Liisa R. Speaker
Liisa R. Speaker

Liisa R. Speaker
Member and Founder Speaker Law Firm, PLLC
(517) 482-8935
lspeaker@speakerlaw.com

LICENSES & ADMISSIONS

  • State Bar of Michigan
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • Admitted to U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • Admitted to U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • Admitted to U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas

EDUCATION

  • Doctor of Jurisprudence, The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1999
  • Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Spanish, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, 1994

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan

  • Secretary, Appellate Practice Section Council;
  •  Planning Committee Member for Appellate Bench Bar Conference;
  •  Moderator at 2007 Appellate Bench Bar Conference;
  •  Previously council member for 3 years.

Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan

  • Council Member;
  • Amicus Committee;
  • Presenter at Mid-Summer Seminar in 2008.                 

Thomas M. Cooley Law School

  • Adjunct Faculty, Teaching moot court, a course in appellate advocacy;
  •  Moot Court Judge.

Ingham County Bar Association

  • Chairperson of the Publications Committee for BRIEFS, the ICBA’s legal newspaper;
  • Member, Bench Bar Planning Committee.

American Inns of Court

  • Executive Board Member, Thomas M. Cooley Law School chapter;
  • Member Since 2005.

Michigan Association for Justice

  • Member.         

Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society and Advocates Guild

  • Member.

Inforum

  • Member; Professional Women’s Networking Group.

Toastmasters International

  • Member and former Board Member;
  • Advanced Communicator-Bronze & Advanced Leader; 1991-present.

PUBLICATIONS

  • What Happens to Custody of Child When Adoption Falls Apart? Family Law Journal, June/July 2008
  • Michigan Supreme Court’s Citation to Wikipedia, Appellate Practice Section Newsletter, Spring 2008 and Michigan Lawyers Weekly, April 2008
  • A Review of MCR 7.215- Execution and Enforcement of Court of Appeals’ Orders, Appellate Practice Section Newsletter, Spring 2007
  • Revisiting the Structured Settlement Protection Act, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, August 2005
  • Updated Chapter on Unfair Debt Collection Practices, Tex. Litig. Guide (2002)
  • Ethical Considerations in Preparing Witnesses for Depositions and Trial, 18 Rev. Litig. 135 (1999)
  • Frequent Contributor to Ingham County Bar Association’s BRIEFS

PRESENTATIONS

  • Seminar Presenter, Hot Topics in the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Family Law Section Mid-Summer Seminar, July 2008
  • Seminar Presenter, Ethics and Attorney Client Privilege, Ingham County Bench Bar Conference, February 2008
  • Seminar Presenter, Advising your Domestic Relations Clients of their Appeal Rights, Ingham County Bar Association Family Law Section, December 2007
  • Seminar Presenter, Employment Cases Attorneys Need in Their Hip Pocket, Michigan Association of Justice, Employment Law Seminar, November 2007
  • Moderator, Do the Write Thing; Make Your Research Matter, Appellate Bench Bar Conference, May 2007
  • Moderator, Using and Improving MCR 7.212, Appellate Bench Bar Conference, May 2007
  • Seminar Presenter, Appellate Research Tips for Trial Attorneys, Michigan Association of Justice, April 2006.
  • Seminar Presenter, Payment Terms in Michigan Construction Contracts, September 2004 & January 2006
  • Seminar Presenter, Witness Coaching and Ethical Implications, January 2006
  • Seminar Presenter, Technology and Economics of Appellate Practice, Appellate Practice Section, June 2005

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

  • In re Keast, 278 Mich App 415 (2008) (Grandparenting time, adoption).
  • In the Matter of Steven Zimmerman, 277 Mich App 470 (2007) (Adoption, termination of parental rights, and custody dispute).
  • Mackinac Chapter of Sierra Club v. Michigan Dept of Environmental Quality, 277 Mich App 531 (2008) (Administrative appeal regarding concentrated animal feeding operations).
  • United States v. Stuart, 507 F.3d 391(6th Cir. 2007) (Criminal case raising several constitutional issues).
  • Palasota v. Haggar Clothing Co., 342 F.3d 569 (5th Cir. 2003 [Tex.]) (Age discrimination).

AMICUS CURIAE OPINIONS & ORDERS

  • Estes v. Titus, 481 Mich 573 (2008) (Uniform Fraudulant Transfers Act and divorce judgment).
  • Estate of Buckner v. City of Lansing, 480 Mich 1243 (2008) (Governmental immunity)
  • Beavers v. Barton Malow Co., 480 Mich 1049 (2008) (Equitable tolling for delayed application for leave).
  • Perez v. Ford Motor Co., 480 Mich 1202 (2007) (Constructive notice of hostile work environment).
  • Rowland v. Washtenaw Co. Rd Comm., 477 Mich 197 (2007) (Notice of defect for governmental immunity).

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • Recognized by several attorneys and professionals for her excellent writing skills.
  • Received Best Brief Award, selected by staff attorneys at the Texas Supreme Court, while in law school.
  • Obtained Law Degree from top-ranked national law school, The University of Texas School of Law.
  • Received the Outstanding Note Award from The Review of Litigation for her work on Ethical Considerations in Preparing Witnesses for Depositions & Trial, 18 Rev. Litig. 135 (1999).