Top Story

• • Corporate Transparency Act on Hold for Now
  • The challenge to the Corporate Transparency Act moved rapidly through the federal system in December, resulting in a nationwide injunction that was briefly vacated then reinstated. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court may decide.

Features

• • New Reporting Requirements for Non-Financed Residential Real Estate Transfers
  • Failure to understand when a FinCEN report is required could subject the lawyer (and potentially the lawyer's firm) to civil penalties of up to $108,489 for a pattern of negligent activity. For willful violations, the lawyer could be subject to imprisonment up to 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

• • Welcome to 'InsideTrack Weekly'! Smaller Doses, More Frequency
  • Starting today, InsideTrack will be delivered to your inbox weekly.

• • 'Listening to Lawyers' and 'Practice Pulse' Join the Podcast Mix in 2025
  • Two new podcasts are joining our rotation: Listening to Lawyers and Practice Pulse.

• • CBD, THC, and the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act
  • Wisconsin’s prohibition on discrimination based on an employee’s use of lawful products complicates employer drug testing for marijuana. John Chick offers advice to attorneys on both the management and plaintiff sides when handling cases involving legal use of products that may trigger a positive drug test.

• • Mock Trial Students Need Your Help
  • The 2025 Wisconsin High School Mock Trial season has begun – the program needs attorneys and judges to help make the tournaments happen. No experience is necessary to help these students compete.

• • Forensic Justice Institute Covers Intersection of Science and Justice
  • Accurate and reliable forensic science plays a critical role in the pursuit of justice. The Forensic Justice Institute, held online on Jan. 24, 2025, helps lawyers understand scientific evidence and its application in the courtroom.

• • Federal and Local Court Rules: Latest Updates
  • Court rules for the following jurisdictions have been updated recently: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Washburn, Outagamie, Langlade, Kenosha, Lincoln, Milwaukee, and Vilas counties.

• • Final Order 24-03: Rules of Judicial Administration
  • On June 19, 2024, The Director of State Courts filed this rule petition asking the court to amend, create, and repeal parts of Supreme Court Rule Chapter 70, pertaining to the rules of judicial administration.

Top Story

• • Meet Johanna Kirk and Stephen Sawyer: Candidates for the State Bar's Top Leadership Spot
  • Johanna Kirk of Thorp and Stephen Sawyer of Stevens Point are candidates for State Bar president-elect. Both have experience as lawyers in Wisconsin's rural areas – and these experiences inform their views on important issues facing the legal profession and the State Bar.

Features

• • Bypass Petitions to the Wisconsin Supreme Court
  • Petitions to bypass have increased in use in the past three years, but the end run around the Wisconsin Court of Appeals succeeds rarely, and not everyone on the supreme court agrees when the court should grant bypass.

• • Judicial Council Update: The Council's Need for Funding
  • Your State Bar representatives on the Wisconsin Judicial Council ask for your help to secure proper funding for the Council's important work to improve Wisconsin's rules of court practice and procedure.

• • We Need Your Insights: Serve on a State Bar Committee
  • Consider stepping forward to accept the challenge of volunteering your time to help the State Bar and those it serves.

• • State Bar Seeks ABA Delegates for Two-year Terms – Petitions Due April 15
  • Do you seek opportunities that will put you in contact with the leaders of your profession? Submit your petition to represent Wisconsin's legal community through the American Bar Association House of Delegates.

• • February CLE Programming from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
  • Looking for CLE? On topics from business litigation trends and tax law developments to speaking and writing effectively, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE offers programs to keep you on top of your practice.

• • Hearing Order 24-05: To Increase Fee for Public Interest Legal Services Fund
  • On July 3, 2024, a rule petition was filed asking the court to amend Supreme Court Rule 13.045(1) to increase the annual assessment of attorneys for the Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF), which supports legal services for people of limited means in non-criminal matters.

• • Petition to Reinstate Joan M. Boyd
  • On Dec. 30, 2024, Joan M. Boyd filed a petition for reinstatement of her Wisconsin law license.

• • Court Rules Updates: Learn What Local Court Rules Have Been Updated Recently
  • The following court rules have been updated recently: Bayfield, Marathon, Milwaukee, Portage, and Taylor counties.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

Top Story

• • FAA Considering Regulations to Help Stranded Passengers
  • The request for comments to create proposed rules comes at an awkward time for federal agencies, but political dissatisfaction with air travel and the 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act may keep the process moving.

