News & Pubs Archives

In this video, Amy Koltz, executive director of Mediate Wisconsin – which specializes in housing mediation – talks about the eviction moratorium, how the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision impacts Wisconsinites moving forward, and the resources available.

Wisconsin's Commercial Court Pilot Project has expanded to 26 counties. Are you properly designating your case for the commercial/business court docket?

Enter the State Bar of Wisconsin Appellate Practice Section's competition to identify and recognize outstanding appellate briefs – entries are due Jan. 31.

"My volunteer work for the State Bar makes me a more well-informed lawyer and a better-connected professional," says State Bar President-elect Margaret Hickey, who encourages her colleagues to run for a State Bar position.

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

Sign up as a mentor or mentee for the State Bar of Wisconsin's mentoring program, Ready.Set.Practice. Mentee sign-up deadline is Oct. 15.

May a law firm accept a new matter in which the opposing party is insured by a client the firm represents on other unrelated matters?

Lawyers should have a business plan and contingency financing in place to weather uncertain financial times that cannot be addressed with conventional strategic planning. State Bar of Wisconsin Law Practice Assistance Manager Christopher C. Shattuck and Courtney Searles, senior vice president and private banking regional manager for Johnson Financial Group, discuss best practices for business planning.

Almost three decades ago, in 1992, Tom Sleik became president of the State Bar of Wisconsin during a tumultuous time. As an organization itself, the State Bar was grappling with its own identity. As a society, tensions were high.

Interested in gaining more tools and skills to help you succeed, and a network of colleagues to support you? The G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy helps you do just that, says its graduates. Apply for the 2021-22 Leadership Academy by Sept. 13.

You may know Joe Forward as the State Bar's legal writer. Join us in welcoming him as the State Bar of Wisconsin's new communications director.

To remain diligent, lawyers should understand the Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules regarding lawyer succession, sale of a law firm, and client communications. State Bar of Wisconsin Law Practice Assistance Manager Christopher C. Shattuck and Dean R. Dietrich

For lawyers who take on public defender cases, getting paid in a timely fashion is important. Christopher Shattuck offers tips on ensuring your invoice isn’t rejected due to common errors – so you can get paid more quickly.

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

There are effective and low-cost apps available that assist practitioners in finding every billable minute of their day.

Everyone needs an occasional tune-up. The Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference, Oct. 28-30, will help you get the updates, tips, and legal information to keep the practice running smoothly, while earning up to 16.5 CLE credits.

Challenges to the executive branch's authority to act during COVID-19 continued this term, and other high-profile cases were election-related. This article includes insights from a civil litigator and former public defender, with holdings and votes on every case.

All the circuit courts in Wisconsin have been open for in-person proceedings since June, including jury trials, according to the Wisconsin Director of State Courts, Judge Randy Koschnick, who provides an update in this interview.

On May 25, 2021, the State Bar Professional Ethics Committee and the State Public Defender filed a rule petition seeking to clarify that conflict of interests involving public defenders should be controlled by SCR 20:1.10 rather than SCR 20:1.11.

Wisconsin has the highest percentage of women justices of any state supreme court in the nation at nearly 86 percent.

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

Pondering accepting bitcoin or other cryptocurrency for payment of client fees? Disciplinary rules do not prohibit a lawyer from accepting cryptocurrency as payment for legal fees, but the rules do impose certain requirements.

Tatiana Shirasaki has been a lawyer in two countries – in her native Brazil, and now, in the U.S. As the 2021 Young Lawyers Division's Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year, Shirasaki is dedicated to paying it forward.

For the clerks of the 2021 State Bar of Wisconsin Diversity Clerkship Program, the summer offered opportunity and experience that will shape their legal careers while benefitting employers. Find out more about this year's program participants.

Unfortunately, the latest scams targeting law firms aren't always obvious. Here are some real-world stories about scams that targeted Wisconsin lawyers – and the lessons we all can learn from them.

More than 40 blogs are now on WisLawNOW, creating content in different practice areas and providing timely information on legal developments. Are you on the list?

James Spella of West Bend, recognized as an outstanding mentor by the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Division, talks about why mentoring is so important to the legal profession: "Mentoring allows us to 'raise the Bar.'"

They used to call him "Hector the Protector" during his days as a Milwaukee County prosecutor. Hector de la Mora, who began his career in the district attorney's office, remembers his first jury trial in the early 1970s.

Now through June 2022, new donor contributions to the Wisconsin Law Foundation will be doubled, thanks to a generous pledge from the Kevin & Roseann Lyons Fund with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

In this video interview, Stacie Rosenzweig – an attorney with Halling & Cayo S.C. – discusses legal blogging, how she got started, and what keeps her going.

