Wisconsin Lawyer

Official publication of the
State Bar of Wisconsin
Vol. 82, No. 8
August 2009

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Features

New Residential Tenants in Foreclosure Act

Wisconsin Lawyer August 2009: New Residential Tenants in Foreclosure Act A record 12% of all mortgages in the U.S. were delinquent or in foreclosure at the end of the first quarter of 2009. Foreclosures in Wisconsin increased 20% from 2007 to 2008. With the increase in foreclosures has been an increase in the number of foreclosure-related evictions; foreclosures automatically terminate most tenancies in Wisconsin and, given the financial straits of the defaulting landlord, tenants generally lose their security deposits and any prepaid rent. The Wisconsin Legislature and Congress recently passed laws to help protect residential tenants. More

Unlocking your Firm’s Profit potential: Increasing Revenue

Wisconsin Lawyer August 2009: Unlocking your Firm’s Profit potential: Increasing Revenue Even in a sluggish economy, your firm can produce more revenue while improving client satisfaction. This client-centered approach to revenue enhancement focuses on three key steps. First, know the financial indicators a firm should track in analyzing revenue and identifying opportunities for improvement. Second, manage client expectations to increase client satisfaction in a way that improves revenue. Third, understand specific aspects of law firm leverage that are critical to surviving and thriving in today’s economy. More

Rising Class and Collective Lawsuits in Employment

Wisconsin Lawyer August 2009: Rising Class and Collective Lawsuits in Employment The use of class and collective lawsuits in employment-related litigation is on the rise as employees seek proper pay and fair treatment while employers seek to defend their policies and practices. Here’s a look at the differences between the two types of group litigation, reasons for the increase, and why the trend is expected to continue. More

Columns

Inside the Bar: Retaining Prosecutors
Stagnant pay levels, inadequate staffing, and rising caseloads all contribute to experienced prosecutors leaving public service.

President’s Message: New Beginnings
In working toward a voluntary bar, membership must be made attractive to avoid attrition. Here are some steps to do that.

Profile: For the Good: An Extreme Home Makeover
When the defects caused by cheap materials and poor construction methods threatened a low-income family’s home, health, and unity, attorney Kim Hurtado worked pro bono to find a legal resolution.

Ethics Opinion: E-09-03 Communicating Attorneys Fees and Expenses
The State Bar Professional Ethics Committee issued Formal Opinion E-09-03, outlining what information attorneys must convey to clients regarding attorney fees and expenses and scope of representation.

Ethics: Destroying Client Files
Even after representation ends, lawyers still have a duty of confidentiality to clients. Lawyers must be very careful when destroying client records to ensure that they are properly destroyed and no access is granted to anyone else.

What Keeps You Awake at Night?: When is it time to dispose of paper and electronic files, and how should I go about it?
Our firm, like most others, is awash in paper and electronic files. What types of client files do I need to keep and for how long? When is it time to clear the decks, and how should I do that to protect client and law firm confidentiality? 

Legal Writing: Be Wise: Revise
Wise writers build extra time into their writing schedules to allow for several attempts at revision, polishing their prose to ensure organized, logical, concise writing. Here are some guidelines for creating your own effective style through revising.


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Cover: Volume 82, Issue 8

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