Features

• • Beyond the Billable Hour: Generative AI Is Already Reshaping Law Firm Economics
  • Rapid advancement of generative AI tools are reshaping the legal practice, and law firms are facing a fundamental challenge to their traditional business model. Srishti Ponnala discusses how firms using AI can develop their practice and compensation models to thrive in this new era of legal practice.

• • The Value of Paralegals and Why Certification Matters
  • Paralegals are a vital member of many Wisconsin law firms and play an important role in the legal profession. Angela Gonzalez, a State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal (SBWCP), shares her insights on the value of paralegals and how certification enhances the quality of service provided to attorneys and clients.

• • Supreme Court: Complainant to Wisconsin Elections Commission Lacked Standing
  • A 4-3 Wisconsin Supreme Court majority declined to decide a voter's complaint of five alleged violations of election law because it concluded those complaints to the Wisconsin Election Commission did not personally affect him.

• • Headed to Madison: 20 High School Mock Trial Teams to Compete in Semifinals
  • Congratulations to the teams who competed in 2025 Wisconsin High School Mock Trial regional tournament! The top 20 teams will compete in the semifinals tournament in early March in Madison.

• • Lawyers: You Don't Need to be Perfect When Organizing Your Work
  • Lawyers can often struggle to become more organized in their professional and personal lives. Are you one of them? Here’s an idea: try using an unconventional organizational method based on emotion.

• • Attend the Young Lawyers Conference on March 28
  • Young lawyers, you're invited to the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Conference. Meet in Brookfield on Friday, March 28, for free CLE sessions and networking. ABA President-elect Michelle Behnke will give the keynote speech.

• • Recent Book Releases from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
  • Keep your practice up to date with books from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE.

Top Story

• • Leading the State Bar: Q&A with President-elect Candidates
  • Candidates Stephen W. Sawyer and Johanna R. Kirk, from central Wisconsin, discuss how they would address the challenges facing Wisconsin attorneys.

Features

• • Hello, Goodbye: CTA Enforcement Suspended
  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury suspended enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies. On Sunday night, the Treasury announced that U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies will no longer face penalties or fines for failure to report under the CTA.

• • Finding Fault: The History of Grounds for Divorce in Wisconsin
  • In Wisconsin, the requirement of finding fault in divorce has come and gone over the decades. Comm. Barry Boline discusses the history of divorce and finding fault in Wisconsin.

• • State Bar Board of Governors Defers Action on Proposal for More Access to Online Court Records
  • The Board of Governors requested further study on the proposed pilot project, which would expand online attorney access to Wisconsin court documents. The Board also discussed a proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 and approved the Keller dues reductions amount.

• • Legal Research and AI with vLex's Damien Riehl
  • A conversation on the transformative impact of AI on legal research, with Damien Riehl from vLex.

• • Appeals Court: Pandemic Medical Malpractice Immunity Unconstitutional
  • The pandemic could not justify eliminating a mother's right to a jury trial for a claim of medical malpractice arising from childbirth and the death of her newborn son in 2020, making a statute granting broad immunity to health care providers unconstitutional.

• • Annual Meeting Is in Madison This June: Register Now for Best Rates
  • Registration is open for the State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Meeting & Conference. This year AMC takes place June 18-20 in Madison. Join us at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center – register now for the best rates.

• • March and April CLE Programming from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
  • Looking for CLE? From personal injury and treatment courts, to the 2025 Wispact Update, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE offers programs to keep you on top of your practice.

• • Attend the Young Lawyers Conference on March 28
  • Young lawyers, you're invited to the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Conference. Meet in Brookfield on Friday, March 28, for free CLE sessions and networking. ABA President-elect Michelle Behnke will give the keynote speech.

• • State Bar Seeks ABA Delegates for Two-year Terms – Petitions Due April 15
  • Do you seek opportunities that will put you in contact with the leaders of your profession? Submit your petition to represent Wisconsin's legal community through the American Bar Association House of Delegates.

Top Story

• • Act 16 Unpacked: New Housing Rules Explained
  • 2023 Wis. Act 16 affects zoning amendments, residential housing permits, judicial review of development decisions, and planned development district zoning. While some provisions took effect immediately, others became effective Jan. 1, 2025. Municipalities, and their lawyers, should now ensure compliance with the Act's requirements.

