Michael Closen

John Marshall Law School, Professor Emeritus

Michael Closen, Professor Emeritus at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, is the primary author of Notary Law & Practice: Cases and Materials — one of the definitive publications on notarization and Notary law and the only book on common law notarization ever used as a law school text.

The respected law professor is one of the nation’s leading legal scholars on notarization, having authored numerous penetrating articles on the role of the Notary Public in modern American life. Closen has also served as an expert witness in Notary-related cases throughout the U.S., most notably in the landmark Vancura v. Katris case heard by the Illinois Appellate Court in December, 2008.

Closen’s contributions as a lecturer, panelist and author have helped foster unity and professionalism among Notaries and immeasurably advanced scholarship on the subject of notarization. An attorney for more than 30 years and a Notary, Closen’s accomplishments include serving as a leading member of drafting committees for the Model Notary Acts of 2002 and 2010 and The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility.