Features

• • President-elect Race: Government Lawyers Ready to Lead the State Bar
  • Get to know Michael P. May and Cheryl Furstace Daniels as they discuss changes affecting the profession and opportunities for the State Bar and its members.

• • Small Business Restructuring Act: Simplifying Chapter 11 Bankruptcies
  • A new federal law effective Feb. 19, 2020, is designed to simplify bankruptcy reorganizations for small businesses by reducing procedural and cost burdens.

Media

• A Moving Target: The Gig Economy and Independent Contractor Status

State Bar

• Steve Levine: Former President Saw Strength in Bar Diversity

• High School Mock Trial: Volunteer Judges Needed

• Honor Their Hard Work: Know an Outstanding Jurist, Lawyer, Advocate for Diversity, Legal Worker, or Law Student?

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Ethical Dilemmas: Former Clients and 'Generally Known' Information

• Risk Corridors and Promised Payments: Massive Government Bait and Switch?

Court

• U.S. Supreme Court Could Hear Mandatory Bar Case from Wisconsin

• Supreme Court Addresses Economic Loss Doctrine in Case by JeeTops Maker

• More Court News ...

Around The State

• U.W. Law School Dean Search: Committee Seeks Input, Open Teleconference Feb. 3

• Under the Radar: Human Trafficking in Wisconsin

Official Notices

• Final Order 19-08: Amending Rules to Streamline the Disciplinary Process

• Final Order 19-09: Amending Rules to Provide a Mechanism for Enforcing Disciplinary Orders

• Final Order 19-10: Amending Rules to Permit Court to Order Permanent Revocation of Law License

• Final Order 19-11: Amending Rules to Improve OLR Communications with Grievants and Streamline Procedures

• Final Order 19-12: Modifying Ethics Rules to Encourage Greater Reporting of Lawyer Misconduct

Features

• • ABA Urges Regulatory Innovation to Address Access to Justice Crisis
  • Some states, such as Utah, are already experimenting in the "regulatory sandbox" to find innovative solutions to access to justice.

• • Estate Planning: What Lawyers Need to Know About the SECURE Act
  • Estate planning lawyers should modify their estate planning forms to reflect recent changes that impact retirement account distributions after death.

Media

• Arrest and Conviction Record Discrimination in Employment

State Bar

• 183 Reasons to Celebrate: Honoring Wisconsin Lawyers in Practice 50 Years

• Pro Bono Spotlight: Jon Richards on Helping Human Trafficking Survivors

• Headed to Madison: Mock Trial High School Teams to Compete in State Finals

• Be an Active Voice in the State Bar: Run for a 2020 Board Position

Rotunda Report

• Legislature Sprints Toward Finish of 2019-20 Session

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Ethical Dilemma: What Conflicts Are Left Behind When a Lawyer Leaves a Firm?

• On Deposition Etiquette: Views from Our Own

• 6 Cyber Liability Trends Law Firms Should Know for 2020

• Legal Research: Finding Resources & Information to Assist Your Transgender Clients

Court

• Business Court Pilot Project Expands to Second and Tenth Judicial Districts

• State Supreme Court Rejects Jurisdictional Challenge in OWI Case

• Supreme Court: Statutes of Repose Do Not Bar Replevin Action for Stolen 1938 Vehicle

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Final Order 19-24: Amending Rules Relating to the Authority of the Chief Judge

• Final Order 16-05A: Pilot Project for Dedicated Trial Court Judicial Dockets for Large Claim Business and Commercial Cases

• Final Order 19-20: Amending SCR 31, Pertaining to Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

• Final Order 19-21: Judicial Districts – Iron County

Features

• • The Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Time Off Obligations (Updated)
  • The FFCRA imposes some significant new obligations on employers with fewer than 500 employees. What follows is a detailed description of the employer-leave obligations that will be required by the FFCRA.

• • Supreme Court Temporarily Eases CLE Rules, Lawyers Can Get More On-Demand Credits
  • Attorneys can obtain up to 30 continuing legal education (CLE) credits “on-demand” under a temporary order the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued today at the request of the State Bar of Wisconsin, providing more stay-at-home CLE options amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Media

• Election Law in Wisconsin: April 2 is Deadline to Request Absentee Ballot

State Bar

• Message to Members: State Bar of Wisconsin Response to COVID-19

• Elections: Who Will Represent You on the State Bar Board of Governors?

