![Legal News & Trends]()
ABA studies billable hours and law
school debt
ABA President Robert Hirshon recently announced two major issues that
will be addressed during his tenure at the ABA helm. The ABA Board of
Governors has approved creating separate commissions to study and make
recommendations to the ABA on the effect of increased billable hours on
the law community and the effect of law school debt on young lawyers'
career choices.
The Commission on Billable Hours will investigate
the growing concern among lawyers and judges that the demands of
increased billable hours are compromising the health and well being of
lawyers and, thereby, the communities in which they live. The commission
will gather information through secondary research, hearings, and focus
groups. For more information, contact Michael McGrath at (312) 988-5137
or mcgrathm@staff.abanet.org.
The Commission on Loan Repayment and Forgiveness
will study the effects of the increased debt burden facing law school
graduates. Evidence suggests that law students are making career
decisions based on the amount of their law school debt and that students
are turning away from government, public service, and legal services
positions because those positions do not offer salaries large enough for
graduates to pay down their debt. For more information, contact Dina
Merrell at (312) 988-5773 or merrelld@staff.abanet.org.
Judiciary Committee seeks lawyer input
on pending legislation
State Rep. Mark Gundrum, chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee,
is interested in gaining input from State Bar members. If you would like
to receive email notices of legislation pending before the Judiciary
Committee so you might have an opportunity to provide input, contact
Gundrum at rep.gundrum@legis.state.wi.us.
ABA site offers hints on charitable
giving, identifying legitimate charities
Americans are responding to the terrorism attacks in New York and
Washington, D.C., with an enormous outpouring of charitable giving. Many
new charitable organizations have been formed to address the needs of
victims and their families. To assist consumers in making donations, the
ABA Tax Section has developed information on its Web site to help donors
identify legitimate charities and get the proper tax benefits for their
gifts. Visitors to the site, www.abanet.org/tax, will find a
checklist of things to consider before making a contribution and, later,
claiming a deduction. They also will find useful links and information
on many of the complex tax questions that have surfaced due to the
attacks.
Outagamie County court records go
online in December
Outagamie County will join 70 other counties in Wisconsin, when it
begins using the state court-sponsored Consolidated Court Automation
Programs' (CCAP) computer system. The Outagamie clerk of court's office
plans to begin using the CCAP system in early December. After
Outagamie's conversion, Walworth and Portage counties will be the only
counties not on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) site. WCCA
lists criminal, citation, small claims, civil case filings and
dispositions, and allows users to check schedules of pending court cases
and perform background checks. The WCCA site was created to efficiently
deliver information to police, attorneys, and others needing access to
court records. Since going online in April 1999, the site averages more
than 300,000 hits per day. For more information, visit http://ccap.courts.state.wi.us.
Social Security Web site offers
attorneys guidance on client representation
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently launched a new Web
site, Representing Clients, which provides comprehensive information for
representatives and links to key SSA regulatory and program resources.
"The Web site was created as a service to the thousands of attorneys and
other representatives who provide assistance to people who apply for
Social Security benefits," said Larry G. Massanari, Acting Social
Security Commissioner. "The right to representation is extremely
important, and this is part of Social Security's continuing effort to
enhance the claimant representation process."
The Social Security Act gives SSA the authority to approve fees for
individuals representing Social Security claimants. In Social Security
cases, when the representative is an attorney, SSA pays the fee directly
to the attorney from the claimant's past-due benefits. In all other
cases, SSA must approve the fee before a representative can charge a
claimant for services. Fees are most often authorized for
representatives of claimants for disability benefits.
The Web site, www.ssa.gov/representation,
provides specific information about the claimant representation process,
regulations, and operating procedures. The SSA also provides
publications for representatives and claimants that explain the
disability application and appeals processes. Publications are available
online at www.ssa.gov/ www.ssa.gov/
pubs, or can be obtained by calling (800) 772-1213 or visiting a local
Social Security office.
Court of Appeals District II calls for
volunteer mediators
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II - like many courts - has
been faced with a steady increase in filings, while court funding and
staffing levels have remained relatively constant. The result is a
prolonged appeal process, which in turn results in prolonged disruption
of litigants' lives. In some cases, mediation is an appropriate
alternative to litigation. Since October 1991, the Courts of Appeals,
District I, and the Milwaukee Bar Association have operated a successful
volunteer ADR program. Appropriate cases are referred to a volunteer
neutral. These referrals have resulted in 113 appeals proceeding to
nonbinding arbitration, and 42 appeals resulting in settlement prior to
an appellate decision. In its effort to replicate this success, District
II seeks volunteer neutrals. If you have practiced five or more years
and have participated in at least three appeals, you are eligible to
serve as a volunteer. In addition, those with formal training in
mediation or who have at least three years of mediation experience are
especially encouraged to participate. Although volunteer neutrals will
not be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses, there are several
benefits to participating, including:
- free CLE training cosponsored by the Court of Appeals and the State
Bar Appellate Practice and ADR sections;
- prescreened referrals;
- active contribution to the improvement of the courts and the justice
system; and
- fulfillment of your pro bono obligations under SCR 20:6.1.
For more information, contact Judge Daniel P. Anderson in writing at
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II, 2727 N. Grandview Blvd., Suite
300, Waukesha, WI 53188-1672.
Event showcases legal
technology
The second annual "Wisconsin Law & Technology Show" will be
presented on Nov. 28 at the Country Inn Hotel and Conference Center in
Pewaukee and will offer a full day of seminars and legal technology
exhibits specifically geared toward lawyers, legal and MIS support
staff, and court personnel.
The program is produced by National Practice Institute and the
Milwaukee Bar Association, and it is sponsored by the State Bar of
Wisconsin and several other law-related organizations. The program
features sessions ranging from "What You Need to Know About Practicing
in a High-Tech Courtroom" to "Contracting Over the Internet: Making
'Battle of the Forms' Child's Play."
Admission is $125 for lawyers and $62.50 for nonlawyers. The program
will be submitted for up to 6 CLE credits and 3 EPR credits. For more
information, or to register, call (800) 328-4444, or visit www.npilaw.com/wlt.html.
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