Vol. 75, No. 5, May
2002
Letters
Letters to the editor: The Wisconsin Lawyer
publishes as many letters in each issue as space permits. Please limit
letters to 500 words; letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Letters should address the issues, and not be a personal attack on
others. Letters endorsing political candidates cannot be accepted.
Please mail letters to "Letters to the Editor," Wisconsin Lawyer, P.O.
Box 7158, Madison, WI 53707-7158, fax them to (608) 257-4343, or email
them to wislawyer@wisbar.org.
'Karcher Office Rules' Reflect the Times
During the state's sesquicentennial in 1998, under the leadership of
then president Susan Steingass, the State Bar published Pioneers in
the Law: The First 150 Women in celebration of women lawyers.
Attorney Nettie E. Karcher, U.W. 1915, was one of the women recognized
in that publication.
Upon graduating from law school, Ms. Karcher began practicing law in
her hometown of Burlington. She soon set up her own practice, which
lasted until 1969. The Karcher Office Rules are printed below, with our
thanks to Racine attorney Judith M. Hartig-Osanka, who shares her
"timely" discovery. - WL Editors
Karcher Office Rules
1) Dust every morning all desks and floors with dust mop.
2) See that waste paper baskets are emptied as often as needed.
3) The office must be cleaned thoroughly once a week.
4) See that we have a woman to wipe up and wax floors once a
month.
5) Keep boys' rooms picked up whether they like it or not.
6) Keep water in radiator humidifiers during months we have furnace
heat.
7) Pick up newspapers and magazines each day and bundle them up once
a week.
8) Keep own desk neat and picked up.
9) Keep supply cabinet door shut.
10) Keep all safe file doors closed at all times.
11) Once a week, either on Saturday or Monday, make a summary for
each attorney of what they did each day of that week. Get their okay,
then leave a copy with them and give one to NEK.
12) Issue a receipt for every payment paid into this office, except
telephone accounts (out of duplicate receipt book).
13) Enter into the book the name of everybody who comes to the office
and who they wish to see; then check with that attorney later as to
charge, etc.
14) Keep record of all papers drawn.
15) Tell absolutely nothing outside the office of what happens at the
office.
16) Be loyal to the office always - if anything happens, tell me
promptly.
17) Keep supplies up.
18) Never use last form; when only a few are left, see that more are
ordered.
19) Keep entrance door closed.
20) Try to evaluate clients and have them see boys if NEK is
busy.
21) Keep track of where everyone is.
Correction to 2001 Economics of Law Practice Report
The research consultant who analyzed data from the 2001 Economics of
Law Practice survey, as published in the December Wisconsin
Lawyer, recently reported a minor statistical error.
Essentially, the correct data reveals that women in full-time private
practice earn 62 percent of what men earned in 2000 - not the 64 percent
stated. The affected data is shown in Figure 4; its accompanying
interpretation is contained in the fourth paragraph under the subhead
"Net Income." The error is corrected online.
If you have questions regarding the correction, please contact
Rebecca Murray, State Bar research and analysis coordinator, at (800)
444-9404, ext. 6162.
The Economics of Law Practice in Wisconsin - 2001 Survey Report, with
the correction, is available for purchase. The special member price of
$19.95 includes the report and any additional analysis specific to your
individual practice setting or assistance needed in interpreting the
information presented. Nonmembers may purchase the report for $59.95. To
order the report, or view the
report's introduction, or contact the State Bar at (800)
728-7788.
- WL Editors
Wisconsin
Lawyer
