For Immediate Release

Supreme Court seeks volunteers for BBE

Madison, May 20, 1999 - The Wisconsin Supreme Court is seeking lawyers and members of the public to serve on the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE), an agency of the Court that is responsible for managing admission to the practice of law in the state, for monitoring Wisconsin-licensed attorneys' compliance with continuing legal education requirements, and for approving credit for continuing legal education courses.

A major part of the BBE's work is conducting character and fitness investigations for all candidates for bar admission by diploma privilege. Diploma privilege means that graduates of Wisconsin law schools do not have to take the bar exam to be admitted to practice in Wisconsin as long as their law school certifies their legal competence and the BBE certifies their character and fitness for the practice of law. The Board creates, administers and grades the Wisconsin bar examination and evaluates the experience and competence of experienced lawyers. It conducts character and fitness investigations of applicants in these two categories as well.

The BBE is comprised of nine members. In accordance with Supreme Court Rule 30.01, five slots are filled by lawyers, and the other four slots are filled by judges, law school faculty and members of the public. There are currently two openings for lawyers. Members of the BBE serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

Applicants should send a cover letter and resume to the Clerk of the Supreme Court, PO Box 1688, Madison, WI 53701-1688. Volunteers' materials will be reviewed for current openings and kept on file for consideration as other opportunities arise.

Current Board of Bar Examiners membership is as follows:

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