Features

• • Supreme Court Increases PILSF Fee
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court approved the petition to increase the annual lawyer fee for the Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF) by $50 in two increments. The State Bar of Wisconsin shared with the court its members' views (largely in opposition) to the petition and argued that only the Wisconsin Legislature can properly fund civil legal aid. To that end, the State Bar plans to pursue further legislative funding.

• • Navigating Flow-Down Clauses in Federal Projects
  • Subcontractors on federal projects must often contend with a variety of standard clauses that are “flowed down” from the prime contract to the subcontract. While the subcontractor may be able to reject certain of these clauses, those that remain can impose significant obligations on the subcontractor, writes Samuel Jack.

• • Legal Research 101: Stay on Track with Law and Regulation Updates
  • Did you know you can set up email or RSS feed notifications for legislative and regulatory updates? Law librarian Carol Hassler takes you through setting up notifications and alerts to keep you updated automatically.

• • 5 Strategies for Lawyers to Prioritize Mental Health in a Stressful Practice
  • Lawyers, how do you find time in your busy and stressful practice to protect your mental health? Cara Lamusga, WisLAP member coordinator, offers strategies to help you lower stress and preserve your joy.

• • Commercial Loan Basics
  • Most transactional attorneys will encounter deals that involve commercial loans. But what exactly does that mean, and what are the basics attorneys should know, even if they don't have primary responsibility for drafting or reviewing loan documents?

• • April Elections: Who Will Represent You on the State Bar Board of Governors?
  • With the April elections approaching, now is the time to learn about the candidates asking for your vote to lead the State Bar of Wisconsin as governors.

Top Story

• • Alternative Business Structures: Big Accounting Firm Establishes U.S. Law Firm
  • International accounting firm KPMG LLP’s approval to open a law firm in Arizona spotlights experiments with Alternative Business Structures (ABS), which allow lawyers to work under nonlawyers, an option not available in Wisconsin or most states.

Features

• • Variations in the Legal Rights of Residential Landlords and Tenants
  • Landlords and tenants may be subject to claims under various provisions of the law, varying by jurisdiction. Jennifer Schank discusses Wisconsin landlord tenant law and how it may vary by city and county.

• • The Corporate Transparency Act is Here (Not Really). Now It’s Off (Mostly)?
  • After a 4-week hiatus, I am back again with what are likely to be the final updates on the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for a while (famous last words).

• • Why Family Law Attorneys Should Consult with a Defamation Attorney
  • Family law attorneys should consult defamation counsel to evaluate any potential claims, remove unwanted online content, unmask anonymous online actors, and mount an aggressive defense in a contentious divorce.

• • Election-Related Injunction Fails at Wisconsin Supreme Court
  • The Attorney General’s attempt to obtain an injunction to stop Elon Musk’s $1 million giveaways planned at a campaign rally last Sunday as alleged violations of Wisconsin election law failed ultimately at the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

• • Court of Appeals: Statutes Didn’t Allow Rejection for Ballot Error
  • Wisconsin election law prohibited rejection of three ballots that lacked initials from two election officials, although the absence of initials violated another election statute.

• • Deliverability Challenges with State Bar Communications
  • Since last November, the State Bar of Wisconsin has experienced an increase in the number of messages failing to deliver to member email inboxes. Here's more information and how to manage your elists.

• • Law Foundation Grants Available for Charitable and Public Education Programs – Apply by April 18
  • Grants of up to $2,800 are available for programs that help public understanding of the legal system. Past recipients include teen court programs across the state and programs that increase access to justice. Apply by April 18, 2025.

• • State Bar Awards: Celebrate these Leaders in the Law Making a Difference
  • They are members of the legal community who make a difference – by living a lifetime of service, mentoring others, offering their pro bono services, and going the extra mile. Congratulations to these award recipients, all leaders in the legal profession.

• • State Bar Elections: Vote April 10 to 25
  • Help set the direction and policies of the State Bar of Wisconsin by voting in the upcoming elections. Look for your email ballot soon. Here's more about the candidates and what you need to know to cast your vote.

Top Story

• • Demystifying Per Curiam Decisions
  • It may be easier to know what to do with a per curiam decision – usually don't cite it – than why a court would decide to issue one. But settled law, consensus, and caseload management can be factors.

Features

• • Delaware Enacts Significant Changes to its General Corporation Law
  • The Delaware Legislature has been moving quickly to ensure that Delaware remains the preeminent home of choice for many corporations. Eric G. Pearson discusses changes to the state's general corporation law.

