“I want State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE to be the first place legal professionals look when they need the right answer – and they need it fast,” says Trish Carrera.
May 14, 2012 – Trish Carrera knows a thing or two about legal education – and the practice of law – and she is putting that experience to work as the new director of State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE®.
With eight years of legal practice and nearly a decade of education experience under her belt, Carrera moved from Chicago to Madison in late March to head PINNACLE, the largest provider of continuing legal education in Wisconsin.
“The State Bar of Wisconsin’s CLE and publishing program is highly regarded by the American Bar Association,” observes Carrera. “When the opportunity to head PINNACLE presented itself, I didn’t hesitate to explore it.” PINNACLE’s comprehensive book publishing program is award winning and a model for other states, she says.
Interest in Education Began as a Guest Speaker
Carrera’s interest in education sparked when she was asked by a colleague to speak to his business law students. “I really liked it, and that experience led me to leave my solo legal practice and teach legal studies full time in a community college,” says Carrera.
Carrera gained an appreciation of the challenges facing legal education through her work with the Illinois Institute for CLE (IICLE) and the American Bar Association. In 2007, Carrera went to work for IICLE as its associate director of courses, involved with development of seminars and publishing. She recently left the ABA in Chicago as its director of CLE Accreditation.
“I still teach critical thinking and business law courses through the University of Phoenix to keep a pulse on education trends,” she says. Carrera received her law degree from DePaul University College of Law, and recently completed her work towards a graduate certificate in training and development/e-learning from Roosevelt University.
A Vision for PINNACLE
Chicago-born Carrera has roots in Argentina, where she lived for many years when she was a child. In her short time in Madison, she has already explored several bicycle trails around the city – and has many ideas for building on PINNACLE’s success.
With committed volunteer-member speakers and authors and an incredibly talented PINNACLE staff, we have the tools to make the State Bar the provider of choice, says Carrera.
“I want State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE to become Wisconsin’s trusted source for knowledge and learning – the first place legal professionals look when they need the right answer – and they need it fast.”
“There are new trends in how attorneys practice law and how attorneys learn today that tell me it’s time to try new approaches to how the State Bar provides information,” observes Carrera.
Carrera thinks moving from the traditional once-a-year convention to the smaller institutes is a step in the right direction. The institutes deliver in-depth knowledge focusing on one or two practice areas.
“CLE programming is about providing the in-depth information that keep lawyers up-to-date on new laws, rule changes, ethics and so on,” said Carrera. “But, the topic must drive the length of the program, not the event. If we can cover a topic in less time, that’s what we will do. One thing is for sure – lawyers face significant time and financial constraints. So we don’t want to waste either.”
Carrera hopes to make the way members receive information from PINNACLE books even more accessible. “I would like to take the information from our extensive practice library and make it available in as many different relevant contexts as needed. I think showcasing the breadth of our books is essential in today’s information-at-your-fingertip world.”
A Desire to Hear from Wisconsin Lawyers
Learning about Wisconsin lawyers’ practice needs is high on Carrera’s to-do list. PINNACLE staff will be talking to practitioners and law firm staff statewide to find out what tools they are using successfully and what challenges they are facing in their day-to-day practice.
And Carrera invites your thoughts about the delivery of legal education and information. “My door is open,” she says. Call her at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6154, email her, look for her at upcoming seminars and institutes, or stop in to see her next time you are at the Bar Center.