</style>
</head>
<table width="800" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr bgcolor="#eae8e8">
<td style="padding-left:10px; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:10px; padding-right:15px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10pt;">MARCH 2, 2017</td>
<td style="padding-left:10px; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:10px; padding-right:15px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10pt;"><strong>Bar Briefs – your quick weekly collection of practice tips,<br />
membership benefits, upcoming events, new products, and more!
</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table width="800" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<tr>
<td width="450" align="left" valign="top" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11pt;">
<h2 style="color: #045394;"><img src="
http://images.wisbar.org/Images/DigestEmails/LRIS_Referrals_Card_200w.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="155" align="right"/>Step Up Your Referral Game</h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 7px;">Research abounds showing that for many businesses, referrals are the most successful method for getting new clients.<sup style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 0; ">1</sup> A good referral is awesome: the client fits your practice and has a positive impression of you and the quality of your services.
</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">Building a steady stream of referral business takes time and dedication, but it’s worth the work because great referrals are worth their weight in gold. Here are a few tips to get you started on developing a referral strategy.
</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Determine the types of cases you want.</strong> Are you launching a new practice area? Looking to expand an existing one? What sorts of clients will help you achieve your business goals? </p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Identify people you can ask for referrals.</strong> Think of lawyers in a different practice area and non-lawyer professionals offering complementary services, such as financial advisors, real estate agents, and insurance advisors. Even other lawyers in your practice area can refer clients to you that they aren’t able to represent. </p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Build relationships with your potential referral sources.</strong> Seek them out at social functions. Invite them out for coffee or lunch. Get to know them on both a professional and personal level. </p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Know the ethics of referrals.</strong> Referrals involve clients, fees, and getting business, so there are important ethical guidelines and restrictions you need to know. Start by checking the Wisconsin Rules of Professional Conduct (SCR Chapter 20), and call the State Bar of Wisconsin Ethics Hotline at (800) 254-9154 if you have questions. </p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Craft your “ask”.</strong> When you ask someone for referrals, explain that you enjoy working with referred clients since they tend to be a better match for your practice. Say you would be glad to reciprocate by sending referrals their way. Also, mention the kind of work and clients you’re looking for. </p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">For more guidance on developing a referral strategy, check out these <em>Wisconsin Lawyer<sup style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 0; ">TM</sup> </em>articles:</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">
Don’t miss the hottest ticket in town – the swearing-in ceremony for the 2017-2018 State Bar of Wisconsin President, Paul G. Swanson. The ceremony will take place at the 2017 <em><a href="
http://amc.wisbar.org/">Annual Meeting & Conference</a></em> in Wisconsin Dells, June 15-16. </p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">Our incoming president, Paul G. Swanson, is a partner in the Oshkosh, WI law firm of Steinhilber, Swanson, Mares, Marone & McDermott. He is a board certified Bankruptcy Specialist in both Business and Consumer Bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.
</p><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">His practice consists of representing individuals and businesses in financial reorganizations, restructurings, bankruptcy, receiverships, and other debt adjustment strategies. He received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1979.
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><img src="
http://images.wisbar.org/Images/DigestEmails/AMC_2016_250w.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="83" align="left"/>Special guest <strong>Hon. Pamela Pepper</strong>, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, will serve as the evening’s emcee. Help us celebrate our new leader while honoring the end of an outstanding term for our outgoing president, Fran M. Deisinger, at the Presidential Swearing-In Ceremony. To learn more and to register for AMC 2017, visit <a href="
http://amc.wisbar.org/">amc.wisbar.org</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Find Out More about Guardianships, Conservatorships, and Special Needs Trusts with WisPACT Update 2017 </strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Upcoming Section Events
</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">Don’t let your schedules fill up without taking note of these popular programs. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>36th Annual Family Law Workshop</strong><br />
August 3-5, 2017<br />
Sturgeon Bay, WI <br />
Registration will open in April.</p>
<hr />
<div align="center"><img src="
http://images.wisbar.org/Images/DigestEmails/Brain_Strain.jpg" width="250" height="83" alt=""/></div>
<h3 style="color: #045394; margin-bottom: 7px;">Do You Have “Supreme” Legal Knowledge? </h3>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px;">
Test your skills by answering these questions related to the history of the United States Supreme Court. </p>
<ol><li>How many Justices originally served on the Supreme Court?
</li><li>In what building did the Court first meet?
</li><li>What color robes did the original Justices wear? </li></ol>
<hr />
<p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:8pt;"><strong>Brain Teaser Answers: 1</strong>. 6: 1 Chief Justice and 5 Associate Justices as set forth by the Judiciary Act of 1789;
<strong>2</strong>. Merchants Exchange Building, New York City; <strong>3</strong>. The original robes were scarlet-faced with gold piping </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:8pt;"> *This offer is not available with any other discount and expires March 3, 2017. Discount cannot be applied to previous purchases, or used for renewals of subscriptions, auto-supplementation subscriptions, or Books UnBound full library subscriptions.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:8pt;">MKT443E </span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>