True Professional

A woman who

belongs to Temple Kol Ami and the
Birmingham Temple.
"I never thought I would win a pres-
tigious award like this and I'm hon-
ored to be selected," she said.
Dreifus' family law practice covers
all types of juvenile work, especially
handling minors in divorce cases,
guardianship cases for incapacitated
adults, family neglect and abuse cases
and estate matters. "Most of these are
routine family situations involving lit-
tle-known people," she said, "but once
in a while I get a high-profile case."

changed careers

in mid-life is

honored by her

legal peers.

Helping Hand

BILL CARROLL

Special to the Jewish News

0

akland Chief Circuit Judge
Joan E. Young laughs when
she recalls a hearing in her
courtroom at which she
considered appointing attorney
Suzanne E. Dreifus as a guardian for a
disabled man whom Dreifus claimed
was too difficult for his elderly mother
to handle.
The mother looked at Dreifus and
said, "You're no spring chicken your-
self."
She obviously was referring to
Dreifus' age — 70 — somewhat
unusual by today's courtroom stan-
dards. But she's extremely proud of it,
and the fact that she didn't start the
University of Detroit Law School until
age 52. Graduating in 1986 at 55, she
has been practicing for 15 years, and
this month will achieve a high honor
in the area legal profession.
. Dreifus, of Farmington Hills, will
receive the Oakland County Bar
Association's 2001 Professionalism
Award at the organization's 67th annu-
al meeting Thursday, June 7, at the
Marriott at Centerpoint in Pontiac.
Also getting the award will be Thomas
G. Plunkett and Thomas J. Ryan,
president of the State Bar Association.
"Everyone really got a chuckle out
of that comment by the elderly moth-
er, including Sue," said Judge Young.
"But you can tell by her actions that
Sue Dreifus really wants to practice
law. It's easy to see she's not in this just
for the money. She really cares about

The Oakland County Bar Association will honor Suzanne Dreifus' professionalism.

people. She'll always step forward and
take appointments to the very difficult
cases.''
The same type of sentiment about
Dreifus was expressed by other judges,
Bar Association officials and lawyers.
She works as a sole practitioner in her
West Bloomfield office, specializing in
family law.
"Suzanne Dreifus represents all that's
good in a lawyer," commented Scott
Neumann of Waterford, also a sole
practitioner, who is a member of the
committee that selected her for the
Professionalism Award. He pointed out
that the award is presented to an indi-
vidual . "who is a model of civilit1). and
respect in the legal profession." He
added, "She was nominated and select-
ed for her consistent adherence to the
highest standards of integrity, fairness
and excellence in the practice of law."
Dreifus was nominated by attorney
Sharon Noll Smith, 65, of Bloomfield
Hills, who feels a strong kinship to her
because she also did not start practic-
ing law until she was in her mid-50s.
They met at an Oakland County
Women's Bar Association meeting and
have been friends ever since.
"Civility and courtesy are the perfect
words to describe Sue," said Smith.
"Unfortunately, there's often a lack of
courtesy in today's courtrooms, but

not when Sue is there. She never raises
her voice and she's very helpful to
newer, younger lawyers. She's always
available to help mentor them. Sue is
the most professional and ethical
lawyer — female or male — whom I
have ever met. And I'm sure many
lawyers would agree with me."

Late Start

Dreifus' achievements are remarkable
in view of the fact that she changed
careers in mid-life and got a late start
in the legal profession. A 1948 gradu-
ate of Detroit Central High School,
she had a typical Jewish upbringing
and was consecrated atongregation
Shaarey Zedek.
She received a BA degree at the
University of Michigan and an MBA
at the University of Pittsburgh. She
taught business for 20 years at
Highland Park Community College
before being laid off, then taught busi-
ness at University of Detroit-Mercy for
a few more years, and retired.
"During all of that time, I had always
talked about going to law school, and
my husband said now is the time to go
for it," she recalled. Her husband, John,
is in the insurance business, and she has
two children (and now two grandchil-
dren) from a previous marriage. Dreifus

After making presentations at semi-
nars, she gets calls from lawyers
around the state seeking her advice
and counsel. "It seems they've simply
been told to call Sue Dreifus if you get
in a bind," she mused. "At times, I feel
like I'm everyone's mom."
Oakland Probate Judge Barry M.
Grant said it's easy to see why Dreifus
is so popular with other lawyers. "She's
a role model for all of them, always
well-respected and willing to help
them," he said. "I've appointed her as
a guardian in many cases, and she
accepts all assignments in good spirit."
Judge Grant, of Bloomfield
Township, a judge for 24 years, calls
Dreifus a "driven" person with a lot of
energy who has a strong commitment
to the community, and who is "always
looking to do what's right ... even if it
isn't popular."
Dreifus has no plans to slow down
in her legal practice. Her mother, 92-
year-old Gladys Freedman Davis of
Farmington Hills, has excellent advice
for her. Said Dreifus: "She told me
that since she's 92, there's no reason
why I can't practice law until I'm at
least 92." ❑

Suzane E. Dreifus and two other
lawyers will receive the Oakland
County Bar Association's 2001
Professionalism Award in a cere-
mo ny beginning at 4:30 p.m.
h
Tursday,
June 7, at the Marriott
at Ceriterpoint, 3333 Centerpoint
Parkway, Pontiac. For informa-
tion, call the Bar Association,
(248) 334-3400.

a IT

6/1

2001

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