Vol. 75, No. 12, December
2002
Civil legal services law firms merge Jan.
1
Wisconsin's recently merged civil legal services firm serves 39
counties from the following locations:
La Crosse, (800) 873-0927: Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau,
La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon
Dodgeville, (800) 873-0928: Crawford, Grant, Iowa,
Lafayette, Richland, and Sauk
Madison, (608) 256-3304: Columbia, Dane, Dodge,
Green, Jefferson, and Rock
Racine, (262) 635-8836: Kenosha, Racine, and
Walworth
Milwaukee, (414) 278-7722: Milwaukee and
Waukesha
Oshkosh, (920) 233-6521: Adams, Fond du Lac, Green
Lake, Marquette, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, Waushara, and
Winnebago
Green Bay, (920) 432-4645: Brown,
Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Outagamie
Wisconsin Judicare Inc., located in Wausau, serves 33 counties in
northern Wisconsin, (800)472-1638:
Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn,
Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon,
Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage,
Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, St.Croix, Taylor, Vilas, Washburn,
Waupaca, and Wood
Effective Jan. 1, three of Wisconsin's civil legal services law firms
- Legal Services of Northeastern Wisconsin, Western Wisconsin Legal
Services, and Legal Action of Wisconsin - will combine into one firm.
Western Wisconsin Legal Services will be known as Legal Action of
Wisconsin. Legal Services of Northeastern Wisconsin will be known as
Legal Services of Northeastern Wisconsin, an office of Legal Action of
Wisconsin.
"This merger became mandatory when the Legal Services Corporation
(LSC) reduced the number of service territories in Wisconsin from four
to two," said John Ebbott, Legal Action of Wisconsin executive director.
"The LSC's theory is that the consolidation will produce improved legal
services. That remains to be seen. We also are concerned the merger will
cause loss of local control by local clients and board members."
"Legal Action will continue to provide low-income people with free
legal services when they have civil legal problems," says Ebbott.
"However, severe resource limitations will continue to force Legal
Action to limit the types of cases it can accept. Legal Action will
continue to focus its resources on handling housing, welfare, and family
law cases, with some resources for consumer, unemployment compensation,
and education cases. Legal Action will continue to welcome private
attorneys from all 39 counties to volunteer for cases pro bono or make
financial contributions to the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund."
For information about Legal Action, visit www.legalaction.org. For
more information about the Equal Justice Fund, visit www.ejustice.org or call (262)
522-6836.
Wisconsin Judicare Inc. will continue to provide legal services to
counties in northern Wisconsin and will operate as a separate entity
with separate funding. For more information, visit www.judicare.org.
IRS announces new standard mileage rates
The optional standard mileage rates for the use of an automobile for
business,
charitable, medical, or moving expenses will change, effective Jan. 1.
The standard mileage rate for the use of a car:
- for business purposes is 36 cents a mile, down from 36.5 cents a
mile in 2002;
- for medical reasons is 12 cents a mile, down from 13 cents a mile in
2002;
- when computing deductible moving expenses is 12 cents a mile, down
from 13 cents a mile in 2002; and
- when providing services to a charitable organization remains at 14
cents a mile.
New Asian bar seeks
members
Several State Bar Diversity Outreach Committee and Young Lawyers
Division members are organizing an Asian Bar Association, which would
bring a multicultural perspective to legal matters affecting the Asian
community in Wisconsin. Professional development, community service,
coalition building, and mentoring are key, long-term organizational
goals.
"There is no statewide organization in Wisconsin that currently
supports Asian attorneys or Asian legal concerns," says attorney Yer
Vang of Madison. "The number of Asian law students in Wisconsin has
increased steadily over the past five years, and we expect that trend to
continue. Our goal is to have the organization up and running by May
2003."
For more information or to express an interest in joining the
association, contact Vang at (608) 255-0539 or yerv@wcadv.org; Alia Rouf at (920)
426-0648 or alia_rouf@hotmail.com; or Alvin
Chu at (608) 258-9502 or alvinchu_1817@yahoo.com.
Other Wisconsin minority bar associations
Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association. To join,
contact Francisco Araiza at (414) 227-4999 or araizaf@mail.opd.state.wi.us.
Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers.
To join, contact Gregory Wesley at (414) 277-8532, ext. 114, or greg_wesley@gshllp.com.
National Association of Black Women Lawyers - Wisconsin
Chapter. To join, contact Sheila M. Parrish at (414) 278-4023
or smps1us@yahoo.com.
Wisconsin Indian Lawyers Association. To join,
contact John Niemisto at (608) 424-3949 or jdniemisto@aol.com.
Wisconsin Lawyer
