News & Pubs Archives

Who's become a partner, changed firms, received an award, and more.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR), an agency of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, provides these summaries.

Want to review a book? Request one from us!

In this column, Profs. Daniel D. Blinka and Thomas J. Hammer summarize select published opinions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Full-text decisions are linked below.

In this column, Prof. Daniel Blinka and Prof. Thomas Hammer summarize all decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (except those involving lawyer or judicial discipline).

Interesting facts, trends, tips, bits and bytes in the news.

We want to hear from you! Post a comment, find us on social media, or send us your thoughts.

Roy Evans suggests we forget about the nostalgia of getting back to normal and embrace the reality that our future rests in a new normal and our abilities to adjust and embrace it.

In football, often the best defense is a good offense – protect the ball, protect your quarterback. Christopher Shattuck says this axiom is also true when it comes to protecting your sensitive data.

Bill Thedinga explains changes to Wis. Stat. chapter 185 that clarify how cooperatives can authorize conducting meetings without in-person attendance.

When personal circumstances overwhelm, things can go sideways quickly for even the best-intentioned lawyers. Tom Watson says seeking help can hasten a return to better functioning, personally and professionally.

Dean Dietrich says a major consideration when communicating with a client about a mistake is the nature of the mistake and the effect it might have on the success of the representation.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court's original jurisdiction is broad, allowing it to hear matters without them going through lower courts first. Skylar Reese Croy argues this benefits state residents.

Larry Martin reminds that, as communications director Joyce Hastings retires, the State Bar is not a faceless institution, but one made up of people with passion for what they do to serve others.

The Biden administration is pursuing a human rights-focused foreign policy, which will affect Wisconsin businesses engaged in international trade. Read how companies can protect themselves from the increased trade measures ensuing from this policy shift.

Years of government service have taught Cheryl Daniels the importance of bringing people together to find good solutions. She'll put her experience and skills to good use moving the State Bar forward as the pandemic diminishes.

Wisconsin's regulation of knives has changed in recent years, especially regarding concealed carry, persons with prior felony convictions, and possessing knives in government buildings like courthouses.

Who's become a partner, changed firms, received an award, and more.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR), an agency of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, provides these summaries.

Want to review a book? Request one from us!

In this column, Profs. Daniel D. Blinka and Thomas J. Hammer summarize select published opinions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Full-text decisions are linked below.

In this column, Prof. Daniel Blinka and Prof. Thomas Hammer summarize all decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (except those involving lawyer or judicial discipline).

Interesting facts, trends, tips, bits and bytes in the news.

During crises, lawyers should take a page from NASA. Instead of being overwhelmed by the negatives, Emily Kelchen urges figuring out what we already have that is good.

Mason Higgins explains why advocacy training programs, like the U.W. Black Law Students Association participation in mock trial and moot court programs, deserve support.

Sheila Reiff and Marcia Vandercook explain appellate eFiling, which begins July 1 in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. If you're familiar with circuit court eFiling, you'll find the appellate eFiling system familiar and easy to use.

Tom Watson gives tips on competently using technology to reduce confidentiality breaches and other risky practice errors.

Withdrawal from representation is a viable alternative for lawyers who are concerned about their own medical conditions and the potential effects of COVID-19, says Dean Dietrich.

Anderson Gansner says lawyers who practice primarily in Wisconsin state courts can learn from their counterparts with federal-court practices, and vice versa.

Nikki Yang grew up in the province of Anhui, in eastern China, and now practices law with a small firm in Madison. She was drawn to Wisconsin by the U.W. Law School's faculty and learning environment.

Rather than dwell on the difficulties we all faced in this COVID year, Larry Martin focuses on our successes, resilience, and ability to face our challenges together, though physically apart.

For the first time, all State Bar elected officers will be women. As Kathy Brost explains, this didn't "just happen." It takes an ongoing commitment to bring diverse voices to the table.

Every professional sports team depends on talented people both on and off the court. Mike Sneathern is one person helping the Milwaukee Bucks succeed and thrive, in his role as Bucks' chief legal officer.