• • Jill Creston Rothstein Selected as Next Executive Director for the State Bar of Wisconsin
  • The State Bar of Wisconsin's 53-member Board of Governors today selected Jill Creston Rothstein as the State Bar's next Executive Director. Rothstein, currently general counsel for the South Carolina Bar, will succeed Larry J. Martin, who is retiring Sept. 2, 2025.

• • State Bar Board Selects Next Executive Director, Approves FY 2026 Budget, Takes Other Action
  • The Board of Governors approved the fiscal year 2026 budget, agreed not to oppose a petition to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to eliminate the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) system’s district committees, and discussed reapportionment of State Bar districts, among other items.

• • Vote Now: 2025 State Bar Elections Open Through April 25
  • ​Voting is open for the 2025 State Bar of Wisconsin elections. Here is more information on who is eligible to vote, and how to vote.

• • Grassroots, From the Courtroom to the Capitol
  • From sending a message using the Advocacy Network, to testifying at a legislative hearing, to building a long-term relationship with your elected officials, you have power to effect policy change.

• • Nancy Kopp, Wisconsin Supreme Court Commissioner, Retires After 37 Years
  • The Wisconsin Court System is actively seeking candidates to serve as a Wisconsin Supreme Court Commissioner.

Top Story

• • 50-Year Members: Harkening Back to Law, Legal Profession in 1975
  • Some legal issues from 1975 concern us today, while other matters of law and practice that fresh law school graduates remember seem to us now like bright-colored bell bottoms. Hear the stories from the class of 1975, now 50-year members of the State Bar.

Features

• • Waiting for All Issues to Resolve? You May Miss the Appeal Window
  • Attorneys need to know and follow rules of civil and appellate procedure to avoid compromising the rights of their clients. Jolene Schneider discusses lessons from Morway v. Morway on the importance of incorporating finality statements into post-judgment orders.

• • Amid New Tariffs, Review Client Contracts
  • Companies affected by international supply chains are advised to review their service agreements, purchasing agreements, purchase orders, and terms and conditions. Samantha Baker discusses key contractual considerations for industries most affected by current and future tariffs.

• • Constitution Allows Partial Veto Fixing Biennial Budget Increase for 402 Years
  • While a 4-3 majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld Gov. Tony Evers' partial vetoes as constitutional after reviewing the constitutional amendment and 90 years of precedent, the dissent said the court's decisions have increasingly defied the constitution for the past half-century.

• • State Bar of Wisconsin Welcomes 22 New Wisconsin Lawyers
  • Join us in celebrating 22 new Wisconsin lawyers! Many passed the February 2025 bar exam, with some launching their legal careers and others embracing new paths here in Wisconsin. Congratulations!

• • Your Practice, Elevated: What State Bar Membership Gives You
  • Members should soon receive their FY 2026 statements for Wisconsin Supreme Court assessments and State Bar of Wisconsin membership dues. Be sure to take advantage of your member benefits.

• • State Bar President-elect Post Goes to Stephen Sawyer
  • Stephen Sawyer is the next president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Here are the results for the State Bar officer and Board of Governors' elections for 2025-26.

• • Final Order 24-05: Public Interest Legal Services Fund Annual Assessment
  • The Petitioners request an increase to a $75 annual assessment, beginning on July 1, 2025, and then to $100, beginning July 1, 2027.

Top Story

• • Firearm Businesses: The Interplay Between Regulation and Litigation
  • Extensive regulation controls the business of manufacturing, distributing, and selling firearms, and for that reason, law-abiding businesses cannot be found liable for the criminal acts of others perpetrated by guns without their knowledge.

Features

• • Common Misconceptions About Worker's Compensation in Wisconsin
  • Debunking misconceptions surrounding worker's compensation in Wisconsin and clarifying what injured workers need to know.

• • From Law School to Law Practice: 151 Marquette Grads Take the Oath in Wisconsin
  • Meet 151 new Wisconsin lawyers, the Class of 2025 graduates from Marquette University Law School. Welcome to the legal profession!

• • Share Your Opinion with Your Legislator on Civil Legal Aid Funding
  • The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors believes that Wisconsin lawmakers should help cover the "justice gap" by increasing state funding for civil legal aid providers. But lawmakers still need to hear directly from you.

