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Projects and publications

YLD Public Service Committees are involved in many different topics and areas of interest and have assisted in producing several publications including:

Current committees are also working on several local projects including:

Law Day

This year the YLD will again organize a Law Day effort on May 1, 2009.  The YLD will match young lawyer volunteers with classrooms throughout the state.

The YLD is committed to the Law Day program because it benefits students, attorney volunteers and the community. Not only are students educated about our legal system, but they get the opportunity to have a positive experience with an attorney.

2009 marks the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, regarded by many as our nation's greatest and most eloquent president. Lincoln, who devoted much of his adult life to the practice of law, was the quintessential American lawyer-president. His background in the law informed both his actions and his oratory.

For Law Day 2009, the American Bar Association is encouraging efforts nationwide to commemorate Lincoln by exploring this rich and resonant theme - A Legacy of Liberty.

Legal Guide for Wisconsin Farmers

The Legal Guide for Wisconsin Farmers is a publication which helps farmers understand their basic legal rights and responsibilities in business relationships. The guide, developed by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, provides farmers with information about the legal system and allows them to work more effectively with their lawyers. For more information or a copy of the publication call the Farm Center at 800-942-2474.

Farm Transfers In Wisconsin: A Guide for Wisconsin Farmers

The Farm Transfer Guide, developed by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, incorporates comments and technical advice from a wide range of respected agricultural professionals and provides practical information for farm families who are dealing with the issues involved with moving into or out of the business of farming. The Guide covers such topics as family issues, farm business arrangements, financial considerations, economic feasibility, legal and tax matters, and finalizing and monitoring the transfer process. More information about the Farm Transfer Guide or a copy of the publication is available by calling the Farm Center at 800-942-2474.

Lawyers Helping People

The Young Lawyers Division has partnered with the Family Resource Center of Sheboygan County to provide legal assistance to families in Sheboygan County. The Division organizes volunteer attorneys willing to provide a fifteen minute consultation on a variety of topics. The center screens requests and makes referrals to the appropriate attorney and sets up the phone calls. In addition, the Division has assisted the center in purchasing legal reference materials and videos which have been used to provide legal education classes for parents. For more information, or if you are willing to volunteer your time to take calls for the program, please contact the Resource Center.

One Child, One Lawyer

One Child, One Lawyer is a national child-advocacy based initiative to encourage young lawyers to use their skills to make a difference in the life of a child. In Wisconsin, the project centers on the pro bono handling of guardianship cases. A young lawyer with basic training can assist a child in securing a permanent, stable and loving home. The YLD periodically produces seminars which provide attorneys with the skills and materials needed to handle a basic guardianship case. The seminars are free as long as the participant agrees to accept one pro bono guardianship case. Referrals are made through Kids Matter, Inc. (formerly "In Their Best Interests"). A sample Training Brochure can be found online.

We the Jury

The YLD is working to implement this ABA project in several Wisconsin counties. The We the Jury project seeks to educate high school students regarding one of the most valuable civic duties in which they can participate. The project provides a curriculum and sends individual attorneys into the classroom to educate high school students about the opportunity to be a part of our community through jury service. Materials are available on the ABA YLD web site.

For Law Day 2006, the Young Lawyers Division partnered with the Winnebago County Bar and Gannet Publishing's Newspapers in Education Project to produce a 12 page insert outlining the We the Jury project. The insert was distributed in Gannett Publishing's newspapers in Winnebago County as well as the schools in Winnebago County . The insert outlined the history of the jury system in America, highlighted the importance of the jury to our system of justice and provided a look at materials which are used in the We the Jury mock trial. On May 1st, attorneys from the Winnebago County Bar attended classes in the Winnebago County schools to discuss the jury system with students. The students participated in a mock voir dire (choosing a jury), watched a video of a mock criminal trial, deliberated and returned a verdict. For more information on this project please contact Jessica King at (920) 235-6690 or email at jking@oshkosklawyers.com.

Lawsuit Drive

On a continual basis, the YLD collects gently used professional clothing and makes donations to organizations that provide the clothes to individuals who need support and assistance in interviewing for jobs. Donations have been made to the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, The Head Start New Home Program and the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin. Donations are accepted year round at the State Bar Center in Madison and during the State Bar's Annual Convention every spring. County Bar Associations and other organizations are encouraged to conduct drives of their own and the YLD will assist with collection and help the donations find a home. For more information please contact Atty. Stacia R. Conneely at (608) 256-3304 or src@legalaction.org.

Young Lawyers Division