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Features

Criminal Law Series
Criminal Justice Crisis: 'The Bill is Coming Due'

Pay for district attorneys and public defenders is too low to attract and keep enough lawyers. And effects of the COVID-19 pandemic linger: Caseloads are up, but the number of prosecutors is down. The funding crunch affects the state Department of Justice and the entire state court system. This article explains the funding issues.

By Jeff M. Brown

Reducing Confusion and Limiting Delay in Family Law Proceedings

Acts passed during the Wisconsin Legislature's 2021-22 session are designed to make family law proceedings, particularly divorces and legal separations and related postjudgment actions, easier for litigants, lawyers, and court staff. Here's what you need to know.

By Comm. Mark R. Fremgen, Jolene D. Schneider & Paul William Stenzel

Money Matters: How Regulation Affects Equity Crowdfunding for Small Businesses

Lawyers advising businesses in search of seed money from "small" investors (individuals and entities with relatively low amounts at their disposal) must be aware of federal and Wisconsin laws regarding crowdfunding.

By Jeffrey O'Brien

Opinions, Voices & Ideas

President's Message
Laws Matter, and So Do Lawyers
Margaret Hickey says that regardless of position, experience, or income, lawyers make a difference for individual clients and cases and the systems in which they work. As such, it is important that lawyers tend to their well-being.

Your State Bar
My Lunches with Tony
Larry Martin shares lessons learned from Gov. Tony Earl about politics, life, friendship, and the value of reaching across the aisle to work for the common good.

Profile
Derek Mosley: Connecting Cultures and Community
As a community leader and judge, Derek Mosley has made headlines with his good work in the community, his social media presence, and his upbeat spirit. Joe Forward writes about one Wisconsin lawyer who isn’t slowing down.

Ethics
Personal Attacks Against Other Lawyers Are Not Appropriate
Regardless of whether criticism of another lawyer can be proved to violate an ethics rule, Dean Dietrich says offensive behavior and personal attacks that are intended to harass should be avoided.

Practice Management
Goals Are Guides, Not Cudgels
Erin Ogden says the best (most likely to be reached) resolutions come from within and are based on a person's own self.

On Balance
An Open (Love) Letter to Wisconsin Lawyers
Failing to address the intersectionality of DEI and well-being has serious consequences. Julie Bonasso says there are things individuals can do to examine their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors on these topics.

Reflections
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! A First Wisconsin Supreme Court Argument
Wesley Webendorfer reflects on preparing for and conducting his first oral argument before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Blogs of the Month
Featured Blogs of the Month
Blogs selected for this column are published through the State Bar of Wisconsin's section blogs and WisLawNOW, the State Bar's aggregated community of Wisconsin legal bloggers.

Final Thought
We Knew This Day Was Coming
Bob Barrington says when the Dodge County DA's office lost attorneys to retirements and positions with greater pay, that left only the elected DA to do the work of six attorneys. He warns that adequate funding must be provided before the justice system implodes.