Features

That’s a Fine Idea! Wisconsin Legal Innovators 2014

Who are Wisconsin’s innovators? Meet these movers and shakers – and learn what drove them to put new ideas to work to solve problems and improve the delivery of legal services to their clients and communities.

Reefer Madness: Lighting Up in the Dairyland

Because marijuana is legal in other states, the question addressed here is if a Wisconsin employee is legally lighting up in another state, can a Wisconsin employer fire that employee? The short answer is yes.

Unequal Bargaining Power: Navigating Arbitration Clauses

Increasingly, the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the Federal Arbitration Act to apply to parties of unequal bargaining power, making it more difficult for individuals and businesses subject to adhesion contracts to exercise their legal rights.

Opinions, Voices & Ideas

Editor's Note
The View from Lake Pepin Looks Pretty Good
Joyce Hastings says the Wisconsin Lawyer editorial board set out to discover Wisconsin’s legal innovators and innovations. Boy, did we strike gold!

President's Message
Diverse Leadership = Strong, Effective Group
The strength of any group that bands together for a common purpose, says Bob Gagan, depends on the manner in which it solicits diversity.

Your State Bar
Helping Those Who Helped All of Us
In commemoration of the 95th Veterans Day on Nov. 11, George Brown recognizes our military veterans and the lawyers who provide them legal services.

10 Questions
Tom Burton: How a Nontechie Built a Virtual Practice
If you understand and use online banking, Tom Burton says you can probably understand the technology needed to operate a virtual law practice.

As I See It
Adults Only: Returning 17 Year Olds to Juvenile Court
17 year olds are charged as adults for all offenses committed in Wisconsin, but Thomas Walsh believes they should be returned to the juvenile court system.

Ethics
Keeping Blog Posts Ethically Clean
Dean Dietrich cautions lawyers to never blog information that enables readers to identify specific clients or that criticizes judges.

Solutions
Organizational Culture: Predicting a Law Firm’s Success
Susan Spoerk says measuring a firm’s shared behavioral expectations or organizational culture can help a law firm predict success.

Technology
Going Solo Without Breaking the Bank
Nerino Petro and Bryan Sims suggest ways to outfit a new law office with must-have computer hardware and software, on a budget of $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000.

Managing Risk
Can Turning Away Clients Really Be Good Business?
Tom Watson says yes. Being selective about accepting clients will reduce risks and bolster your practice.

Final Thought
Watch Out for Whitecaps Ahead to Avoid Rough Water
Lawyers can learn to avoid rough water by viewing clients’ legal matters more broadly, says Kevin Palmersheim.