After a client's divorce, can I represent that client in an estate planning matter if I previously represented both former spouses together on an estate plan?

The 2021 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference (WSSFC) features a hybrid model, giving you the flexibility to choose the type of attendance that best fits your professional and personal needs.

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 2021 John Lederer Service Award. Nominations are due Sept. 10.

Registration is open for the 40th Annual Family Law Workshop. This year's event on Aug. 5 and 6 will be held virtually, and features the latest issues in the family law.

Are you a new lawyer who works with the underserved in Wisconsin? The Wisconsin Law Foundation provides grants to those who represent underserved populations – people who have difficulty affording legal services and those in rural areas with limited access to legal services. Apply by Aug. 20.

Thanks to a team of Wisconsin lawyers, you can now take a walking tour in Janesville that follows in the footsteps of Lavinia Goodell, Wisconsin's first woman lawyer.

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

State Bar members are invited to attend 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.

Marquette University History Professor Alan Ball has a hobby that helps lawyers and the public better understand the Wisconsin Supreme Court: he researches the court’s decisions each term and publishes statistics at SCOWstats.com.

The Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection Committee reimbursed more than $46K to 14 victims of lawyer theft over the past year. Committee Chair Amy Wochos makes a request: Seek help when you can't properly represent your client.

Marty Greenberg brought sports law to Wisconsin and made Marquette University Law School's National Sports Law Institute one of the nation's top programs.

Searching for liens is a necessary and important step in financial legal research. Learn more about the best ways to seek out information on these types of claims.

Thanks to donations from State Bar members, the Wisconsin Law Foundation annually provides high-impact grants to programs that promote public understanding of the law and improve the administration of justice.

The popular Annual Indian Law CLE returns in August as a virtual webcast seminar. Reserve your spot today to learn more about the broad field of Indian Law.

Interested in gaining more tools and skills to help you succeed, and a network of colleagues to support you? The G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy helps you do just that, say its graduates. Apply for the 2021-22 Leadership Academy by Sept. 13.

The state supreme court issued three 4-3 decisions in Fourth Amendment cases, providing insights on how the new court will approach these issues moving forward.

In this video interview, Stacie Rosenzweig – an attorney with Halling & Cayo S.C. – discusses legal blogging, how she got started, and what keeps her going.

They used to call him "Hector the Protector" during his days as a Milwaukee County prosecutor. Hector de la Mora, who began his career in the district attorney's office, remembers his first jury trial in the early 1970s.

James Spella of West Bend, recognized as an outstanding mentor by the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Division, talks about why mentoring is so important to the legal profession: "Mentoring allows us to 'raise the Bar.'"

More than 40 blogs are now on WisLawNOW, creating content in different practice areas and providing timely information on legal developments. Are you on the list?

Thanks to a team of Wisconsin lawyers, you can now take a walking tour in Janesville that follows in the footsteps of Lavinia Goodell, Wisconsin's first woman lawyer.

After a client's divorce, can I represent that client in an estate planning matter if I previously represented both former spouses together on an estate plan?

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

Now through June 2022, new donor contributions to the Wisconsin Law Foundation will be doubled, thanks to a generous pledge from the Kevin & Roseann Lyons Fund with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

Are you a new lawyer who works with the underserved in Wisconsin? The Wisconsin Law Foundation provides grants to those who represent underserved populations – people who have difficulty affording legal services and those in rural areas with limited access to legal services. Apply by Aug. 20.

Now through June 2022, new donor contributions to the Wisconsin Law Foundation will be doubled, thanks to a generous pledge from the Kevin & Roseann Lyons Fund with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

State Bar members are invited to attend 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.

Registration is open for the 40th Annual Family Law Workshop. This year's event on Aug. 5 and 6 will be held virtually, and features the latest issues in the family law.

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 2021 John Lederer Service Award. Nominations are due Sept. 10.

The 2021 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference (WSSFC) features a hybrid model, giving you the flexibility to choose the type of attendance that best fits your professional and personal needs.

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

On June 21, 2021, Joseph R. Laumann filed a petition for reinstatement of his Wisconsin law license. The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) will investigate Laumann’s eligibility for reinstatement of his license and assigned OLR Matter No. 2021MA702 to its investigation.

On June 9, 2021, the State Bar Board of Governors approved bylaw amendments to Article I Membership: Section 1 Membership Register and Article II Officers Section 3 Election of Chairperson of the Board of Governors.

As a new lawyer, you face the challenges of transitioning from law school to practice. Where do you turn? Riley Leonard shares four resources he used to succeed at his first tasks as a young lawyer.

