Nicholas A. Kipa
Bahrie Law, PLLC
I received both my Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Michigan State University. I then earned my Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law in 2014, where I worked as an editor for the Animal and Natural Resource Law Review. During law school, I served 3 terms on the Board of Directors of The State News as both Secretary and Treasurer of the Board.
My dedication to civil and community service during this time also led to being appointed by the East Lansing City Council to the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals, where I held public hearings for zoning law variance requests and appeals from 2013-2015.
Prior to joining Bahrie Law, I worked as an associate attorney for another firm specializing in Worker’s Compensation law throughout the state of Michigan, with clients and hearings in Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, Gaylord, Traverse City, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids.
I previously lived and practiced law in downtown Washington D.C. for several years where I worked for a firm that specialized in international business law, local business disputes, family law, criminal defense, attorney disciplinary defense, as well as civil rights, and federal employment discrimination law.
As an associate for these firms, I gained extensive litigation and negotiation experience, earning significant results for my clients including multiple 6-figure judgments and the successful acquittal at trial of a client charged with a DUI in Maryland.
In January 2018, I moved back to Michigan from Washington D.C. to accept a position with Bahrie Law, where I now primarily practice in the areas of Worker’s Compensation, automobile no-fault, personal injury, and Social Security disability law.
I am a permanent resident in the town of my alma mater, East Lansing, Michigan. In my free time, I enjoy camping, traveling, music production, and rooting for Michigan State sports teams.
- Michigan State University College of Law
- (2014) Juris Doctor
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- Activities: Associate Editor, Journal of Animal and Natural Resource Law
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- Michigan State University
- B.S. (2011) | Anthropology
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- Michigan State University
- B.A. (2010) | Telecommunication, Information Studies, & Media
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- Activities: Executive Producer, MSU Telecasters
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- Senior Associate Attorney
- Bahrie Law, PLLC
- - Current
- Plaintiff's side litigation in Worker’s Compensation, Social Security Disability, Personal Injury, and Auto-No Fault/Accidents, as well as Family and Criminal Defense Law. The Social Security practice includes regular federal court appeals with cases argued before multiple U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and a U.S. Supreme Court case.
- Litigation Associate
- Martin F. McMahon & Associates
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- • Civil litigation in D.C., MD and federal courts • Federal brief research, writing and editing • International business law • Criminal defense law • Family law • Employment law • Attorney disciplinary defense law
- Contract Attorney
- Citizens Disbility
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- • Represented clients at Social Security Disability hearings held before administrative law judges throughout the East Coast region • Assisted clients with paperwork and prepared them for upcoming Social Security hearings
- Contract Attorney
- Law Counsel Professional Staffing
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- • E-Discovery document review for DOJ investigation requests using Relativity software • Second level privilege review for E-Discovery document production requests
- Associate Attorney
- Davidson, Breen, Doud, Steele & Ferguson, P.C.
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- Plaintiffs' side litigation in Worker's Compensation, Social Security Disability, Liability, and Personal Injury Law. • Drafted and argued motions in Michigan’s Circuit and Appellate Courts for personal injury cases • Federal brief research, writing, and editing for Social Security appeals • Conducted numerous depositions on both direct and cross examination in the course of Workers’ Compensation and personal injury case litigation • Attended hearings, facilitations, and redemptions for Workers’ Compensation cases • Negotiated Workers’ Compensation settlements with defense attorneys • Interviewed and assisted clients, filing claims on their behalf for personal injury cases, answering questions and providing legal advice • Extensive legal research and writing experience drafting briefs, motions, and memos • Reviewed and summarized medical and employment records for personal injury cases and case evaluation
- Board Member
- City of East Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals
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- • Held monthly public hearings on zoning code variance requests, interpreting provisions of the code and issuing decisions accordingly • Appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals by the East Lansing City Council
- Law Clerk
- Bahrie Law, PLLC
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- • Shadowed attorneys at numerous Social Security, criminal, and divorce hearings • Prepared and filed civil complaints for first and third party no fault cases • Federal court and administrative appeal brief writing and editing for Social Security cases • Legal research and writing for a general practice law firm specializing in personal injury law • Interviewed clients and provided attorney approved advice • Experienced with Lexis Nexis Time Matters practice management software • Reviewed and summarized medical and employment records for Social Security cases• Shadowed attorneys at numerous Social Security, criminal, and divorce hearings • Prepared and filed civil complaints for first and third party no fault cases • Federal court and administrative appeal brief writing and editing for Social Security cases • Legal research and writing for a general practice law firm specializing in personal injury law • Interviewed clients and provided attorney approved
- Board Member, Secretary and Treasurer of the Board
- The State News
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- • Served as a member of the 12 person Board of Directors for a nonprofit news corporation, providing East Lansing and Michigan State University with a local newspaper and online content management hosting service for other small to medium sized news organizations • Worked on the financial and executive committees, overseeing investments and the yearly budget • Edited and finalized board meeting minutes for public record • Was appointed to both the Treasurer and Secretary officer positions of the Board
- Tax Clinician
- Alvin L. Storrs Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at MSU College of Law
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- • Represented a full caseload of clients in tax matters before the IRS and Michigan Department of Treasury (MDOT) • Negotiated settlements and agreements with the IRS and MDOT • Answered Tax law questions for clients, interpreting tax codes and rules • Assisted clients with tax collection problems, such as tax credits, liens, and levies • Completed tax returns for clients
- Student Advocate
- Legal Services of Eastern Michigan
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- • Handled Social Security and housing law case work with supervising attorneys • Interviewed and advised clients, drafting letters and performing research for cases • Analyzed fair housing test cases and reported findings for Saginaw and Flint MI • Held divorce clinics, answered questions and helped clients complete paperwork for their divorce and family law cases
- 2013 State and Local Tax Developments
- Michigan Tax Lawyer: Volume XL, Issue 1 Winter 2014
- District of Columbia bar # 1029096
- Member
- - Current
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- State Bar of Michigan # P78896
- Member
- - Current
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- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Bar
- ID Number: 1029096
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- Maryland
- Supreme Court of Maryland
- ID Number: 1612130329
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- Michigan
- State Bar of Michigan
- ID Number: P78896
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- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
- Workers' Compensation
- Personal Injury
- Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents
- Social Security Disability
- English