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• • U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Wisconsin Tax Exemption Case
  • The unemployment tax exemption requested by Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. of Superior, which a Wisconsin Supreme Court majority denied, invites the U.S. Supreme Court to evaluate First Amendment protections.

Features

• • Supreme Court Denies Petition Requiring Interpreters in Municipal Court Proceedings
  • But indicating more data is needed, the court will refer the matter to the Wisconsin Judicial Council for further consideration.

• • State Bar Receives Reports of Notario Fraud in Immigration Law
  • Individuals who are not licensed to practice law in Wisconsin are offering and providing immigration legal advice or immigration legal services they are not authorized to provide, according to recent reports the State Bar of Wisconsin has received from bar members.

• • 2025-26 Wisconsin Legislative Session Kicks Off
  • The 107th Wiscconsin Legislature has officially begun, and the budget will be the focus for both the legislature and State Bar advocacy efforts.

• • A New Jersey Case and the Insidiousness of Arbitration Agreements
  • A recent appellate decision out New Jersey – McGinty v. Zheng – illustrates the court’s increasing willingness to enforce arbitration agreements. Theresa Kobelt discusses the decision, which raises questions about the voluntariness of such consent givenfor one service but applied to an entirely different service and bearing different risks.

• • Ethical Dilemma
    Charging Legal Fees for Nonlegal Work
  • The rate a lawyer can charge for nonlegal services depends on whether the lawyer's professional skill and knowledge added value to the work. Sarah Peterson explains.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

• • The Wisconsin Lawyer's Guide to Earning, Tracking, and Reporting CLE
  • Do you find continuing legal education (CLE) rules confusing? You have enough to worry about. In about five minutes, learn what you need to know about earning, tracking, and reporting CLE.

• • Know an Outstanding Jurist, Lawyer, Diversity Advocate, Legal Worker, or Law Student?
  • Do you know someone deserving of recognition for their work in the profession or their community? The State Bar of Wisconsin seeks to honor them for their hard work. Award nominations are due Jan. 31, 2025.

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• • Planning Ahead: The Importance of Revisiting Estate Plans
  • Estate planning is not a one-and-done event. Attorneys who advise clients on their future wishes need to consider the long term – what could change as life goes on.

Features

• • Budgeting for Justice
  • Funding to the criminal justice system was increased in Wisconsin's last biennial budget. State Bar members should ask lawmakers to continue to invest in justice.

• • From Montgomery to Milwaukee: The Journey of Lawyer Lindsey Draper
  • Attorney Lindsey Draper shares his journey through the legal profession, emphasizing the importance of lawyer wellness and mental health, on this episode of the Listening to Lawyers podcast.

• • What Home Inspectors Aren't Legally Responsible for May Surprise You
  • For those seeking to purchase a home, a home inspector can offer valuable insights about a building’s structure and components – but their responsibilities are not comprehensive. Kevin Trost discusses the legal responsibilities of home inspectors under Wisconsin law.

• • Supreme Court: Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Remains as Holdover
  • Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Chief Administrator Meagan Wolfe remains a lawful holdover appointee after her term ended July 1, 2023, the case reopened disagreement over the Prehn case that decided this result.

• • Researching Securities Law: Locating Agreements and Contracts on a Budget
  • How to find filings on EDGAR, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's database.

• • The Wisconsin Business Entity Handbook: Overview
  • What is the best business entity structure for your client’s specific needs? Prof. Nathan Hammons overviews the new "Wisconsin Business Entity Handbook."

• • Final Call: Run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors Position
  • Put your leadership skills into action and gain valuable experience. Lawyers of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome. Sign up to run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors' position – petitions are due March 3, 2025.

• • 50 or More Pro Bono Hours in 2024? Certify Now for Pro Bono Honor Society
  • If you donated 50 or more hours of qualifying pro bono legal services to benefit low-income Wisconsin residents in 2024, you qualify as a member of the Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society – certify your service by March 1, 2025.

• • Final Order 24-02: Interpreters in Municipal Court Proceedings
  • On May 20, 2024, a rule petition was filed asking the court to establish a right to a qualified court interpreter for certain individuals in municipal court proceedings with limited English proficiency, without regard to indigency, at municipal expense.