Receiving a notification of a trust accounting error is a truly unpleasant experience. Common mistakes can be avoided by understanding the practical and ethical requirements of the Supreme Court Rules concerning trust accounting. Travis Stieren, Office of Lawyer Regulation Trust Account Program Administrator, discuss strategies for addressing common violations.

Concurrences and dissents leave clues on where a decision might fall if the Wisconsin Supreme Court was deciding the merits of the case.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court invites you to help identify the critical issues within Wisconsin’s court system. The deadline to complete survey the survey is July 20, 2021.

From the Americans with Disabilities Act to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and a variety of Wisconsin statutes, there are many resources that define and outline the rights of those with disabilities. This is a guide to online resources for those researching disability cases.

On the board of directors of the LGBT Bar Association of Wisconsin, Angela Harden has a passion for the law and its ability to shape cultures, communities, and lives for the better. Find out more about Harden and the association.

Wisconsin Supreme Court says state's implied consent law is unconstitutional, cannot be used on its own as a basis to draw blood from suspected drunk drivers who become incapacitated.

Mental health law crosses many practices areas, according to Amanda Pirt Meyer, co-author of a new book, Mental Health Law in Wisconsin: A Guide for Legal and Healthcare Professionals, published by State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE®.

At age 17, Jarett Adams – now a lawyer – was wrongfully convicted of a crime. He recently told his story at the State Bar of Wisconsin's Annual Meeting & Conference.

It happens: You spot an error made by the court in your client's case. Whether or not that error helps your client, must you inform the court of the error?

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

On Dec. 11, 2020, the Director of State Courts filed a rule petition seeding to amend Supreme Court Rule 70.19 and various statutes pertaining to the location of court and to the use of videoconferencing technology.

Retiring Sheboygan County Circuit Court Judge L. Edward Stengel is a recipient of the State Bar's Lifetime Jurist award. Find out more about this former Illinois farm boy whose grandmother taught him the value of education.

Celebrating a 50-year member: Reforming juvenile justice, saving the State Public Defender System, and creating a vision for Dane County are just a few of Rick Phelps' accomplishments.

Take advantage of the biggest educational and motivational event of the year: The State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Meeting & Conference (AMC) next week, June 10-11. Reserve your spot today for this virtual event.

Don't miss the 40th Annual Family Law Section Workshop, which will take place virtually, August 5-6, 2021.

The Court no longer requires that personal masking, social distancing, and sanitizing court facilities be part of any plan for circuit court and municipal court proceedings approved by the chief judge of the applicable judicial district.

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

Congratulations, new lawyers! There's still a lot to learn – so here are resources that law librarians say every new lawyer should know about.

Members should have received FY 2022 statements for Wisconsin Supreme Court assessments and State Bar of Wisconsin membership dues. Be sure to take advantage of your member benefits.

Retiring Dunn County Circuit Court Judge Rod Smeltzer is a recipient of the State Bar's Lifetime Jurist award. How did this former dairy farmer end up serving on the bench for 24 years?

The Vietnam War continued overseas and protests mounted here in the states as the classes of 1970 and 1971 entered the legal profession. Now, they celebrate 50 years.

A public hearing will be held before Referee Joseph D. Jacobson on the petition of Donald J. Peterson of Fitchburg, to reinstate his Wisconsin law license.

Upon the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s own motion, the court amended the comment to SCR 10.03(4) reallocating distribution of the $250 application fee for admission pro hac vice.

Join the celebration on June 9, 2021, as Cheryl Daniels is sworn in as the State Bar's 66th president. Daniels, who will take office July 1, will be sworn in via video conferencing.

Because of the sensitive information that law firms hold, they are often targets for data breaches. That's why it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest scams, says State Bar Law Practice Assistance Manager Christopher Shattuck.

From religious freedom and freedom of speech to the Fourth Amendment and eminent domain, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release all decisions by next month.

A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

Renee Nawrocki is president of the Association for Women Lawyers (AWL), an organization that boosts the careers of women lawyers in Wisconsin.

Does signing a noncompete agreement violate ethics rules? If I am forced to sign one to keep my job, what should I do?

They are members of the legal community who make a difference – by mentoring others, offering their services in pro bono work, leading the way in bettering the practice of law in Wisconsin – in 2020 and over the length of their careers. We congratulate these 18 award recipients, offer them a round of applause, and look forward to celebrating with them.

Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Ralph Ramirez is the State Bar of Wisconsin's recipient of the 2021 Judge of the Year Award. As a grandson of migrant workers and the first lawyer in his family, Judge Ramirez says there is both an art and a science of the bench.