State Bar of Wisconsin

Standards-Quality Subcommittee
Meeting Minutes
October 29, 1997

The members of the Standards/Quality Subcommittee of the Paralegal Practice Task Force met by telephone on Wednesday, October 29, 1997. Members present were Attorney Pam Barker, Attorney Mary Lynne Donohue, John Goudie, Attorney Donald Lubner and Christine Quimet-Durow. Also present was staff liaison Linda Barth.

Ms. Quimet-Durow discussed a brochure she had picked up at the Dane County Clerk of Courts office that offers paralegal services from Briefly Speaking Paralegal Services which asks, "Why pay the high costs of an attorney?"

Ms. Barth was directed to go get copies of the brochure and to send them to the other committee members as well as the State Bar's Consumer Protection Committee's Unauthorized Practice of Law Subcommittee and to State Bar President Steve Sorenson.

The Subcommittee felt that this brochure represented questionable practices and that it was especially odd that it was being distributed by the Dane County Clerk of Courts.

Ms. Barth reported on her meetings with Jerry Sternberg, BAPR Director, and Gene Rankin, BBE Director. She worked off a memo she had prepared. She was instructed to send the memo to all Task Force members.

Attorney Barker described previous attempts to bring the issue of paralegal practice before the State Bar Board of Governors and noted that at that time proponents were instructed to go work with BAPR and BBE on a proposal. She suggested that it in light of that encounter, looks like it would be extremely helpful to bring Mr. Sternberg and Mr. Rankin together with the Task Force for a brainstorming session.

Mr. Goudie agreed saying it is practical to have them involved early and that he had discussed the issue with Mr. Sternberg who seemed receptive. Mr. Lubner also supported the concept.

Ms. Barth was instructed to send Task Force members some materials she had gathered from the previous time the paralegal issue went to the Board of Governors. She was also asked to put together a report showing where the Task Force is at currently. Mr. Lubner and Mr. Goudie volunteered to help her.

Mr. Lubner also volunteered to pull together some numbers on the cost of testing and enforcing professional standards. He said that he has worked closely with unions and they might have this type of information.

The Committee instructed Ms. Barth to contact Mr. Sternberg and Mr. Rankin to get several dates that will work for them for the next meeting and to work with Attorney Barker to set at date for a brainstorming session.

The meeting adjourned.

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