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The Nonresident Lawyers Division helps nonresident members maintain
their ties with Wisconsin. The division promotes greater communication
and business opportunities among nonresidents, and it organizes and
oversees the growing network of local State Bar chapters across the
United States. It publishes a membership directory listing areas of
practice and a newsletter, Back
Home.
The division provides nonresident members opportunities for
participation in the governance of the State Bar. It elects five
governors to the Board of Governors, and it makes reports and
recommendations to the Board. The division also provides information to
Wisconsin Supreme Court boards, such as the Board of Bar Examiners,
regarding CLE issues unique to nonresident members. Lawyers who reside
out of state are automatically enrolled in the division.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) COMITY FOR NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS OF
THE STATE BAR OF WISCONSIN
In December 2007, the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted revisions to
the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) rules that created a so-called
"pure comity" provision in Wisconsin. This means that State
Bar of Wisconsin members whose practice is principally in another state
will be exempted by the BBE from the continuing legal education (CLE)
attendance requirements in Wisconsin provided the member fully complies
with all the CLE requirements for that jurisdiction. The rule change
still requires State Bar members to report to the BBE every two years.
CLE comity is only necessary for those lawyers working outside Wisconsin
who also have clients in Wisconsin. If nonresident lawyers (that is,
lawyers whose principal places of practice are outside Wisconsin) do not
practice in Wisconsin during their two-year reporting period, they
simply have to check the box on BBE CLE Form 1 (Report of Compliance
With Continuing Legal Education Requirements) indicating they did not
practice in the state during those two years.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 31.04(3) states: A
lawyer whose practice is principally in another jurisdiction that has
mandatory continuing legal education requirements and who is current in
meeting those requirements is exempt from the attendance requirement of
SCR 31.02, but shall comply with the reporting requirement of SCR
31.03.
A link to the BBE CLE Form 1 for reporting purposes is at: http://www.wicourts.gov/services/attorney/docs/cle1.pdf
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