• • Court of Appeals: Gas-Fired Power Plant Rule Requires Remand
  • Although the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decided with sufficient evidence that a natural gas-fired power plant permit did not need storage batteries to best control air pollution, a DNR protocol is a rule the agency failed to promulgate, requiring remand.

• • Local Court Rules Update: Dane County
  • The following court rules have been updated recently: Dane County

• • The Power of Legal Mentorship
  • Mentoring is one of the most important – and fulfilling – roles a lawyer can take on, says Mary Ferwerda, the 2025 Outstanding Mentor of the Year.

• • Latest Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
  • The Wisconsin Lawyer magazine delivers the insights, stories, and knowledge attorneys rely on to excel in their law practice and lead the profession.

• • Are You Taking Advantage of Your Member Benefits?
  • From the day the State Bar was established, we have aspired to serve and support our members. Your practice is our purpose.

Top Story

• • Retired Justice Patience D. Roggensack Reflects Fondly on Her Service on the Wisconsin Appellate Courts and Provides Tips for Practitioners
  • Justice Patience D. Roggensack reflects on her service on the Wisconsin Appellate Courts and provides tips for practitioners.

Features

• • In Bankruptcy Practice, 'Start at the Shallow End'
  • Bankruptcy law is intimidating – and a lawyer's errors can irrevocably harm a vulnerable client – but it's a practice area with growing demand. Learn applicable law, build financial literacy, and start with simple cases.

• • Executive Order Effectively Eliminates Disparate Impact Liability in Federal Employment Discrimination Cases
  • A recent Executive Order effectively removes the use of disparate impact theory in evaluating discrimination claims against federal employers. Katherine O'Malley discusses the Order, its impact, and key takeaways.

• • ABA Techshow: Takeaways from the 40th Anniversary Event
  • The 2025 ABA Techshow helps attendees stay informed about technological advancements and adapt to the changing landscape to remain competitive in the legal industry.

• • Talking Malpractice Insurance with Matt Beier of WILMIC​​
  • In this episode of the Practice Pulse podcast, Matt Beier from Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co. (WILMIC) dives into the complexities of legal malpractice insurance.

• • The Newest Generation of Advocates: 204 U.W. Law Grads Join State Bar
  • The future of Wisconsin's legal profession just got brighter. With guidance and welcome from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, 204 U.W. Law School graduates begin their legal careers as the newest members of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

• • Supreme Court: Doctor Potentially Liable Even if Not Physically Present
  • Although the physician wasn't in the room where it happened, her patient who lost her ovaries without consent during a colon surgery raised a claim that could proceed past a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.

• • Young Lawyer of the Year: How to Make an Impact in Law
  • When JJ Moore was seven years old, sheriff’s deputies came to evict his family. Decades later, he’s made it his mission to ensure others in crisis don’t face those moments alone. Now a staff attorney at Legal Action of Wisconsin, Moore is the 2025 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year.

• • Intellectual Property Academy in July: Register by June 16 for Best Rate
  • The 19th annual Intellectual Property Academy is July 17-18 in Sturgeon Bay. Register soon for the best price – the early-bird discount expires June 16, 2025.

Top Story

• • Emergency Rule Protects Employees From Heat, Starting With Migrant Workers
  • The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's emergency rule protecting against occupational heat risks for migrant workers addresses the absence of a proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule.

Features

• • Lawmakers Recognize Need for New Criminal Justice Positions
  • Ongoing, sustainable investment is needed in Wisconsin's criminal justice system. The best way to ensure that happens this budget cycle is for lawmakers to hear from you.

• • On Tolerance and the Practice of Law. And Goats.
  • In an era of divisiveness and intolerance, Pete Trotter shares a lesson on tolerance from the farm, and how this lesson can be applied by attorneys to both demonstrate and advocate for tolerance in the practice of law.

• • The Challenges of Confidential Name Changes in Wisconsin
  • Recent changes aim to streamline the procedure and provide greater privacy protections for those seeking to change their names confidentially. Evan McCarthy discusses the changes, which are particularly beneficial for individuals seeking a name change due to safety concerns or for personal reasons.

• • Legal Research 101: Tracking Municipal Legislation
  • Looking into a municipality's code is a good place to start for identifying municipal legislation. Law librarian Franky Newcomb discusses the key sources for uncovering municipal legislative information.