Top Story

• • From Appellate Lawyer to Chief Justice Counselor
  • The Hon. Robert M. Dow, Jr., appointed Counselor to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, recently provided practical litigation advice at the U.W. Law School Thomas E. Fairchild Lecture.

Features

• • The Corporate Transparency Act Is Back in Effect With a March 21 Reporting Deadline
  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced in a Feb. 19 alert that the Corporate Transparency Act is back in effect. The new deadline for most companies to file beneficial ownership information reports is now March 21, 2025.

• • Civil Legal Aid: A Smart Investment for Taxpayers
  • State funding for civil legal aid could support thousands of families, streamline court operations, and create economic returns for communities. Let your lawmakers know your thoughts on civil legal aid funding as they build the next state budget.

• • Rural Practice Development Program Offers Stipends – Apply by March 31
  • The State Bar of Wisconsin’s new Rural Practice Development Program offers stipends and other support for attorneys relocating to a Wisconsin county in need of more attorneys. Here's more information about the program – apply by March 31.

• • Ethics
    Breaking Up Is Hard: How to Withdraw Ethically
  • Stacie Rosenzweig provides tips to ethically withdraw from an attorney-client relationship.

• • Estate Planning in Uncertain Times
  • It appears that 2025 is a year of sweeping policy changes in the U.S. Evan Lin discusses what estate planning attorneys should keep in mind for their clients this year.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

• • Final Call: Run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors Position
  • Put your leadership skills into action and gain valuable experience. Lawyers of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome. Sign up to run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors' position – petitions are due March 3, 2025.

• • Law Foundation Grants Available for Charitable and Public Education Programs – Apply by April 18
  • Grants of up to $2,800 are available for programs that help public understanding of the legal system. Past recipients include teen court programs across the state and programs that increase access to justice. Apply by April 18, 2025.

Top Story

• • Scudder: Local Discussions Instead of Federal Lawsuits
  • Judge Michael Y. Scudder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit analyzed the legal landscape of "culture war" cases and concluded constitutionally mandated justiciability limitations further democratically healthy local deliberations.

Features

• • Title VII Damage Cases in the Seventh Circuit Since Muldrow
  • Muldrow v. City of St. Louis relaxed the requirements for demonstrating “harm” in Title VII discrimination cases. Martin C. Kuhn examines Muldrow’s impact on such cases in the Seventh Circuit, including those cases where courts have declined to apply or extend Muldrow.

• • Justice Hagedorn Opines that There Are No Procedural Bars to Disclosure Under Public Records Laws
  • Justice Hagedorn opines in a solo concurrence in Wis. Voter Alliance v. Secord that the common-law legal requirements for a writ of mandamus do not affect public records cases.

• • Does Standalone Energy Storage Have a Place in Wisconsin Law?
  • Energy storage is taking the energy word by storm, so much so that standalone energy storage projects are becoming commonplace. Orrie Walsvik and law student Scout Devoti discuss how standalone projects may fit into Wisconsin’s regulatory scheme.

• • Civil Legal Aid Funding Campaign Has a New Home
  • The State Bar has created a one-stop website to help keep members informed and engaged on the campaign to increase state funding for civil legal needs. Visit JusticeBreakingPoint.org to learn more.

• • Ethical Dilemma
    Can I Charge a Contingent Fee in a Probate Matter?
  • When a probate client suggests paying a contingency fee – a small percentage of the gross value of the estate – in lieu of paying your hourly rate, is it OK to say yes?

• • Help Your Business Clients with PINNACLE's LLCs and LLPs Handbook – Newly Supplemented
  • Does your business client need an LLC, LLP, C or S corporation, or partnership? With the information in 'LLCs and LLPs: A Wisconsin Handbook' from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, you can help them achieve their dreams for their businesses.

Top Story

• • ABA Resolutions: More Than Words
  • High-sounding American Bar Association (ABA) resolutions, like those approved at the semi-annual meeting in February, lead to tangible actions that further ABA goals to improve the legal profession, reduce bias in the legal system, and advance the rule oflaw.

