Rebecca Simkins, Attorney

Rebecca joined Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, P.L.L.C. as a Litigation Associate in 2004 and became a Member of the firm on January 1, 2008. Her practice is primarily concentrated in labor and employment law, representing management (union and non-union) before state, federal, appellate, and administrative courts and agencies. She advises employers on a day-to-day basis regarding various employment situations and drafts and reviews employment contracts, policy manuals and other employment-related contracts and documents. She has provided in-house training on employment issues including conducting discipline and investigating and preventing sexual harassment. Rebecca also handles contract disputes, administrative complaints against the firm's nursing home clients, bankruptcy claims on behalf of commercial landlords, and other civil matters.

Rebecca has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 1996.  She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Prior to and during law school, Rebecca worked as an employment law paralegal at an AV-rated firm and assisted with many trials.

Rebecca is the Immediate Past Chair of the Law Practice Management Section of the State Bar of Michigan, and was recently reappointed to the State Bar's Character and Fitness Committee, District H.

Rebecca is also a mentor at TechTown and serves on the TechTown Mentor Council.

Publications:

Time Invested Up Front in the Hiring Process Will Save Time Later (Michigan Bar Journal, May 2009).

Michigan Non-Profit Manual, Human Resource Administration, 2009.

Public Speaking:

• State Bar of Michigan, Speaker.
• Speaker and Program Moderator, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, September 17, 2009.
• Speaker & Moderator, ICLE, Solo and Small Firm Institute, Operating in an Economic Downturn.
• Speaker, Detroit Bar Association Paralegal Meeting, March 26, 2009.
• Speaker, NALS Detroit Chapter, "Ethics for Support Staff," March 9, 2009, Detroit, Michigan.
• Speaker, Institute of Paralegal Education, "A Litigation Paralegal's Guide to Case Management," January 28, 2009, Detroit, Michigan.
• Speaker, "Rights of Returning Veterans," State Bar of Michigan Annual Convention, September 18, 2008.
• Keynote Speaker, State Bar of Michigan, Paralegal Section Annual Meeting, May 2, 2008.
• Speaker, Michigan Affordable Housing Conference, Annual Meeting Solo & Small Firm Institute, "Top Ten Mistakes Employers Make," April 28, 2008.
• Speaker, NALS, Lansing Chapter, February 23, 2008, "Top Ten Mistakes Employers Make."
• Guest Teacher, University of Detroit Law School, February 7, 2008.
• Speaker, State Bar of Michigan, Law Practice Management for New Lawyers, "Employment Law," January 12, 2008.
• Speaker, State Bar of Michigan Convention, "Top Ten Mistakes Made In Hiring," September 27, 2007.
• Breakfast with the Bar, State Bar of Michigan, "How to Hire Support Staff/Employment Law," December 5, 2006, Kalamazoo; March 6, 2007, Detroit; March 4, 2008, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
• Speaker, Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Nuts & Bolts of Law Practice Management, "Top Ten Mistakes Employers (Even Lawyers) Make," October 20, 2006.
• Nuts and Bolts of Successful Law Practice Management, "The Top Ten Mistakes Employers (Even Lawyers) Make From A Defense Attorney's Perspective," presented at Annual State Bar Meeting in Lansing, September 22, 2005; Washtenaw County Bar Association, May 12, 2006; Traverse City Bar Association, October 10, 2005.
• "Human Resource Policies that Prevent Lawsuits: Documenting Employee Issues," September 20, 2006; National Business Institute (NBI).
• Guest, Practical Law, aired November 2, 2005, "The Top Ten Mistakes Employers Make," Cable TV Program serving Bloomfield Hills, MI and surrounding areas.
• "Advanced Civil Discovery for Litigation Paralegals," August 24, 2004, Institute for Paralegal Education, Southfield, Michigan.
• "The Trial Notebook," September 12, 2003, Institute for Paralegal Education, Southfield, Michigan.
• "Discovery for Legal Assistants," May 17, 2003, Institute for Paralegal Education, Southfield, Michigan.
• "Ethics for Legal Assistants," March 26, 2002, Half Moon Seminars, Inc., Southfield, Michigan.
• "Low Cost Methods to Boost Employee Morale," May, 17, 2000, Michigan Assisted Living Conference for Professionals, Lansing, Michigan.
• "Legal Assisting in Michigan," March 31, 2000, Half Moon, Inc., Dearborn, Michigan.
• "Building a Successful Law Practice, Panelist," October 30, 1999, State Bar of Michigan, Opening Doors Conference, Novi, Michigan.
• "Interviewing and Hiring Employees," April 19, 1999, American Women's Business Association, Novi Chapter, Novi, Michigan.
• "The Joys and Legal Sorrows of Having Employees," August 11, 1998, Northville Rotary, Northville, Michigan.
• Featured Speaker (Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education-MCLE) 1992-1994, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Litigation Skills for Legal Assistants II
  • Managing Complex Litigation
  • Ethics for Legal Assistants
  • Attorney Utilization of Paralegals
• Boston University - Commencement Speaker, Paralegal Certificate Program, Spring, 1994
• Northeastern University - Keynote Speaker, Paralegal Open House, Fall, 1993

Memberships:

• State Bar of Michigan, (P54787) June 1996-Present
• Chair, Law Practice Management Section, State Bar of Michigan, 2008-2009

Teaching:

• Michigan State University College of Law (formerly Detroit College of Law), Adjunct Faculty, Law Practice Management, January 1995-December 2005, East Lansing, MI
• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Rochester Hills, MI, Adjunct Faculty, Pre-Trial Skills, Summer 2006; Law Practice Management, Fall 2006
• Boston University - Legal Theory and Practice, Adjunct Faculty, January 1992-June 1994

Education:

J.D., Detroit College of Law, Cum Laude

• Class President
• Teaching Assistant, Contracts I & II
• Teaching Assistant, Legal Research & Writing
• Moot Court
• Director of Brief Writing
• Placed Third as Oralist in three National competitions
• Best Oralist and Top 10 Brief, Moot Court Class
• Recipient of various academic honors, including Jurisprudence Book Awards: Torts, Estate and Gift Taxation, and Wildlife Law

B.A., The University of Michigan, Literature, Science & Arts

Civic Activities and Organizations:

• Macomb Community College Legal Assistant Program Advisory Committee, 2008-Present
• Board of Directors, Northville Chamber of Commerce, 2004-2008
• Volunteer of the Quarter, 2005, Community Legal Resources
• Volunteer Attorney of the Year, 2006, Community Legal Resources
• Co-Chair, Mill Race Historical Village, Northville, Michigan 4^th of July Festivities, 2005-2006
• Committee, Polka Dot Benefit, The Heidleburg Project, 2004