• Pro Bono Spotlight: Jeff Patzke on Filling a Need

• Why Serve on a State Bar Committee? You Can 'Do Amazing Things'

• State Bar Seeks ABA Delegates for Two-year Terms – Petitions Due April 15

Rotunda Report

• Legislature Wraps Up, Governor Signs Three Bills

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Ethical Dilemma: Can You Add Credit Card Fees to Clients' Bills?

• Law Firm Management in the Time of Pandemic

Court

• Supreme Court Issues Order on Appellate Court Operations, Deadlines During Pandemic

• Courts remain operational with some limitations in service; Supreme Court cancels March 18 oral argument

• Wisconsin court system responds to COVID-19 concerns

• Private Landowner’s Road Claim Not Barred in Eminent Domain Dispute

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Hearing Order 19-25: In the Matter of the Petition to Amend Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 12.07(2)(a), Relating to the Annual Assessment of Attorneys for the Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (Public Hearing Postponed)

• Final Order: No. 16-05C In re creation of a pilot project for dedicated trial court judicial dockets for large claim business and commercial cases (Dane County)

Features

• • Wisconsin Small Business Guide to the CARES Act
  • Loan programs available under the CARES Act can assist small businesses, including law firms, with low-interest and forgivable loans. But applicants must act fast.

• • Video Mediation: Making the New Normal Work Like Normal
  • In this article, mediator and former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Richard Sankovitz provides tips on conducting mediations remotely.

Media

• State Court System During COVID-19: With Judge Randy Koschnick

State Bar

• Honoring 15 Leaders: Celebrate Those Making a Difference

• Know a Legal Innovator? Nominate by June 30

• Who Will Be Making Your Healthcare Decisions?

• State Bar Elections: Cast Your Ballots by Email, Respond by April 24

Rotunda Report

• Legislature Holds First Ever Virtual Session Day

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Ethical Dilemma: Handling Conflicts with Co-counsel

• Federal Student Loans and the CARES Act

• Videoconferencing and COVID-19: Zooming in on Our Ethical Obligations

• Practicing Family Law in the Time of Coronavirus

• Financial Relief for Law Firms: Virtual Town Hall Recording Available

• Protecting Privilege While Working Remotely

Court

• Supreme Court Issues Temporary Mailbox Rule for Paper Filings

• More Court News ...

Around The State

• Comments Invited: Reappointment of Magistrate Judge James R. Sickel

Features

• • COVID-19 and Legal Trends: Finding Opportunity Amidst Downturn
  • A recent legal industry trends report found that new matter creation dropped by nearly 40 percent in April as individuals and business defer legal matters. But those matters aren't going away, and lawyers must find innovative ways to serve clients.

• • Returning to Work: Creating a Safe Workplace for Employees and Clients
  • Confused about the myriad of regulations and best practices guiding return-to-work policies? You're not alone. Learn about the guidelines and standards employers should follow to create a safe working environment for employees returning to work sites.

Media

• What Employers Should Know When Bringing Workers Back

State Bar

• Gregory Grau: The 'Gold Standard of Judges'

• Turbocharging Change: Who are Wisconsin's Legal Innovators?

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Ethical Dilemma: Can Credit Card Fees Be Deducted from Payments into Operating Accounts?

• Managing Remote Workers: Build New Management Muscles

• When Lawyers Push the Boundaries in Litigation

Court

• Chief Justice's Wisconsin Court COVID-19 Task Force Issues Report

• In 4-3 Decision, Wisconsin Supreme Court Blocks Statewide Safe-at-Home Order

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Final Order: Waiving In-person Attendance Requirement for State Bar Board of Governors Meetings and Annual Meeting

• Final Order 19-22: Judicial Education Requirements

Features

• • Petition Sets Rules for Future Redistricting Litigation
  • The Wisconsin Legislature redraws voting district boundaries every 10 years, and litigation usually follows. A recent petition submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court would establish the rules for any redistricting litigation in the next cycle.

• • Class of 2020: New Lawyers amid Pandemic, Social Unrest
  • Meet seven new Wisconsin lawyers, just completing their final semester and beginning their careers as lawyers, while in a world of pandemic, social unrest, and economic challenges.