• • Supreme Court: Warning Sufficient That Client Wasn't Speaking Confidentially
  • Although three justices thought the circuit court should have offered confidential communications between the defendant and his lawyer during a Zoom hearing, a 6-1 Wisconsin Supreme Court majority concluded that the circuit court did not violate due process.

• • Supreme Court: Expert Statistics Not Witness Vouching
  • A unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court held that expert testimony on the statistical likelihood of false reporting of child sexual abuse did not violate State v. Haseltine's prohibition against vouching for witness credibility.

• • NEW from PINNACLE: Animal Law Handbook
  • New from State Bar PINNACLE, Animal Law Handbook fills a critical gap in the legal publishing landscape by offering this comprehensive, Wisconsin-specific guide to the broad and growing field of animal law.

Top Story

• • The Heart of Giving: Lifetime Giving Strategy
  • When it comes to creating a lifetime giving strategy for clients, financial planners and estate planning attorneys can – and should – work as a team.

Features

• • Building a Family Law Practice: Insights from Max T. Stephenson
  • Starting as a new lawyer with no family law experience, Max T. Stephenson shares insights from his 12-year career path building a successful family law practice.

• • Supreme Court: DNR's Communications Were Guidance Documents, Not Rules
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court concluded that Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) statements naming PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under the Spills Law were guidance documents, not unpromulgated regulations.

• • Wisconsin’s NIL Lawsuit Against Miami Could Shake Up College Recruiting
  • In a move that could reshape the college sports landscape, the University of Wisconsin and its name, image and likeness collective, VC Connect, LLC, sued the University of Miami on Friday, alleging that Miami tampered with former Badgers football player Xavier Lucas and interfered with NIL contracts signed by Lucas.

• • Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Making an Impact in Law
  • Sarah A. Johnson, the 2025 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, shares her journey of volunteering with Legal Action of Wisconsin, where she supports low-income clients and streamlines clinic operations with custom automation tools.

• • Governor and Legislative Leaders Find Compromise to Finish Biennial Budget Impasse
  • Legislative leaders and Governor Evers were able to work out a bipartisan agreement on the biennial budget after a deadline passed on June 30. Here's where issues that affect State Bar members stand.

• • CLE Programming for July from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
  • Looking for CLE? From programs on hearsay to exploring First Amendment speech protections and criminal harassment, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE offers programs to keep you on top of your practice.

• • Partial Veto Doesn’t Work on Non-Appropriation Bill, State Supreme Court Rules
  • In a unanimous decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that Gov. Tony Evers exceeded his veto authority by using partial vetoes for a bill that didn’t appropriate funds.

• • Wisconsin Supreme Court: Class Certification Must Be Decided Before Merits
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed that the Court of Appeals erroneously reversed a class certification based on arguments of substantive merit, which are not a part of certification.

Top Story

• • Supreme Court Approves State Bar Petition for Voluntary CLE on Cultural Competency
  • The revised Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 31.02(5) gives lawyers the choice to receive CLE credit for as many as six hours during the two-year reporting period on topics approved for cultural competency and reduction in bias.

Features

• • Ethical Dilemma: Client Consent Does Not Determine Reasonableness of Fees
  • Just because a client agrees to pay your fee doesn't mean it is reasonable. Lawyers are responsible for ensuring their fees comply with reasonableness requirements under Wisconsin's professional conduct rules.

• • Wisconsin Supreme Court: Legislative Holds on Rules Unconstitutional
  • A 4-3 Wisconsin Supreme Court majority concluded that five statutes giving the Legislature's Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules power to stop administrative rules violated bicameralism and presentment constitutional limits.

• • Governor and Legislative Leaders Reach Compromise, Pass Budget
  • Negotiations between Gov. Evers and legislative leaders led to compromises over the final budget, which was signed into law July 3.

• • Trade Policy: Practical Guidance for Lawyers to Better Advise Their Clients
  • For Wisconsin counsel whose business clients rely on global supply chains, the ground has been shifting fast. International trade attorney Ngosong Fonkem shares practical guidance every Wisconsin lawyer needs to consider.

• • Help Provide Feedback to the Wisconsin Court System: Take the 2025 Critical Issues Survey by July 31
  • Take 10 minutes to let the Wisconsin Supreme Court's Planning and Policy Advisory Committee know what you think about critical issues facing the court system.

• • Wisconsin Lawyers Invited to Participate in National Mental Health Study
  • The State Bar of Wisconsin is joining a new national research effort to better understand the state of mental health and well-being in the legal profession.

