In the 1920s, a Lebanese family arrived in Lansing, Michigan, joining a small community of immigrants from their home village. They brought with them the two things that would define their American story for the next century: a deep Catholic faith and an unshakeable commitment to serving their neighbors. Three of their sons would go on to build one of mid-Michigan's most respected law firms, and the family's legacy of legal excellence and charitable work continues to this day.
Meet the Abood Law Firm
The Abood Law Firm has been providing legal services across the state of Michigan since 1956. Founded by three brothers, sons of Lebanese immigrant parents, the firm grew from a small family practice into a multi-office operation recognized for criminal defense, family law, personal injury, and civil litigation. Today, with offices at 246 E. Saginaw Street in East Lansing and a second location at 855 Forest Avenue in Birmingham, the Abood Law Firm continues the family tradition of vigorous advocacy and personal community investment.
The name "Abood" carries deep Lebanese Catholic heritage. Michigan's Arab-American community, one of the largest in the nation, includes a significant number of Maronite and other Eastern Catholic families who brought their faith traditions to the Midwest during waves of immigration in the early twentieth century. The Abood grandparents were part of this movement, settling in Lansing in the 1920s where they found others from their village already established.
The family's Catholic faith was not incidental to their legal work. It was the foundation of it. Maryalice Abood, a matriarch of the family, was a lifelong member of Catholic parishes in Lansing, including St. Gerard, St. Mary Cathedral, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Her steadfast faith was, as those who knew her described it, at the center of her life. That same faith shaped how the Abood brothers approached the practice of law: as a calling to serve justice, not merely a profession to generate income.
A Family Legacy Built on Service
The three founding brothers became well known throughout mid-Michigan for two things: their legal expertise and their personal involvement in community programs. Of the brothers, Camille Abood stands out for a remarkable act of civic leadership. He almost single-handedly organized and managed one of the region's first local food pantries, the Greater Lansing Food Bank. At a time when hunger relief was not yet a mainstream cause, Camille saw a need and built an institution to meet it.
That commitment to the Greater Lansing Food Bank has continued across generations. Andrew Abood, one of the firm's current attorneys, has partnered with Michigan State University basketball coaches Tom Izzo and Suzy Merchant on the Beyond The Arc campaign, which presented the Greater Lansing Food Bank with a check for $11,875, translating to 35,625 meals for area families.
The Abood family's broader cultural influence extends beyond law and charity. Maureen Abood, a family member and author, has written for U.S. Catholic magazine and published cookbooks celebrating Lebanese culinary traditions, bridging her family's immigrant heritage with their American Catholic life.
Practice Areas and Legal Expertise
The Abood Law Firm handles a broad range of legal matters across Southeast Michigan, primarily serving clients in Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties.
Criminal Defense: The firm is widely regarded as one of Michigan's top criminal defense practices. Their attorneys handle felony and misdemeanor cases, white-collar crime, drug offenses, and criminal expungements. The firm's reputation in DUI and OWI defense is particularly strong, built on decades of courtroom experience and a thorough understanding of Michigan's evolving impaired-driving laws.
Family Law: Divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic relations make up a significant portion of the firm's work. Jeffrey Lance Abood, who leads the Birmingham office, has been voted Best Divorce Lawyer by HOUR Detroit Magazine in 2012, 2013, and every year from 2017 through 2020. He was also named a Top 10 Family Law Attorney Under 40 in Michigan in 2014 and 2015.
Personal Injury: The firm represents clients injured through the negligence of others, helping them recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This work aligns with Catholic teaching on just compensation for those who have been wrongfully harmed.
Civil Litigation and Civil Rights: The Abood attorneys handle a range of civil disputes, from contract and business conflicts to civil rights cases. Their willingness to take on civil rights matters reflects the family's broader commitment to justice beyond individual client service.
The Attorneys
Andrew P. Abood has practiced law for over a quarter century. He began working alongside his father in 1987, first as a law clerk and then as an attorney. After establishing his own practice in 1997, Andrew built expertise across criminal defense, personal injury, domestic relations, employment law, workers' compensation, social security disability, real estate, and corporate transactions. He has been selected to the Super Lawyers list annually from 2019 through 2025.
Jeffrey Lance Abood graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wayne State University in 2004 and earned his Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2008. He spearheaded the opening of the Birmingham office in 2012. Jeffrey has earned recognition as one of America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys and was named to the Haute Lawyer Network by Haute Living. He is a favored litigator for nationally known sports teams, agents, and players' associations.
Together, the current attorneys carry forward the tradition established by the founding brothers: skilled advocacy combined with personal investment in the communities they serve.
Why Catholic Legal Professionals Matter
Catholic lawyers bring something distinctive to the practice of law. The Catholic legal tradition is rooted in natural law theory, the understanding that moral law exists independent of human legislation, grounded in human nature and knowable through reason. This philosophical foundation, developed over centuries by thinkers from Augustine to Aquinas, has profoundly shaped Western legal systems.
In practical terms, this means Catholic attorneys often provide counsel that considers moral dimensions alongside technical legal strategy. A Catholic family law attorney may encourage reconciliation before litigation when appropriate. A Catholic business attorney may advise against exploiting contractual ambiguities, not because it is illegal, but because honesty demands clarity. A Catholic estate planning attorney may help clients incorporate charitable giving to parishes, Catholic schools, or religious orders into their plans.
For Catholics navigating legal challenges, working with an attorney who shares your moral framework can make a meaningful difference. Shared faith does not guarantee superior representation, but it does provide a reasonable expectation that your attorney will not advise strategies that compromise Catholic principles.
How to Connect with the Abood Law Firm
The East Lansing office is located at 246 E. Saginaw Street, Suite 100, East Lansing, MI 48823, and can be reached at (517) 332-5900. The Birmingham office is at 855 Forest Avenue, Birmingham, MI 48009.
When meeting with any attorney for the first time, come prepared with a clear summary of your legal situation, relevant documents, a timeline of events, and questions about the attorney's experience with similar cases. Ask about fee structures, whether hourly, flat-fee, or contingency, and get the engagement terms in writing.
You can find the Abood Law Firm's complete listing in the Discover Catholic Business directory, which now includes over 46,000+ Catholic businesses across 23 categories. If you are searching for a Catholic attorney in Michigan or anywhere in the United States, the directory connects you with legal professionals who share your faith.
If you are a Catholic attorney not yet listed in the directory, consider adding your practice free to reach clients who value working with professionals grounded in the same moral tradition.
Sources
- Abood Law Firm. "About," "Our Attorneys," and "Community Service." aboodlaw.com
- Super Lawyers. "Abood Law Firm, East Lansing, MI." profiles.superlawyers.com
- WKAR Public Media. "For the Abood Family, Food Triggers Memories on Father's Day." wkar.org
- Lansing City Pulse. "Bridges to Lebanon: Maureen Abood Showcases Her Heritage." lansingcitypulse.com