Liz Ferguson - Mount Clemens, MI

Overview

Who am I?

My name is Liz Ferguson. I am a lawyer in Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan. I'm also a mediator. I have been a lawyer since May 1998 and a mediator since 2013.

What do I do?

For some people, the lawyers they are familiar with may be the ones they see on television. While tv shows about lawyers can be fun, tv doesn't really give people a good idea of what a lawyer really does. For me, my job is to help people work through their legal problems. Sometimes that means dealing with a court case, either because my client needs to sue someone or my client has been sued or charged with a crime, and sometimes it means I help them figure out what the problem is and then identify some solutions to help end that problem. Those solutions aren't always ones that involve the court system.

As a mediator, my job is to help both sides of a dispute reach an agreement that they both can live with. Sometimes those disputes come up because there is a court case and the judge has referred the case to a mediator. Other times the parties are looking for a way to resolve the problem before the issue ends up in court. Most of my mediation work is through The Resolution Center in Mount Clemens. Mediation is helpful because the decision the parties reach on their own with a mediator may be a lot different than what they would get if they went before the judge. I always tell people that if you go before the judge, you have no guarantee of what you may get. The judge could give you everything you want, give the other side everything they want, or could "split the baby" where each side gets something but both sides walk away unhappy.

What kinds of problems do I help people solve?

A big part of my practice involves family law. Basically, I help people get divorced, which also includes settling issues involving the division of property and debts, custody and parenting time if there are minor children, and spousal and/or child support. After people are divorced I may get involved when a person needs help with a change in custody or parenting time. I have also handled step-parent adoptions.

I have a background in Human Resources so I often get asked about labor and employment problems. My practice involves working with both employers, employees, and unions to settle problems. Sometimes that means I research an issue and suggest a solution. Other times it means I gather information for use in a grievance, arbitration, or a lawsuit. These issues may involve an employer or employee's rights under state and federal law, like rights to be paid regular pay or overtime, or issues related to discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, or other protected classes. When I work with employees and unions, the issues often include rights under collective bargaining unit agreements.

I also do some criminal law involving misdemeanors. In addition to my own clients, I am sometimes appointed to cases by the court. I've handled domestic violence, assault & battery, driving while license suspended, retail fraud, and disorderly conduct cases in the Clinton Township, Warren, and the 36th District (Detroit) courts.

I also have experience helping people with contract problems, including situations where lawsuits have been filed to collect money on contracts and debts.

If you need help with any of these types of legal issues and would like to talk with me about whether I can help you, please feel free to give me a call at (586) 206-0157 or send me an email through my contact page or directly at lizferguson@lawofficeseaferguson.com.

What is my background?

I grew up in Mount Clemens and graduated from Mount Clemens High School. I went to Macomb Community College where I earned an Associates of Arts degree. I transferred to Wayne State University where I earned a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice.

I earned my Juris Doctor degree in December 1997 and my Master of Laws in Labor Law in May 2006. Both degrees were earned from Wayne State University Law School. I have also completed the 40-hour General Civil Mediation Training through Michigan's Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

My first job as a lawyer was for Lakeshore Legal Aid in Port Huron, MI, where I practiced family law and estate planning. I also provided seminars for seniors on legal issues that impacted them.

I left Lakeshore Legal Aid to work at Macomb Community College in its Human Resources department. I handled labor issues involving several unions, including negotiating and implementing collective bargaining agreements and handling grievance and disciplinary matters. I also dealt with other employment matters including accommodation issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and leave time issues under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). I currently teach Business Law part-time for Macomb.

Where do I practice?

I am admitted to practice in Michigan, so I can handle cases in any Michigan county. Right now almost all of my cases are in Macomb and St. Clair counties. My office is located in downtown Mount Clemens on the southwest corner of Cass and Southbound Gratiot. I am a couple of blocks from the Macomb County Courthouse.

I am also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

I am a member of the Macomb County Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the American Bar Association.