Claims alleging injury from vaccines must be brought in specialized federal tribunals. Learn about the current legal treatment of vaccine injury claims, including claims related to COVID-19 vaccines, and the statutory processes applicable to them.

Damage caused by defects that a home's seller knew about but did not disclose can be a nasty surprise. Sellers, buyers, real estate agents, home inspectors, and contractors all have responsibilities to look closely and carefully at any property whose purchase they are involved with.

Who's become a partner, changed firms, received an award, and more.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR), an agency of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, provides discipline summaries for educational purposes.

In this column, Profs. Daniel D. Blinka and Thomas J. Hammer summarize select published opinions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Full-text decisions are linked below.

In this column, Prof. Daniel Blinka and Prof. Thomas Hammer summarize all decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (except those involving lawyer or judicial discipline).

Interesting facts, trends, tips, bits and bytes in the news.

We want to hear from you! Post a comment, find us on social media, or send us your thoughts.

Alex Lodge finds hope and inspiration in the collective work and responsibility we all witnessed in the wake of George Floyd's murder.

James Pearson explains that if your law firm uses an on-premises Microsoft Exchange Server, the firms' data, including that of clients, might be accessible to hackers.

Are you unhappy about your current career path but nervous about going into a "great unknown"? Barbara Zabawa made the switch to solo practice; she offers tips to ease the journey.

Dean Dietrich says calls to and from the State Bar of Wisconsin's ethics, practice management, and lawyers assistance programs are private and confidential.

Julie Bonasso says there is not one source of feeling good, but there is a common path to finding well-being: looking within ourselves.

The Annual Meeting & Conference is back in a virtual format, says Larry Martin, and it's packed with high-quality CLE and opportunities to connect.

Kathy Brost says the first step to countering negative biases is understanding that you and everyone else has them.

Pretrial programming reduces reliance on cash bail to ensure conditions of release. The author discusses results from pilot projects in Wisconsin that demonstrate the benefits to communities statewide.

The U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years and, like clockwork, redistricting battles follow. Here is a brief history of redistricting in Wisconsin and what to expect once the 2020 census data is in.

Joint accounts at financial institutions might be used to transfer assets at death in ways that account creators did not intend. Learn how to determine whether a joint account holder interfered with a decedent's estate planning goals by inappropriate use of the joint account.

Wisconsin lawyers share their tips for finding joy in the midst of a pandemic – and offer advice on building a strong foundation of self-care.

Who's become a partner, changed firms, received an award, and more.

In this column, Profs. Daniel D. Blinka and Thomas J. Hammer summarize select published opinions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Full-text decisions are linked below.

In this column, Prof. Daniel Blinka and Prof. Thomas Hammer summarize all decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (except those involving lawyer or judicial discipline).

Interesting facts, trends, tips, bits and bytes in the news.

We want to hear from you! Post a comment, find us on social media, or send us your thoughts.

While some of Ashley Smith's coping mechanisms during this pandemic weren't as productive as others, many were therapeutic and fostered resiliency.

One activity not slowing down during the pandemic is online scamming and hacking. Tom Watson says law firms often are targets, but there are ways to reduce the risks.

Having served as a poll worker during the 2020 and February 2021 elections, James Santelle saw firsthand the power of the pen and of the ballot.

Dean Dietrich says clients can waive conflicts of interest before they occur, but for the waiver to be effective, the client must understand the specific risks involved.

For cyber insurance, different businesses face different risks based on how they use technology. Lora LoCoco and David Princeton provide ways lawyers can guide clients toward appropriate policies.

Get the full value of your State Bar membership. Larry Martin urges you to use the programs, products, services, and discounts created with your professional and personal needs in mind.

Kathy Brost encourages you to contact your legislators in support of the State Bar's efforts to improve our justice system.

Lawyers and judges have an obligation to speak truth and combat disinformation that targets the justice system. The author provides suggestions for how to do so.

Read how Abraham Lincoln prevailed in a major property dispute against one of Wisconsin's greatest lawyers and eventually gained an important ally to his presidential administration.

