Feb. 4, 2026 – Do you seek to establish a new area of practice to help you serve your clients? Or do you need a refresher in certain areas of practice?
There’s a series of CLE programs that can help you do that: The
Build Your Practice Series from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® introduces you to the fundamentals of various practice areas. These CLE programs start from square one, allowing you to gain the tools and information you need to develop a new area of practice or refresh your knowledge of one.
Build Your Practice Series programs are endorsed by the State Bar's Young Lawyers Division.
Here are a few of the offerings this spring (with more on the way):
7.5 CLE, 1.0 EPR; available via webcast on select dates through November 2026.
Step-by-Step Estate Planning I provides a structured and practical overview of the foundational components and decisions that shape effective estate plans. Gain insights from seasoned practitioners on:
conducting initial client interviews and identifying necessary information for drafting an estate plan;
drafting wills to minimize ambiguity and reduce the risk of later disputes;
working with federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax issues;
comparing the structure, uses, and tax treatment of testamentary, living, revocable, and irrevocable trusts;
understanding the role of powers of attorney, health care directives, authorizations, and other planning documents; and
assessing whether marital property agreements enhance a client’s overall plan.
Step-by-Step Estate Planning I positions you to draft stronger documents, advise clients more effectively, and design plans that protect client legacies.
This program is endorsed by the State Bar Young Lawyers Division and the State Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section.
6.5 CLE; in person at the State Bar Center in Madison from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026; and via webcast on select dates in February through November 2026.
Step-by-Step Estate Planning II is your opportunity to build on the foundational skills from
Step-by-Step Estate Planning I. It’s also ideal for attorneys with some estate planning experience who’d like to learn more sophisticated concepts and skills.
Take a closer look at strategies for today’s varied financial profiles and family arrangements and gain practical insight into:
working with estate, gift, income, and generation-skipping taxes;
using trusts, LLCs, and family limited partnerships more effectively;
managing IRAs and retirement benefits; and
addressing the planning needs of second marriages and blended families.
Enhance your ability to handle complex scenarios, reduce unnecessary tax exposure, and deliver plans that reflect each client’s long-term goals and intentions with
Step-by-Step Estate Planning II.
This program is endorsed by the State Bar Young Lawyers Division and the State Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section.
7.0 CLE; in person at the State Bar Center in Madison from 8:30 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026; and via webcast on select dates through November 2026.
The Basics of Filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 provides a structured foundation for advising consumers and creditors dealing with bankruptcy.
In this first installment of a two-part series, experienced Wisconsin bankruptcy practitioners walk you through the steps involved in opening and managing a consumer bankruptcy case. The focus is on building sound habits at the front end of a case – where early decisions shape outcomes and can reduce downstream risk. You’ll explore:
how to conduct an effective initial consultation and evaluate whether bankruptcy is the right option for your client’s circumstances;
preparation of the full set of bankruptcy schedules needed to initiate a case;
how the means test operates and what it signals about chapter selection;
key differences between federal and state exemption schemes and how to assess which better serves your client; and
practical insight into crafting and evaluating Chapter 13 plans, including common structural considerations.
Throughout the program, presenters emphasize the judgment calls attorneys must make when translating financial information into defensible filings.
The Basics of Filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 is designed to support attorneys at any stage, from those new to bankruptcy to those seeking a structured refresher.
If you’re ready to go further,
Beyond the Basics of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 builds on this foundation with deeper analysis of divorce-related debt issues and recurring Chapter 13 challenges, including motions to dismiss, contested plans, and negotiated resolutions.
Endorsed by the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Division.
8.0 CLE; in person at the State Bar Center in Madison from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2026; and via webcast on select dates through November 2026.
Beyond the Basics of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 builds on your foundational filing knowledge, focusing on the strategic and litigation-driven issues that can arise before, during, and after bankruptcy. Emphasizing judgment, positioning, and response, veteran bankruptcy lawyers discuss:
strategic pre-bankruptcy planning considerations, including the impact of marriage, divorce, and serial filings;
litigation-driven aspects of bankruptcy practice, such as prosecuting and defending contested matters;
responding effectively to motions for relief from stay and motions to dismiss in Chapter 13 cases;
discharge, dischargeability, and avoidance actions involving preferences and fraudulent transfer claims;
advanced means test analysis, with attention to income and expense issues; and
effective objections and settlement tactics in contested cases.
If you’re just getting started in bankruptcy practice, consider attending
The Basics of Filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. It covers core concepts from the initial client consultation through common discharge-stage issues, providing the foundation for this more advanced program.
Endorsed by the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Division.
4.0 CLE; available via webcast on select dates through May 2026.
An
Introduction to Condemnation brings together counsel from both the condemnor and landowner perspectives, offering practical insight into the decisions, strategies, and pressure points that shape condemnation outcomes.
Build a clear understanding of the whole condemnation trajectory as you explore:
how appraisals are conducted, evaluated, and challenged, including key indicators of reliability and common weaknesses;
pre-negotiation requirements that must be met to avoid procedural defects, from appraisal disclosures to owner-rights notices;
how fee-shifting provisions under Wis. Stat. section 32.28 influence negotiation leverage and litigation decisions;
essential components of trial preparation for just-compensation cases, including motion practice, discovery, mediation, exhibit selection, and witness preparation; and
strategic distinctions between quick-take authority and petition procedures, and how timing affects both acquisition and defense.
A deeper understanding of these issues will help you anticipate obstacles, protect client interests, and approach condemnation matters with greater clarity and confidence.
Endorsed by the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Division.
Additional ‘Build Your Practice’ CLE Programs Coming Soon
More CLE programs in the “Build Your Practice” series will be schedule soon. Topics include:
An Introduction to Immigration Law (live and in person on April 22, 2026);
An Introduction to Consumer Law (live and in person on March 18, 2026);
Handling a Basic Probate Case (not yet scheduled); and
Basic Residential Real Estate Transactions (live and in person on April 20, 2026).
Are these areas outside your practice?
Here’s a link to help you see what else is going on in February.
