Sept. 3, 2025 – When attorney Jacob Haller looks back on the milestones in his career, one experience stands out as a turning point: the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy.

“Yes, it is absolutely worth it,” Haller says. The Academy helped him develop the skills, confidence, and connections that he’s leaned on in every leadership role since.

“I think no matter what path you take, if you are interested in leadership whatsoever, this is absolutely a tool you should take advantage of.”

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy equips lawyers with the skills, tools, and networks to lead. And now, with registration open for the next class of participants, Wisconsin lawyers have the opportunity to follow in Haller’s footsteps.

Building a Career in Service

Law is Haller’s second career. “During law school, I was convinced I wanted to be a public defender. And I was engaging with mental health treatment courts [and] with drug treatment courts. That was kind of my passion.”

But shortly before graduation, his wife was pregnant, and priorities shifted. “I found a job with Legal Action [of Wisconsin].” The position allowed Haller to continue working with a lot of the same people he was seeing in criminal courts, but from the civil legal aid side. “So I jumped at that opportunity.”

Why the Academy?

Despite being early in his legal career, Haller knew he wanted to build leadership skills. A background in IT had given him some supervisory experience, and he saw the value of preparing for leadership in the legal profession.

“When the opportunity came up and they were like, hey, we can teach you how to be a better leader in the legal field, [that] aligns with what I want to do, so it was an easy decision,” says Haller.

He saw immediate value in the curriculum, which includes practical modules – time management, delegation, and public speaking – as well as broader lessons about leading diverse groups of people.

“Everyone can always be better at public speaking … that was one of the main draws,” says Haller. “I think the networking with other leaders and future leaders was really exciting to me.”

Practical Lessons

The Academy left him with skills that continue to shape his practice. Two lessons in particular stand out to Haller years later:

1. The importance of timekeeping. “On the mechanical side of things, the one that has stuck with me the most is contemporaneous timekeeping. And I know it's kind of a humdrum topic, but it has made such a difference in both my leadership and then in just my personal practice. It is critical.”

2. Managing your professional network. “You will lead a diverse group of people. And they're all going to be different and they're going to have different things that motivate them… So really taking time to learn who your staff is, to learn who the people around you are and what makes them tick can pay dividends.”

Building a Network

Beyond skills, the Academy introduced Haller to attorneys across Wisconsin and across practice areas. “You do meet attorneys from every corner of the state and you also meet attorneys from every practice area as well,” Haller says.

Those connections became invaluable. “There was a situation once where I had a hearing … two and a half hours from where I live. I was able to reach out to one of my connections and they basically set me up with some office space [and] coffee. I was able to bring my client in. It looked very professional… It really worked out and made the situation go much more smoothly.”

Leadership in Action

Since completing the Academy, Haller has stepped into numerous leadership roles. “I became the assistant director at my program and now the co-director of my program through the State Bar. I then eventually became the chair of the Public Interest Law section.”

More recently, Haller ran for, and won, an elected office in his village, was appointed to the State Bar’s Legal Assistance Committee, and started a new position as Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel.

For Haller, the Academy also created opportunities to mentor others. “It helped me engage with people who I could figure out wanted to be leaders and help direct them to things like the Leadership Academy and help hopefully mentor and guide them into leadership roles, which there are plenty of in the State Bar.”

Take His Advice

Haller encourages lawyers not to hesitate. “I would tell them don't be on the fence about doing this. I mean, there's not a lot of reasons not to. I know they have scholarships [available] … it's a couple days of your time, you build a really solid network.”

Ready to Apply?

For Jacob Haller, the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy wasn’t just a professional development program – it was a springboard to building the skills, confidence, and connections that he’s leaned on since. “It was an illuminating experience all around.”

Now it’s your turn. Registration for the upcoming Leadership Academy is open now. Don’t wait – space is limited, and this is your opportunity to invest in yourself, your career, and the future of Wisconsin’s legal community.

Learn more at wisbar.org/leadership