• • Research 101: Legal Writing and Trial Briefs
  • A well-written trial brief provides a succinct overview of a motion's merits and can summarize an entire case. Carol Hassler discusses how to find sample trial briefs and where to go to hone your persuasive writing skills.

• • Local Court Rules Update: Douglas County Circuit Court
  • The following court rules have been updated recently: Douglas County.

• • Final Order 24-04: Cultural Competency and Reduction of Bias Training for Continuing Legal Education

Top Story

• • 'Dismissed As Improvidently Granted' – Buyer's Remorse for Justices
  • A case may initially appeal to a minority of Supreme Court justices. But as time passes, briefs are read, and oral arguments are heard, the central issue may fail to satisfy a majority. In that situation, the court dismisses the case as improvidently granted.

Features

• • Trial Prep for the Modern Lawyer
  • When a case advances to trial, litigators should be prepared from both a substantive and logistical standpoint. Cristina M. Kerr discusses tools to prepare for trial, including components of a trial box or trial notebook, and how to prepare these materials for the start of a case.

• • Anti-Discrimination Provisions in Credit Agreements: Time for a Review
  • DEI provisions in credit agreements may now carry legal risks under shifting regulatory interpretations. Patricia Lane, Jeremy Polk, Nicholas Faleris, and Corrie Osborne examine the history of these provisions and why a legal review is now necessary.

• • The State Bar Diversity Clerkship Program: A Win-Win for Students and Employers
  • The State Bar's Diversity Clerkship Program offers law students the opportunity to experience what it is like to work as an attorney in the summer after their 1L year – and to expand their legal skills. Join us in congratulating the legal employers and the clerks who participated in this year's program.

• • Apply Now for Law Foundation Awards to New Lawyers Serving Underserved Populations
  • Are you a new lawyer who works with underserved people in Wisconsin? The Wisconsin Law Foundation provides financial grants to those who represent underserved populations. Apply no later than Sept. 2.

• • Executive Committee Takes Up Keller Dues Evaluation Aug. 22 for Fiscal Year 2027
  • State Bar members are invited to attend the Executive Committee meeting conducted annually to evaluate the amount of dues members may deduct for activities that are not reasonably related to regulating the legal profession or improving the quality of legal services.

• • CLE Programming for August from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
  • Looking for CLE? From programs on hearsay to exploring First Amendment speech protections and criminal harassment, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE offers programs to keep you on top of your practice.

• • Prepare Now: Major Health Insurance Changes Coming in 2026
  • Rising health insurance premiums – expected to increase by as much as 75% for the 2026 subsidized market – could significantly impact lawyers and staff who rely on ACA marketplace coverage. This article discusses what’s driving the increases and highlig hts cost-effective options like the State Bar’s Group Health Plan for law firms.

• • Latest Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
  • The Wisconsin Lawyer magazine delivers the insights, stories, and knowledge attorneys rely on to excel in their law practice and lead the profession.

Top Story

• • 'In the State' but Out of State: Wisconsin Employment Law for Remote Work
  • While technology allows employees to work virtually anywhere, the extent of Wisconsin employment laws remains unclear. Such cases could be analyzed in a few ways.

Features

• • Seventh Circuit: U.W.'s Blocking 'Off Topic' Comments Violated First Amendment
  • The University of Wisconsin's policy for removing comments "off-topic" from Facebook and Instagram posts violated a frequent commenter's First Amendment rights in a government's limited public forum.

• • Recent Book Releases from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
  • Keep your practice up to date with books from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, including these newly released or newly supplemented volumes.

• • $28k in Law Foundation Grants Support Wisconsin Families, Youth, and Legal Access
  • From teen courts and mobile clinics to immigration aid and rental assistance tools, grants from the Wisconsin Law Foundation – with donations from Wisconsin lawyers – are strengthening access to justice. Learn more about the grants and recipients.

• • Apply Now for Law Foundation Awards to New Lawyers Serving Underserved Populations
  • Are you a new lawyer who works with underserved people in Wisconsin? The Wisconsin Law Foundation provides financial grants to those who represent underserved populations. Apply no later than Sept. 2.

• • Honor a Solo or Small-firm Leader: Nominations for Lederer Award Due Sept. 5
  • Honor a leader in solo and small-firm practice: The State Bar of Wisconsin Solo/Small Firm & General Practice Section is seeking nominations for their 2025 John Lederer Service Award. Nominations are due Sept. 5.