Media

• WAAL Presidents Discuss Racism, Protests

State Bar

• Racial Equity of Black Americans: It's Time to Step Up | A Statement

• Board Discusses Steps to Combat Racial Disparity, Advance Equal Justice

• Turbocharging Change: Who are Wisconsin's Legal Innovators?

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Dilemma: When a Family Court Commissioner's Partner Practices in Family Law

• Court of Appeals: Subcontractors Cannot Sue Each Other for Negligence

• Mandatory Indemnification: Sue Me and You'll Pay My Attorneys' Fees

• Senate Passes Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Bill

Court

• Bankruptcy Court: Governor's COVID-19 Order Triggered Force Majeure Clause

• Court Order re Resumption of in-Person Proceedings in Attorney Regulatory Matters

• Court Order re Emergency Procedures Related to CARES Act Temporary Moratorium on Eviction Filings

• More Court News ...

Around The State

• Racial Justice Summit: 'It's a Movement'

Official Notices

• OLR Hearing to Reinstate William J. Spangler

Features

• • Vicarious Trauma in Jurors: Our Civic Duty's Emotional Impact
  • Juror trauma is real. But court systems don't typically provide post-trial mental health services for jurors. Should court systems do more to help jurors after tough cases?

• • Bench Trial by Zoom: Tips to Prove or Defend Your Case by Video
  • Knowing the pitfalls and opportunities in advance can help you and your client have a less stressful experience, and enable the court to function efficiently under these new circumstances.

Media

• Education Rights and COVID-19 with Jeff Spitzer-Resnick

State Bar

• Anza D'Antonio Opens Doors to the Legal Profession

• WisLawNOW Brings Together Wisconsin's Community of Legal Bloggers

• Client Protection Fund: More than $46k Reimbursed for Lawyer Theft

• Executive Committee Takes Up Keller Dues Evaluation Aug. 21 for Fiscal Year 2022

Events

• New Yet Familiar: Virtual Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference Set for October

Practice

• Contact Tracing and Ethical Duties of Communication and Confidentiality

• Legal Research 101: Getting Started in Bankruptcy

• What Do Wisconsin Judges Think About Mediating Cases?

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• What’s the Difference? Rules, Guidance Documents, and Agency Publications

• Supreme Court Adopts Changes to OLR Disciplinary Process

• The New Chapter 140: Remote Online Notarization in Wisconsin

Court

• Electronic Filing Begins in the Court of Appeals

• Supreme Court: DHS Exceeded Authority with Medicaid Recoupment Policy

• Supreme Court: Challenge to Former Gov. Walker's Budget Bill Vetoes Barred

• More Court News ...

Features

• • Student Loan Debt: State Task Force Eyes Solutions, PSLF Still an Option
  • Law school graduates may begin careers with massive student debt. A state-level task force recently made recommendations to attract and retain talented professionals with student debt solutions beyond the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

• • Mentoring Amid Pandemic: Diversity Clerkship Employers Forge Opportunities at a Distance
  • The employers and clerks of the 2020 State Bar of Wisconsin Diversity Clerkship Program overcame challenges of the pandemic to connect with each other at a distance and give the clerks valuable experience with the practice of law.

Media

• Basic Technology for Your Solo or Small Firm

Events

• Reinvigorate Your Practice at 2020 Solo & Small-firm Conference

• Join the Swearing In of Kathy Brost as State Bar President

• You're Invited: Honoring Justices Louis Butler & Jon Wilcox

Rotunda Report

• Rotunda Report Live: 2020 State Assembly Elections Preview

Practice

• Legal Research 101: Estate Planning

• Ethics Opinion: Current or Former Client as Adverse Witness

• A Judge's Plea to Litigators: Help Me Resolve the Case

• Update: Latest on COVID-19 Loan Relief Order and Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• When Health Care Workers Are Arrested: Health, Criminal, and Employment Law Issues

Court

• Appeals Court Reverses Expungement Order, Convictions Remain on Record

• Voluntary Electronic Filing Opens in District II Court of Appeals

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Hearing to Reinstate Beth M. Bant

• Hearing to Reinstate Daniel Morse

Features

• • Apart but Together: Solo and Small Firm Lawyers Prepare for Virtual Conference
  • The clock is ticking. Learn why you should attend this year's Wisconsin Solo and Small Firm Conference from the lawyers who make attendance a priority.

