Matthew R. Abel
Attorney at Law
450 West Fort Street, Suite 200
Detroit, Michigan  48226
248-866-0864
attorneyabel@comcast.net


EDUCATION   


Law School              JURIS DOCTOR
    Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan.  December 1985   

Gradutate    MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION                Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  December 1980

Undergraduate    BACHELOR OF ARTS, Philosophy Major
                               Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  December 1978

Undergraduate     ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
    Castleton State College, Castleton, Vermont.  June 1975
    Graduated with Great Distinction

Secondary    DIPLOMA.  Fair Haven Union High School, Fair Haven, Vermont.  1974



EMPLOYMENT   


1990 - present    Attorney in private law practice.
    Criminal defense and civil litigation.

1988-89    Attorney with Jerry Raymond & Associates, Livonia, Michigan.
    Probate of decedent’s estates through Wayne County Public Administrator,         assigned by Michigan Attorney General’s Office.  Communication with         Foreign Consulates regarding determination of heirs and asset disposition.

1986-88    Attorney with law firm of Ballantine & Szlinis, Wayne, Michigan
    General practice of law including contracts, real estate, probate and wills,         domestic relations, collections, civil litigation and criminal defense. 

1981-82    Community Development Specialist, Office of U.S. Senator Carl Levin,         Detroit, Michigan.  Assisted regional agencies, municipalities, small             businesses, community groups, nonprofit agencies and individuals in locating         and pursuing appropriate sources of funding for community development         projects, and in dealing with governmental regulations.  Met with constituents     individually and in groups to hear their concerns, and communicated those         concern to federal agencies and Senate staff.  Special emphasis on education         and issues concerning the elderly.     

Winter 1981    Campaign Assistant, Johnnie Rodebush for Congress Committee, Niles, MI
    Organized volunteers, supervised phone banks and door-to-door canvassing.          Assisted in scheduling and publicity. 

May - Sept. 1980    Special Assistant to the District Manager,  U.S. Department of Commerce,         Bureau of the Census.  1980 Decennial Census.  Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. 
    Supplemented Enumeration District maps to include new housing unity.  Met     with City Managers to facilitate accurate population counts.     

1979-80    Administrative Intern, Office of the City Manager, Midland, Michigan.          Compared and contrasted collective bargaining agreement provisions in city         employee labor union contracts.  Examined and reported on procurement         policies involving municipal construction projects. 

Summer 1975    Law Clerk.  Bishop & Crowley, Rutland, Vermont.
    Research in antitrust, bankruptcy, estate tax and property law. 

Spring 1975    Law Clerk.  Offenbach & Co., Solicitors, London, England.
    Represented law firm in conferences with Barristers and clients.  Attended         court proceedings.  Document courier.

Summer 1974    Law Clerk.  Rutland County States’ Attorney’s Office, Rutland, Vermont. 
    Researched constitutional issues of standing in search and seizure cases.          Processed motor vehicle infraction citations.



PUBLICATION          
           
   
    The Michigan Information Network, Will West™ Go South?
    Michigan Bar Journal, Volume 75, Number 6. June 1996.


   
ACTIVITIES  


Present   
    State Bar of Michigan - active member in good standing since 1986
    Elected member of Representative Assembly - 3rd term
    Member Defender Systems and Services Committee

Past   
    Committee Chairman, Cub Scout Pack 241, West Bloomfield
    President, Livonia Bar Association, 1990-91
    Central Michigan University Marching Band - Varsity letter in trombone
    Central Michigan University  - Student Association and Academic Senate
    American Society for Public Administration - student member


PERSONAL       


    Eagle Scout
    Born 1958, Lincoln, Nebraska
    Married to Lorraine Abel
    Two sons, ages 16 and 8
    Excellent health



HOBBIES       


    Travel, Home Improvement, Bicycling, Reading, Politics