• • Latest Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
  • The Wisconsin Lawyer magazine delivers the insights, stories, and knowledge attorneys rely on to excel in their law practice and lead the profession.

Top Story

• • Every Mistake in the Book: How Not to Hang Out a Shingle
  • Practicing solo or in a small firm is not for the faint of heart. This article distills from one lawyer's tumultuous experience four maxims relevant to private practice generally and especially to lawyers who operate their own firms. Fidelity to these maxims should produce a career that follows a path straighter, higher, and less painful than the author's.

Features

• • From Steelworker to Civil Rights Lawyer: Mark L. Thomsen's Unique Journey
  • Mark L. Thomsen's path to law is unlike any other story. In this episode of the Bottom Up podcast, Mark, a veteran Milwaukee-based litigator, explores his unique upbringing in Nigeria, his return to America, and the cultural shocks he experienced.

• • Personal Jurisdiction in Wisconsin Employer Lawsuits Against Remote Workers
  • Personal jurisdiction is a prerequisite to bringing suit against any defendant including in the age of remote work. Nicholas Watt discusses the issues and consequences that impact a Wisconsin employer’s ability to sue former remote employees.

• • How the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy Shaped Attorney Jacob Haller's Career
  • From a new public interest attorney to bar leader and elected official, Jacob Haller credits the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy with giving him the skills and connections to grow his career. With registration now open, this is your chance to join the program that's shaping the next generation of Wisconsin legal leaders.

• • U.S. District Court Suppresses Evidence: Police Ruse Defeats Voluntary Consent
  • The defendant granted access to his apartment because police said they needed to search for a missing child, but once police entered, they began digging in drawers and a duffle bag for evidence of drug distribution, justifying suppression of the evidence.

• • Contested Guardianships, Advocacy, and a Podcast: A Lawyer's Unexpected Retirement Journey
  • Five years after stepping back from full-time practice, Paul Sturgul reflects on an unexpected path: returning to litigation in guardianship cases, advocating for elder rights, and balancing professional service with personal pursuits.

• • Honor a Solo or Small-firm Leader: Nominations for Lederer Award Due Sept. 5
  • Honor a leader in solo and small-firm practice: The State Bar of Wisconsin Solo/Small Firm & General Practice Section is seeking nominations for their 2025 John Lederer Service Award. Nominations are due Sept. 5.

• • Final Order 25-01: Application for Admission Pro Hac Vice
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court, on its own motion, has determined that it is appropriate to amend the form Appendix A-1 to Supreme Court Rule (SCR) Chapter 10.

Top Story

• • Foreign Owners of Farmland – A Renewed Concern
  • Across the country, old limitations on foreign ownership of farmland are receiving renewed scrutiny and revision to keep pace with new threats from potential foreign enemies.

Features

• • FinCEN's New Real Estate Reporting Rule: More Traps for the Unwary
  • FinCEN has created new regulations affecting certain residential real estate transactions that take effect later this year. Violations potentially carry severe penalties. Real estate attorneys need to familiarize themselves with these regulations.

• • As I See It
    Lawyers, Judges, The Third Branch: A Republic, If You Can Keep It
  • Judge Thomas Walsh asks lawyers and judges to reflect on the role we play each day in advancing the dignity of the profession and thereby the justice system, in the maintenance of the third branch of government and thereby the republic.

• • "No Place Brings Solo and Small Firms Together Like This"
  • Over 60% of lawyers working in Wisconsin law firms are solo or small firm attorneys. For decades, the Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference has been a gathering place for lawyers across the state. In this brief Q&A, Erin Ogden expands on the benefits of WSSFC to attorneys.

• • Legal Research 101: Public Records Requests
  • It can be challenging to request government records that aren't already in a searchable database. Law librarian Carol Hassler discusses how to navigate Wisconsin's public records system, offering practical tools and strategies for locating and requesting government records.

• • Are You One of the Bold Few? Run for State Bar Officer or Governor
  • The State Bar of Wisconsin is looking for attorneys to lead the practice of law in our state into the future. State Bar President-elect Stephen Sawyer invites lawyers to take this opportunity to make a difference to the practice of law in Wisconsin.

• • Recent Book Releases from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
  • Keep your practice up to date with books from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, including these newly released or newly supplemented volumes.