• • Affordable Care Act on the Ropes: U.S Supreme Court to Decide
  • The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a major challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act just days after the 2020 presidential election.

Media

• Rotunda Report: 2020 Legislative Session Wrap Up

State Bar

• Be a Mentor or Get One: Mentoring Program Helps Young Lawyers and All Lawyers

• Join 'This Good Fight': Run for State Bar Officer or Board Position

• Health Insurance Marketplace: What You Need to Know Now

• State Bar Board Sends Emeritus Petition to Supreme Court, Takes Other Actions

• A Celebration, COVID Style: Kathy Brost Sworn In as 65th State Bar President

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Legal Research 101: Where to Find Real Estate Resources

• Legal and Tax Requirements when Selling and Buying on Facebook Live

• Is There a Way to Cure Maintenance Arrearages in Wisconsin?

Court

• Supreme Court Clarifies Court Operation Plans During COVID-19, Extends Orders

• Voluntary Electronic Filing Opens in District IV Court of Appeals

• Attorney Fees Apply: City Disclosed Public Records but After Lawsuit Filed

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Hearing to Reinstate Scott E. Selmer

• Supreme Court re Jury Trials, Remote Hearings, and Statutory Deadlines

Features

• • Legal Innovation in 2020
  • Meet this year's Wisconsin Legal Innovators – forward thinkers all. Amid this year's challenges, they put in place creative solutions to address a range of issues affecting the public's access to justice.

• • The Wisconsin Lawyer's Guide to Earning, Tracking, and Reporting CLE
  • Do you find continuing legal education (CLE) rules confusing? You have enough to worry about. In about five minutes, learn what you need to know about earning, tracking, and reporting CLE.

Media

• WI Solo & Small Firm Conference: Managing Remote Workers with Dan Truehl

State Bar

• 9 Tips from the (Virtual) Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference

• 40 Years of Mentoring: David Carlson Receives Distinguished Service Award for Nurturing New Lawyers

• Join Us in a Virtual Round of Applause to 15 Leaders Who Make a Difference

• Get a Mentor, Be a Mentor: Apply for State Bar Mentoring Program

Rotunda Report

• Rotunda Report Short: Expungement Reform

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Legal Research 101: Finding Worker's Compensation Resources

Court

• U.S. Supreme Court Denies Bid to Extend Mail-In Ballot Deadlines in Wisconsin

• Voluntary Electronic Filing Now Available in all Court of Appeals Districts

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Final Order: CDC Eviction Moratorium Compliance for Eviction Filings

Features

• • COVID Litigation: Floodgates Open on Business Interruption Insurance
  • Businesses nationwide, including Wisconsin, have filed nearly 2,000 lawsuits that seek coverage for business losses based on COVID-19 and government shutdown orders.

• • Defining 'Sex' in Title VII: The Bostock Decision and LGBTQ Rights
  • The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against gay, lesbian, and transgender employees in workplaces. Hayley Archer discusses the case, its potential implications, and what it means for employees in Wisconsin.

Media

• New Pro Bono Portal Helps Lawyers to Find Opportunities

State Bar

• Father of LLCs: Joe Boucher Receives Distinguished Service Award

• Prepayment Plan for Supreme Court Assessments and State Bar Dues: Sign Up by Jan. 8

• Make an Impact in Your Profession and Your Community: Support the Wisconsin Law Foundation

• Reward Leadership: Know an Outstanding Jurist, Lawyer, Advocate for Diversity, Legal Worker, or Law Student?

• Make a Difference: Mentors Needed for State Bar Mentoring Program

• It's Open Enrollment Season: Is Your Firm Eligible for State Bar Group Health Plan?

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Legal Research: What’s New with HeinOnline?

• On Increasing Client Revenue: DIY Marketing Tips for 2021

• The Wisconsin Lawyer's Guide to Earning, Tracking, and Reporting CLE

• Environmental Regulation after U.S. Supreme Court's McGirt Decision

Court

• Wisconsin Supreme Court Clarifies Alford Plea Requirements

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Rule Petition 20-07 Public Administrative Rules Hearings During COVID-19 Pandemic