Oct. 15, 2014 – Legal Ease, a new monthly column distributed through newspapers statewide, answers consumers’ common legal questions, such as what to do when they are in traffic accidents or what to consider when they’re buying homes directly from owners.

“The State Bar of Wisconsin is committed to helping Wisconsin citizens better understand our legal system. This partnership with the Wisconsin Newspaper Association provides us with a great vehicle for helping reach even more people with the information they need to make informed decisions, including advice on when it’s important to hire an attorney,” said State Bar President Bob Gagan.

The first column, “I Need a Lawyer … I Think,” encourages the public to contact the State Bar’s Lawyer Hotline for general legal information or answers to simple legal questions. The State Bar’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) will make an appointment for a lawyer to contact the caller, free of charge, within a few days to briefly discuss their concerns. LRIS helps legal consumers connect with resources matched to their needs.

The Legal Ease series is part of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s continuing commitment to educate the public about the legal system. In addition to placing informational articles in newspapers and on WisBar, the State Bar also provides a wide range of public services, including public education programming, attorney referrals, and reduced-fee legal assistance for low-income state residents.

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association, established in 1853, is among the oldest press associations in the world. It serves 223 member newspapers, including 31 dailies and 192 weeklies.

Read the column.