Features

• • Leaders in Law: A Conversation with ABA President-elect Michelle Behnke
  • What does it take to be a leader in the legal profession? Michelle Behnke, President-elect of the American Bar Association and a Past-president of the State Bar of Wisconsin, shares insights into how to build a fulfilling legal career rooted in authenticity, passion, and purpose.

• • Joint Finance Committee Announces Public Hearings on State Budget
  • The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee will hold four public hearings around the state, giving State Bar of Wisconsin members and Wisconsin residents an opportunity to voice their priorities for state funding.

• • Podcast: Practice Insights and Tips with Judges Ellen Brostrom and Krista LaFave
  • Judge Ellen Brostrom and Judge Krista LaFave speak with host Kristen Hardy, offering insights on how young lawyers can navigate their careers.

• • Ethics
    Potential Limitations in Lawyer Employment Agreements
  • Dean Dietrich reminds law firms to be careful when considering restrictions on a departing lawyer's opportunity to engage in the practice of law, because of conflicts between ethics rules that apply to attorneys and general employment law principles.

• • Celebrating 150 Years of Wisconsin Women Lawyers
  • What has changed for women in the legal profession over the past 150 years, and what challenges remain? Nancy Kopp, a former commissioner with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, explores the progress women lawyers have made since Lavinia Goodell became Wisconsin’s first female attorney in 1874.

• • These High School Students Have Polished Litigation Skills
  • In an extremely close battle with Shorewood High School, Whitefish Bay High School took first place in the 2025 state championship round on March 9, 2025, at the State Capitol. Congratulations to both teams for an excellent finals round!

• • How to Increase Your Chance of Success in Your Appellate Practice
  • Need to boost your understanding of the appellate process in Wisconsin? Check out these books and a CLE program from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE.

• • Annual Meeting Is in Madison This June: Register Now for Best Rates
  • Registration is open for the State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Meeting & Conference. This year AMC takes place June 18-20 in Madison. Join us at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center – register now for the best rates.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

• • Law Foundation Grants Available for Charitable and Public Education Programs – Apply by April 18
  • Grants of up to $2,800 are available for programs that help public understanding of the legal system. Past recipients include teen court programs across the state and programs that increase access to justice. Apply by April 18, 2025.

Top Story

• • Hotel Regulations Revised to Adjust to a Changing Industry
  • The proposed recreating of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) hotel regulations seeks to replace 40-year-old rules to address new business models, including online rentals.

Features

• • Dilemma: AI and Storing Client-related Information
  • No matter how new the technology is regarding information relating to the representation of a client, it remains important that lawyers carefully consider how client information is stored and used internally – the rule and a lawyer's duties remain the same, no matter which technology is used.

• • How to Implement a Foreign Trade Zone to Mitigate Tariffs
  • Tariffs are increasingly becoming a critical issue for businesses large and small, driving up costs and creating new challenges across supply chains. Although addressing these challenges requires a strategic approach, one simple solution is implementing a Foreign Trade Zone ("FTZ") that provides tax savings and other benefits.

• • Expungement and Pardons in Wisconsin: A Brief Overview
  • Expungement and pardons are two options available to people who have been convicted of a crime in Wisconsin. Christina Balistreri outlines their eligibility requirements, nuances, and legal effects that practitioners should be aware of when advising their clients.

• • Wisconsin Supreme Court Denies Wrestler's Suspension Challenge
  • A referee's rulings on the mat in the last wrestling match before the 2019 regional tournament resulted in a lawsuit that ended with the Wisconsin Supreme Court finding the penalty reasonable, thus stripping Hayden Halter of his second state championship.

• • Who Will Make Your Health Care Decisions? Get Free Advance Directive Planning Guide April 8-25
  • In recognition of Health Care Decisions Day on April 16, the State Bar of Wisconsin is offering a free download of its healthcare decisions guide for a limited time.

• • Justice Hagedorn at Leadership Development Summit: Lawyers Are Already Leaders
  • Each year, lawyers nominated by State Bar leaders statewide attend the Leadership Development Summit. Participants display leadership capabilities, demonstrate a strong commitment to the legal profession, and possess the potential to be the next generation of State Bar leaders.

