Vol. 70, No. 9, September
1997
Unbundling Makes Inroads in Wisconsin
Last year the State Bar Commission on the Delivery of Legal Services,
chaired by Madison attorney and former Bar president John Skilton, posed
as one of its recommendations that Wisconsin lawyers take a closer look
at unbundling. Toward that end, the State Bar Annual Convention in June
1997 included a panel presentation on unbundling and other innovative practices
that would make legal services more affordable for Wisconsin citizens. About
50 attorneys attended the session.
Among those who attended, "there seemed to be concerns about ethical,
disciplinary and viability issues," notes Louise Trubek, one of the
panel members and a clinical law professor at the U.W. Law School. Some
attorneys in the state are dividing work with their clients, especially
in the family law area, she says, although the term "unbundling"
is not yet in general use.
"One of the reasons we haven't had more systems like this develop
in Wisconsin," Trubek points out, "is because of the lack of visibility
and support for those who would like to try it. Those of us on the panel
concluded that we need continued research and support for those lawyers
who are trying the system, so they won't feel so vulnerable."
Because unbundling is a relatively new practice concept in Wisconsin
many questions remain unanswered. Attorneys interested in pursuing unbundling
in their own practices might consider posing the arrangement to the State
Bar Professional Ethics Committee for input. To request an ethics opinion,
write to: State Bar Professional Ethics Committee, P.O. Box 7158, Madison,
WI 53707-7158. |