Dec. 18, 2024 – Getting ready for the end of the year means checking up on your CLE reporting deadlines. For lawyers admitted in even-numbered years, Dec. 31, 2024, is your reporting deadline – but the rules allow another month to obtain your CLE credits.
(Got questions about earning and reporting your CLE credits? See “The Wisconsin Lawyer's Guide to Earning, Tracking, and Reporting CLE,” in
InsideTrack in November.)
Whether you’re preparing to report your CLE for 2023-24 or preparing for 2025, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® January programming offers the programs to fit your needs.
Here’s a sampling – and
check out WisBar’s Marketplace for more, or
see the list for January 2025.
Immigrants in Family Court: The Intersection of Immigration and Family Law 2025: 4.0 CLE in person at the State Bar Center in Madison 8:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025; available via webcast on specific dates January to April.
Family matters involving immigrant clients demand a unique blend of cultural awareness, family law insight, and sensitivity to complex immigration issues. Immigration law significantly impacts major aspects of family law practice, including divorce, child custody, and domestic abuse. As a result, family lawyers should be equipped to spot potential immigration issues facing their clients.
This program prepares you to recognize unique family law issues from an immigrant’s perspective, including:
the validity of marriages and divorces;
paternity and paternity acknowledgment;
residency and documentation requirements; and
cultural and religious practices.
Learn about the different types of immigration status, common terms, and meanings. Discover how family law cases and immigration petitions can influence each other. Using case studies, you’ll delve into the nuances of translation and interpretation in family court and discuss practical ways to ensure immigrant clients gain access to justice in Wisconsin.
You’ll hear how domestic abuse affects immigrant clients in family court and examine special considerations for international travel and child abduction cases involving domestic abuse.
Recent Developments and Refreshers on Disability Accommodation Law 2025: 4.0 CLE, in person at the State Bar Center in Madison 8:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025; available via webcast on specific dates January to April.
Wisconsin employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations under several key laws: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA), and the newly enacted Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). However, navigating these laws can be challenging for both employers and employees. Lawyers must clearly understand the obligations and standards set by the ADA, WFEA, and PWFA to guide their clients effectively.
This program provides guidance on recent state and federal court decisions interpreting the WFEA and ADA, highlighting where the laws overlap and diverge. You’ll also examine:
employer and employee obligations and risks associated with presenting claims under each law;
which laws and requirements apply to employees with mental health conditions seeking workplace accommodations;
key steps in the “interactive process” once an accommodation request is made; and
best practices for asking legally appropriate questions about an employee’s mental health condition.
The PWFA introduces new requirements for accommodating limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, and other related medical conditions. Discover how the PWFA impacts employers’ obligations and who is covered by the PWFA. You’ll also study the interplay between the PWFA and other disability discrimination laws.
Closing a Law Practice 2025: 1.5 CLE via webcast seminar on dates in January through March.
Co-produced with the State Bar of Wisconsin Professional Ethics Committee.
When a lawyer decides to close their practice, several ethical duties and obligations arise. Examine ethical requirements and best practices for closing a law office, whether you’re retiring or transferring to another firm. Know how to protect your clients’ interests and what to do with their files. Understand what must be communicated to current and former clients. You’ll also discuss why you should maintain malpractice insurance and how to tie up loose ends.
Seeking more options?
Check out the CLE program offerings in January. Need ethics credits?
Here are the programs offering EPR CLE in January.
Evens and Odds: When Do You Report Your CLE Credits?
"Active" status lawyers admitted to practice law in Wisconsin must obtain at least 30 continuing legal education (CLE) credits every two years. At least three of those credits must be in the area of ethics and professional responsibility (EPR).
If you were admitted in an even-numbered year, the reporting period technically ends on Dec. 31, 2024. The rules grant an additional month to obtain and report CLE activity for the reporting period. That is, to avoid a late filing fee or other penalties, 2023-24 courses must be completed by Jan. 31, 2025, and CLE reports must be submitted electronically to the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) on or before Feb. 1, 2025. Note that the 30-credit requirement applies to “Active” status members.
“Senior Active” members – those age 75 and older who are still practicing law – are only required to obtain 15 credits, three of which must be ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) credits. Other exemptions may apply based on membership status.
Find out more about earning, tracking, and reporting CLE.
