New Briefs
Wisconsin legal service agencies receive computers through ABA
program
Two Milwaukee legal service organizations, Legal Aid Society of
Milwaukee Inc. and Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., are among the first
recipients of computers donated through an American Bar Association
(ABA) program.
The Technology Exchange Project is the work of three ABA groups - the
Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense, the Litigation
Section, and the Business Law Section - that collect working computers
from law firms that are upgrading their systems and donate them to legal
service providers.
Legal Action of Wisconsin received 21 new computers, courtesy
of the ABA's Technology Exchange Project. Pictured (from left) are:
Terrence J. Brooks, ABA Legal Services director; Michael J. Kniess,
Legal Action of Wisconsin data entry clerk, Jeremy Perlin of ABA Legal
Services; Robert Kewan, Legal Action network administrator; and Gregory
McConnell of ABA Legal Services. Legal Action of Wisconsin received 21
computers from the project.
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According to project coordinator Meredith McBurney, the idea for the
project was born when the ABA began its own computer upgrade. While
discussing what to do with the old computers, [Legal Services Division
director] Terrence Brooks suggested donating them to legal services
organizations, she recalls. It was a terrific idea. These groups don't
have computers that are anywhere near state-of-the-art, if they have
them at all.
The computers being shipped to Wisconsin are part of the ABA's
upgrade, which will donate approximately 400 computers to the program
within the next two years.
Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., which provides representation in
civil matters to low-income individuals and groups in 11 counties in
southeastern Wisconsin and to migrant farmworkers statewide, received 21
computers from the Technology Exchange Project.
Susan Conwell, Legal Action's information development director, says
the new computers will make a big difference. We serve more than 10,000
people per year, and the new computers speed up research and
conflict-of-interest checks. We also save money by obtaining legal texts
online or on CD-ROM.
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee Inc., which received four computers,
provides civil legal assistance to low-income clients, primarily in
Milwaukee County.
Any equipment anyone wishes to donate to the project should be in
good working order and capable of using Windows 3.11; newer Apple
computers also are welcome. The Technology Exchange Project will match
donors with needy legal aid programs, and assist in packing and
delivering the equipment. Firms also can donate information systems
staff time to serve as technical support for legal service groups.
For more information, contact Meredith Mc-Burney, ABA Technology
Exchange Project, at (303) 329-8091, via fax at (303) 329-0362, or by email.
Q: What Wisconsin Supreme Court justice once
served as a legal intern in the U.S. Department of Justice headed by
then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy?
The Litigation Section's Appellate Practice Subcommittee tests your
knowledge of Wisconsin's appellate judges. For the answer to this
month's question, CLICK
HERE!
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Supreme court postpones rules on judicial court commissioners
New SCR Chapter 75 and amended SCR 70.36 (5), which standardize the
appointment, discipline, continuing education, public education, and
decisions of judicial court commissioners, were to go into effect on
July 1.
However, concerns by the Committee of Chief Judges and the Wisconsin
Records Management Committee prompted the Wisconsin Supreme Court to
issue Order 97-10. This order holds SCR Chapter 75 and SCR 70.36 (5) in
abeyance pending further order of the court.
The committees offered numerous suggestions to clarify the language
before the proposed rules go into effect. In addition, they suggest
requiring all judicial court commissioners to take an oath of office.
While that requirement is in the statutes governing court commissioners,
the committees also recommend including it in SCR Chapter 75. The
committees further suggest requiring a written notice, which sets forth
the reasons for the action, of any disciplinary action against a
judicial court commissioner.
Pending the court's further review and action, new SCR Chapter 75 and
SCR 70.36 (5) should go into effect on Jan. 1, 1999. Please see the
"Supreme Court Orders" column in this issue for the complete text of
Supreme Court Order 97-10.
Bankruptcy court seeks comments on racial and gender bias within its
system
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, has created
a task force to study racial and gender issues that may be encountered
by those who use or are involved in the court - attorneys, judges,
clients, debtors, witnesses, and court employees.
The task force is a response to a resolution passed by the Seventh
Circuit Judicial Council that recognizes that gender and racial bias
have no place in a court of law. The council recommended that each
circuit, district, and bankruptcy court within the circuit create a task
force to assess the issues and develop strategies to combat any existing
problems.
Hon. Margaret Dee McGarity chairs the Bankruptcy Court's task force,
which also includes attorneys J. Kenyatta Riley, Penny G. Gentges, and
Amelia Ramirez; U.S. Bankruptcy Court clerk Christopher L. Austin; and
Rabbi Ronald M. Shapiro. For the next two months, the group will compile
comments, suggestions, and concerns regarding gender or racial bias -
experienced or perceived - from anyone who has used the court. Attorneys
are urged to solicit comments from their bankruptcy clients.
"If the feedback we receive indicates a problem," says Gentges, "we
plan to create an educational program for court employees that will be
in place by late fall."
Direct comments to Penny G.
Gentges, 7040 N. Port Washington Rd., Suite 404, Milwaukee, WI
53217. You can reach her by phone at (414) 228-6700, fax at (414)
228-6620.
Partners judge associates according to long-term potential
Many associates probably think that the best way to impress partners
at their firms is to rack up the billable hours or land "that big
client." While these moves couldn't hurt a career, they're not the top
qualities partners are looking for in an associate, according to a
survey in the summer issue of The Associate.
The magazine surveyed 50 partners nationwide, nearly all of whom say
they are more interested in complete lawyers who give the firm and its
clients their money's worth over time.
"That translates into three major areas on which partners focus -
good lawyering skills and attitude, the ability to foster good
professional relationships, and the contributions an associate will make
to the firm's growth over the long term," says Jack Crittenden,
publisher of The Associate.
Ninety-six percent of those surveyed say that dependability - having
a positive attitude and doing top-notch technical work - is either "very
important" or "important."
And while it is difficult to measure how an associate will contribute
to a firm's success in the future, 92 percent of respondents believe an
important indicator and critical attribute is the ability to foster
positive professional relationships.
The Associate is published quarterly by National Jurist
Publishing.
Wisconsin Lawyer