State Bar of Wisconsin

Guidelines for preparing written materials

The Wisconsin Supreme Court requires written materials for CLE seminar accreditation. Attorneys expect high-quality CLE presentations and written materials. The rules governing CLE credit require “thorough, well-organized” written materials.

Outlines of only a page or two that only list topics do NOT meet this requirement and will result in a loss of CLE credit. Our goal is to provide registrants with a practical, concise tool for assisting them in their daily law practice. We suggest that outlines be an average of 10 pages in length for a 50-minute presentation.

Recommended approach: Expand on topics covered by your lecture. Provide case, statute, and article citations as needed. Avoid reproducing long excerpts from readily available sources.

Speakers’ outlines will be reproduced in on CD that will be given to each of the attorneys and judges who attend the convention.

Outlines camera ready

The best outlines are your own careful work product - a synthesis of relevant law and practical advice on how to handle real life problems. Avoid reproducing lengthy outside materials such as statutes, cases, or law review articles. Quote only very specific portions that you intend to discuss in your talk. Cite to more lengthy portions rather than reproducing them.

Case citations, along with a synopsis of the case cited, are very useful. Use the citation style for briefs set forth in A Uniform System of Citation (16th ed. 1996) (the “Harvard Citator").

If you include copyrighted materials you must obtain written permission to reprint those materials before we can publish them. Please send a copy of the letter of permission with the materials.

Instructions for the typist

If you have questions or problems, please call Reggie Driscoll at (608) 250-6100.

Outlines must be submitted in one of the following formats:

1. Word®
2. Excel®
3. Power Point®
4. Searchable Adobe PDF® file

• Center the title at the top of the first page of the outline. Put the author’s name under the title. If the first page is a table of contents, put the title at the top of this page.
• Single space within paragraphs. Double space between paragraphs.
• Proofread the final copy carefully before sending it to us. We do not proofread outlines.
• Please leave margins of 1-1/4" at the top, bottom, left, and right SIDES of the page.

Please do not use footers or text boxes in your outline!