• • Local Court Rules Updates: Pierce and Wood Counties
  • The following court rules have been updated recently: Pierce and Wood counties.

Top Story

• • Big Cases Waiting for U.S. Supreme Court Decisions
  • With about two months left in the U.S. Supreme Court's October 2024 Term, 38 cases remain waiting for decisions including ones on hot-button social issues, criminal law, and potential changes to administrative and environmental law.

Features

• • Drinking Behind Closed Doors, After Billable Hours: April Toy's Recovery Story
  • In this episode of Listening to Lawyers, trial attorney April Toy shares her personal journey with alcoholism and recovery.

• • What the End of Chevron Means for Wisconsin Lawyers: A Preview of the AMC Keynote
  • What does the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision mean for lawyers in Wisconsin? Appellate attorney James Goldschmidt breaks down the end of Chevron deference, the practical impact for litigators and judges, and how Wisconsin has been ahead of the curve for years.

• • Legal Research 101: Appellate Practice
  • Appellate courts operate with different nuances in filing and appearance procedures in a different court system. Law librarian Elizabeth Manriquez discusses resources available for individuals appearing in appellate court, both federal and Wisconsin.

• • Last Chance to Vote in State Bar 2025 Elections
  • State Bar elections close at noon this Friday. Here's how to vote and where to find information about the candidates, so you can help set the direction and policies of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

• • Federal Nominating Commission Seeks Applicants for Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Wisconsin's Federal Nominating Commission is accepting applications for a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Application materials must be returned no later than 4:30 p.m., May 21, 2025.

• • Landlord-Tenant Law Update: What Wisconsin Attorneys Need to Know
  • Practical insights for navigating the evolving landscape of rental law in Wisconsin. Learn more at the upcoming State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE seminar, Landlord Tenant Update 2025.

• • 28,983 Hours in 2024: These Wisconsin Lawyers Are Dedicated to Pro Bono Work
  • In April, we honor volunteers who stepped forward to address the legal needs of Wisconsin's most vulnerable residents. Each year, the Pro Bono Honor Society thanks the Wisconsin lawyers who donated at least 50 hours of pro bono service. In 2024, 265 lawyers made the list.

• • For Your Best Briefs: Standards of Appellate Review in Wisconsin
  • Looking for ways to strengthen your appellate briefs and arguments? Need a way to quickly identify the right standard of review? This new book from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE can help you.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

Top Story

• • Intellectual Property & Estate Planning: Representing Creatives – In Life and After
  • Copyright isn't just for artists and musicians. Many estate and marital planning clients are "authors" with copyright assets that need special attention.

Features

• • Judge of the Year Chad Hendee Transforming Justice Through Community and Compassion
  • The Marquette County Circuit Court judge is recognized for his leadership in strengthening the county's treatment court program, fostering collaboration between law enforcement and participants, and helping build a lasting culture of recovery and support.

• • What to Do with Unclaimed Money in a Trust Account: Reboot
  • When you have a client with unclaimed money in a trust account, what can you do?

• • Legislature Begins Biennial Budget Deliberations
  • The state legislature's Joint Finance Committee began the biennial budget review process last week, removing many of the Governor's proposals. Leaders hope to craft a final budget by mid-summer.

• • Saving Private Ryan's Nest Egg: The Veteran Improved Pension Program
  • There’s pension money out there for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who need help to pay for long-term care costs. Peter Harbach encourages elder law attorneys to become accredited with the Department of Veterans Affairs to help clients via the Veteran Improved Pension Program.

• • Helping Your Clients Understand the Tax Consequences of Settling Debt
  • Clients facing financial distress probably will not think about income tax planning. Their focus is on the debt. David Krekeler discusses the tax consequences of bankruptcy – and how they may be avoided.

• • What Does "End of Healing" Really Mean in Wisconsin Worker's Compensation?
  • If you've been injured at work in Wisconsin, you've probably heard the term "end of healing" or "EOH" – maybe from your doctor, your employer, or the insurance company. But what does it really mean for you and your benefits?

• • Get Ready to Boost Your Practice at the State Bar's Annual Conference in June
  • Registration is open for the State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Meeting & Conference. This year, AMC takes place June 18-20 in Madison. Join us at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.