Lawyer regulation & discipline
Rules governing lawyer
conduct
The Wisconsin Supreme Court supervises the practice of law in
Wisconsin. In doing so, it has established rules governing lawyer
conduct, Rules of Professional Conduct for
Attorneys. Chapter 20 recently underwent the most comprehensive revision
since the mid-1980s. On Jan. 5, 2007, the court issued order 04-07 formally
adopting changes, effective on July 1, 2007. In addition to these rules,
the court imposes other requirements as a condition of practicing law in
Wisconsin, including active membership
in the State Bar of Wisconsin and fulfilling continuing legal education
requirements.
Wisconsin's judiciary is governed by the Code
of Judicial Ethics.
Related Supreme Court Rules
- Chapter
10 -- Regulation of the State Bar
- Chapter
11 -- Regulation of Members of the State Bar of Wisconsin
- Chapter
12 -- Client Protection
- Chapter
13 -- Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts Program
- Chapter
20A -- Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys (Preamble -
20:1.17) (effective until June 30, 2007)
- Chapter
20B -- Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys (20:2.1 - 20:8.5)
(effective until June 30, 2007)
- Chapter
20 -- New Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys (effective
July 1, 2007)
- Chapter
21 -- Lawyer Regulation System
- Chapter
22 -- Procedures for Lawyer Regulation System
- Chapter
30 -- Board of Bar Examiners
- Chapter
31 -- Continuing Legal Education
- Chapter
35 -- Eligibility for Appointment as Guardian ad Litem for a
Minor
- Chapter
36 -- Eligibility for Appointment as Guardian ad Litem for a
Adult
- Chapter
40 -- Admission to the Bar
- Chapter
50 -- Practical Training of Law Students
- Chapter
62 -- Standards of Courtesy and Decorum for the Courts of
Wisconsin
- Search
Supreme Court Rules
Wisconsin's lawyer regulatory
system
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has charged the Office
of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) with the responsibility for investigating
lawyers who may have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. If OLR
finds clear and convincing evidence that an attorney has violated one of
the court's rules, the office has the authority to seek sanctions
against the attorney.
To learn more about the Wisconsin's lawyer regulation system, contact
the OLR at 110 E. Main St., Suite 315, Madison, WI 53703,
(608) 267-7274 or (877) 315-6941. Its Web
site offers the following resources:
- an overview of the lawyer regulation system
- the process used to investigate a disciplinary matter
- how to file a grievance
- trust accounts and the overdraft program
- status of current disciplinary matters
- searchable compendium of private and public disciplinary
matters
- Supreme court rules related to OLR and lawyer conduct
Lawyer trust and fiduciary
accounts
What is the obligation of a lawyer to distribute funds or property
held in trust for a client to another person or entity? Effective July
1, 2004, the Wisconsin Supreme Court repealed and recreated SCR
20:1.15,
244 KB, regarding
lawyers' safekeeping of property, and trust accounts and fiduciary
accounts. The amendments to SCR 20:1.15 were the most
significant changes since the rule's inception in 1988. On April 12,
2007, the Wisconsin Supreme Court approved a petition
filed by the State Bar to make certain modifications to the 2004
ruling, which was effective July 1, 2004. The petition was based on
the recommendations of the State Bar’s Trust Account Working
Group, appointed to propose revisions the rules. The new rules
will take effect July 1, 2007. Contact the Office
of Lawyer Regulation for guidance on compliance with the new
rule.
Related links
