Albion College 1981
J.D. University of Detroit School of Law 1984

[email protected]

"Integrity is the absolute barometer for both personal and professional success.  In life and the practice of law, a moral compass is everything and without it, we are lost." 

I have expertise in legal and judicial ethics, attorney disciplinary law and procedures; character & fitness (bar admission) standards and procedures; the moral development of children and adults; the behavioral science of ethical decision making; building, protecting, and sustaining personal success; skills and practices for superior leadership; the use and effect of restorative justice initiatives in the community, courts and schools; Native American peacemaking and its effectiveness as a form of dispute resolution.

I joined the WMU-Cooley faculty in 2002 to teach Professional Responsibility and to serve as a member of the law school's new Professional Responsibility Department.

Previously, I was a partner and shareholder in the firm of Moore Vestrand & Pozehl, P.C., in Southfield, Michigan. My practice focused on the representation of lawyers in disciplinary proceedings and court matters involving attorney ethics.

I also represented law students in Character and Fitness proceedings. Prior to private practice, I served as associate counsel/senior prosecutor for the Attorney Grievance Commission in Detroit, Michigan. Before joining the commission, I served as a staff attorney on the Judicial Tenure Commission. I have also lectured extensively throughout Michigan and published articles on professional ethics.
I am a member of the Oakland Bar Association, where I served as chair of the Professionalism Committee 2001-2002; the State Bar of Michigan, where I served on the Grievance Committee. I am a council member and officer of the State Bar Law Practice Management Section. I am also a member of the American Bar Association, Center for Professional Responsibility; and a Fellow of the Michigan Bar Association.

Articles

  • Nelson P. Miller & Joan Vestrand, Of Shining Knights and Cunning Pettifoggers: The Symbolic World of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, 110 Penn St. L. Rev. 853 (2006).
  • Joan Vestrand, The Ethical Boundaries of Civility, 74 Mich. B.J. 170 (Feb. 1995) (Also published by the Bureau of National Affairs, 1995).

Books and Chapters in Books

  • Vestrand, Joan. “Teaching Professional Responsibility.” In Reflections of a Lawyer’s Soul: The Institutional Experience of Professionalism at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, edited by Amy Timmer & Nelson Miller, 245-256. Buffalo, N.Y.: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 2008.

Book Reviews and Other Short Works

  • Joan Vestrand, Pontiac Youth: A Mission with Meaning, 500 Laches (publication of the Oakland Co. B. Assoc.) 13 (Sept. 2007).
  • Joan Vestrand, Ethics Corner: Handling Client Misconduct, 27 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 14 (No. 2, 2006) (available at http://www.michbar.org/lawpractice/pdfs/summer06.pdf).
  • Joan Vestrand, Ethics Corner, 27 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 11 (No. 1, 2006) (available at http://www.michbar.org/lawpractice/pdfs/spring06.pdf).
  • Joan Vestrand, The Ethical Lawyer: Combating Incivility, 26 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 2 (No. 2, 2005) (available at http://www.michbar.org/lawpractice/pdfs/spring05.pdf).
  • Joan Vestrand, The Ethical Lawyer: The Importance of Effective Communication, 26 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 2 (No. 1, 2005) (available at http://www.michbar.org/lawpractice/pdfs/winter05.pdf).
  • Joan Vestrand, The Ethical Lawyer: Top 20 Tips for the Successful Practice of Law, 25 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 6 (No. 4, 2004) (available at http://www.michbar.org/lawpractice/pdfs/fall04.pdf).
  • Joan Vestrand & Asher N. Tilchin, A Lawyer's Guide to Avoiding Grievances and Legal Malpractice, 449 Laches (publication of the Oakland Co. B. Assoc.) 17 (June 2003).
  • Joan Vestrand, Avoiding Grievances and Malpractice, Spring 2003 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 7 (available at http://www.michbar.org/lawpractice/pdfs/spring03.pdf).
  • Joan Vestrand, ABA Tech Show 2002, Summer 2002 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 7 (available at http://www.michbar.org/lawpractice/pdfs/summer02.pdf).
  • Joan Vestrand, Revealing Confidences and Secrets of a Client, 422 Laches (publication of the Oakland Co. B. Assoc.) 24 (March 2001).
  • Joan Vestrand, Solos Must Be Prepared for Sudden Disability, 406 Laches (publication of the Oakland Co. B. Assoc.) 30 (Nov. 1999) (Also published at Winter 2001 L. Prac. Mgt. (newsltr. of the St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.) 3 and by Natl. Bus. Inst. 2001).
  • Joan Vestrand, The OCBA's New Civility Mentor/Facilitator Program, 402 Laches (publication of the Oakland Co. B. Assoc.) 27 (July 1999).
  • Joan Vestrand, Responding to a Grievance, 394 Laches (publication of the Oakland Co. B. Assoc.) 30 (Nov. 1998) (Also published at 2 LawyerCare (newsltr. of ProNational Ins. Co.) (June 2002) (available at http://www.proassurance.com/rm/htm/resptogrievance-jun2002.htm)).
  • Joan Vestrand, Solo? Then Say So, 387 Laches (publication of the Oakland Co. B. Assoc.) 33 (Apr. 1998).