In 2020, issues of how elections are conducted riveted public attention. The author summarizes the litigated issues that occurred in Wisconsin in 2020 and early 2021 and identifies key targets of challenges to voting laws and elections going forward.

Although lawyers' work locations may have changed as a result of the pandemic, their professional responsibilities have not. Read new State Bar ethics opinion EF-21-02, which addresses the practical and ethical considerations of working remotely.

Who's become a partner, changed firms, received an award, and more.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation, an agency of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, provides these summaries.

Want to review a book? Request one from us!

In this column, Profs. Daniel D. Blinka and Thomas J. Hammer summarize select published opinions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Full-text decisions are linked below.

In this column, Prof. Daniel Blinka and Prof. Thomas Hammer summarize all decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (except those involving lawyer or judicial discipline).

Interesting facts, trends, tips, bits and bytes in the news.

We want to hear from you! Post a comment, find us on social media, or send us your thoughts.

Women now represent 35 percent of the State Bar's membership. But Susan Steingass says this growth doesn't ensure gender equity or productive inclusion in the legal profession.

Marisol González Castillo gives tips for ensuring clear, adequate communication with clients who are not fluent in English or any other languages spoken by their attorney.

Paulina Fernandez says learning how to be an attorney is a process – and that includes making mistakes. She shares additional lessons learned in her first year of practice.

The Professional Ethics Committee discusses a lawyer's responsibilities if considering threatening criminal prosecution or professional discipline.

Dean Dietrich says lawyers must comply with professional ethics rules when deciding which information, such as client testimonials, to put on their websites.

Diem Nguyen says it's never too early to engage in estate planning. But it can be too late if some or all of the five types of details discussed here fall through the cracks.

Larry Martin encourages you to join the State Bar and the Wisconsin Law Foundation to support the siting of a statue of Vel Phillips on the State Capitol grounds.

Kathy Brost spotlights a program that gives corporate and business law attorneys a way to deliver pro bono legal assistance to qualifying small businesses in Wisconsin.

The author lists his top 20 developments in technology and innovation that, especially in legal practice, in our courts, and in our justice system generally, will see us into the future.

Although Wisconsin ratified the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, the ERA has never been officially ratified, and many younger Americans might not even know of its existence. The author explores the ERA's history and looks at other efforts to achieve fuller gender equality under the law.

This article addresses donation-based crowdfunding campaigns, which may provide financial resources for individuals who might otherwise be unable to afford legal services. The ethics rules do not disallow lawyers to crowdfund, but lawyers must proceed cautiously.

Who's become a partner, changed firms, received an award, and more.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation, an agency of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, provides these summaries for educational purposes.

In this column, Profs. Daniel D. Blinka and Thomas J. Hammer summarize select published opinions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Full-text decisions are linked below.

In this column, Prof. Daniel Blinka and Prof. Thomas Hammer summarize all decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (except those involving lawyer or judicial discipline).

Want to review a book? Request one from us!

Interesting facts, trends, tips, bits and bytes in the news.

We want to hear from you! Post a comment, find us on social media, or send us your thoughts.

Jerry Sternberg says providing pro bono representation is way to give to our communities and give back to the legal profession.

Tom Watson says the practice area of estate, probate, and trust law drew the most malpractice claims in 2020. Use these data to reduce your malpractice risk in this and other practice areas in 2021.

Anyone's computer data can disappear, accidentally or intentionally. Chad Post urges you to prepare for when (not if) this happens to you, by putting in place a backup system.

Larry Martin cautions that the words and rhetoric people choose, particularly those in positions of authority, indeed do matter. To think otherwise is naive.

The State Bar continues to be a good steward of organizational resources, says Kathy Brost. She highlights what the State Bar is doing to help members and the public during the pandemic.

The addition to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code of new small business reorganization provisions presents opportunities for some businesses to get out from under debt more quickly and cost effectively.

The authors discuss public health officials' authority regarding mass vaccination programs for COVID-19 and the circumstances under which individuals can object to vaccination requirements.