Purchasing Resources for Michigan Real Property Law

Michigan Real Property Law Education and Training

Get the right training to practice Michigan real estate law
By Emmet McMahan Michigan real property law deals primarily with the ownership of land. Michigan real property law education and training should include recognition of the most important classifications of real property. These include concurrent estates, freehold estates and non-freehold estates.
 

Michigan property laws generally allow the state exclusive jurisdiction over the land within its borders. These laws are not subject to federal law for the most part. There are three phases to an attorney’s education on real property laws in Michigan:

1. Formal education. An attorney who practices real estate laws in MI should at least have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. The J.D. degree should come from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
2. Specialization. Attorneys frequently choose to specialize by taking specific training in real property law in Michigan. These courses may be taken as a program of concentration in law school or as Continuing Legal Education (CLE).
3. Membership in professional organizations. There are many legal organizations for attorneys who practice real property law. These may be bar associations, organizations for a particular cause or groups exclusively for practicing real estate attorneys.
   

Attend a law school that specializes in Michigan real property law

There are a variety of universities in Michigan that provide training in real property law, such as specific coursework, a formal concentration or legal clinics.
Try: The Thomas M. Cooley Law School requires two semesters of property law from all of its students. The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law includes a course in real property law in its first year curriculum.

Obtain CLE credit for real estate law in MI

Michigan requires attorneys to stay current on changes in employment law with CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in Michigan that provide CLE credit in real property law.
Try: The Institute of Continuing Legal Education provides CLE webcasts, handbooks, audio CDs and MP3 downloads by practice area in Michigan, such as real property law. The State Bar of Michigan provides CLE in real property law through programs such as its Homeward Bound series, summer conferences and annual state bar program.

Learn through professional training associations on real property law in Michigan

Professional associations frequently offer formal training such as conferences, seminars and workshops in employment and labor law. These organizations also provide more casual meetings that allow attorneys to exchange tips on building and maintaining a practice.
Try: The Real Property Section of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association offers regular programs on real property law. The Genesee County Bar Association conducts seminars on property law in Michigan.

• An attorney who practices Michigan real estate law may also wish to specialize in a particular type of real property to provide better service for their clients. For example, an attorney may learn about the specific property laws on farming in order to build a practice around agricultural property.