Other Writings

  • Joan Vestrand, Whose Money Is It, Anyway? (Inst. of CLE & St. B. of Mich., Oct. 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Oakland County Bar Association State of the Law Day - The Proposed Changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct (Oakland Co. B. Assoc., Oct. 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Success in Practice (Inst. of CLE & St. B. of Mich., June 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, How-To Kit: Identify and Avoid Conflicts of Interest with Current Clients, http://www.icle.org; login to ICLE Partnership, select My ICLE, select How-To Kits (May 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, How-To Kit: Identify and Avoid Conflicts of Interest with Former Clients, http://www.icle.org; login to ICLE Partnership, select My ICLE, select How-To Kits (May 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Practical Legal Ethics: Staying Out of Trouble – A General Audit for Every Firm (Inst. of CLE, Nov. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Oakland County Bar Association State of the Law Day – Success in Practice: Avoiding Grievances and Malpractice (Oakland Co. B. Assoc., Oct. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Oakland County Bar Association State of the Law Day – Understanding the Rules Governing Conflicts and the Related Proposed Changes to These Rules (Oakland Co. B. Assoc., Oct. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Oakland County Bar Association State of the Law Day – Compilation of Ethics Articles (Oakland Co. B. Assoc., Sept. 2003).
  • Joan Vestrand, Practical Legal Ethics in Michigan: Issues and Answers (Natl. Bus. Inst. 2001).
  • Brief of Amicus Curiae State Bar of Michigan, State Bar Grievance Committee, on Behalf of the State Bar of Michigan, Grievance Administrator v. Bowman, 462 Mich. 582; 612 N.W.2d 820 (2000).

Presentations

  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Proposed Changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct (Oakland Co. B. Assoc.’s State of the Law Day, Oct. 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Setting and Collecting Attorney Fees (Inst. of CLE & St. B. of Mich. Solo/Small Firm Institute, Oct. 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Moderator, The Law Practice Management Track (Inst. of CLE & St. B. of Mich. Solo/Small Firm Institute, Oct. 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, A Glance at the Proposed Changes to the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct (Oakland Co. B. Assoc. Inn of the Court, Sept. 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics as Part of the Nuts & Bolts of Law Practice Management (St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec., Sept. 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Success in Practice (St. B. of Mich. & Inst. of CLE Upper Mich. Leg. Inst., June 2005).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (Inst. of CLE’s Litigation Boot Camp II – Grand Rapids, MI, Dec. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (Inst. of CLE’s Litigation Boot Camp II – Det., MI, Dec. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Law School and Character & Fitness for Attorneys (Ferris St. U. Honors College, Dec. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, The Relationship Between Ethics and Success in Practice (Mecosta-Osceola B. Assoc., Dec. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Practical Legal Ethics: Staying Out of Trouble – A General Audit for Every Firm (Inst. of CLE, Nov. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Success in Practice (Oakland Co. B. Assoc.’s St. of the L. Day, Oct. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Understanding Conflicts of Interest (Oakland Co. B. Assoc.’s St. of the L. Day, Oct. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Civility and Professionalism (Washtenaw Co. Bench and B. Conf., May 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Panelist, Women in the Law – Breaking the Glass Ceiling (Thomas M. Cooley L. Sch. Phi Delta Phi Fraternity, Mar 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics and Character and Fitness (ABA L. Student Div. 6th Cir. Conf., Feb. 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (Oakland Co. B. Assoc. Solo/Small Firm Comm., 1998-2000, 2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (St. B. of Mich. L. Prac. Mgt. Sec.’s Nuts & Bolts of Successful Law Practice Management, 1997-2004).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (Oakland Co. B. Assoc.’s St. of the L. Day, Sept. 2003).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (Oakland Co. B. Assoc. Professionalism Comm. 2000-2002).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (St. B. of Mich. Annual Conf., Sept. 2001).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Character and Fitness (U. of Det. Mercy Sch. of L., 2001).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Character and Fitness (Wayne St. U. L. Sch., 2001).
  • Joan Vestrand, Faculty Member Presentation, Ethics (Natl. Bus. Inst.’s Seminar on the L., 2001).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Character and Fitness (Thomas M. Cooley L. Sch., 2001).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Ethics (St. B. of Mich.’s Opening Doors Conference, 2000).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Character and Fitness (Mich. St. U. College of L., 1998-2000).
  • Joan Vestrand, Presentation, Paralegal Ethics (Oakland Community College Paralegal Conf., 1997- 2000).

Radio and Television Appearances

  • Due Process (WDIV Channel Four Television, Apr. 2002).
  • Practical Law (The American Divorce Information Network, Inc., Mar. 2001) (Bloomfield, Mich., cable television program).
  • The Charlie Langton Show (WXYT Radio AM 1270, Feb. 2001).
  • The Oprah Winfrey Show, “Blending Career and Family” (Harpo Productions, Inc., 1986).