Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 82, No. 11, November 2009

Electronic Filing of CLE Reports

In the matter of the petition to amend Supreme Court Rules 31.01 and 31.03 Relating to the Electronic Filing of Continuing Legal Education (LE) Reports. 

Order 08-23

On Aug. 28, 2008, the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) petitioned this court for amendment to Supreme Court Rules (SCRs) 31.01 and SCR 31.03 relating to the electronic filing of continuing legal education (CLE) reports. On June 17, 2009, BBE withdrew the provisions regarding the electronic payment of a late fee. The court held a public hearing and administrative conference on Sept. 10, 2009. BBE’s Acting Director, A. John Voelker, presented the petition to the court.

IT IS ORDERED that effective the date of this order Supreme Court Rule chapter 31 is amended as follows:

SECTION 1. 31.01 (9) and (10) of the Supreme Court Rules are created to read:

31.01 (9) “Electronic CLE reporting system” means a web-based system established by the board of bar examiners through which lawyers may electronically file an original or amended report of their CLE compliance.

31.01 (10) “Electronic signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with an electronically-filed CLE report that can be executed or adopted by the reporting lawyer with the intent to sign the document under oath or affirmation.

SECTION 2. 31.03 (3) and (4) of the Supreme Court Rules are created to read:

31.03 (3) Lawyers may satisfy the reporting requirements of sub. (1) through the electronic CLE reporting system. Reports filed electronically must include the reporting lawyer’s electronic signature, by which the lawyer avers under oath or affirmation that the information contained in the report is true.

31.03 (4) Electronically-filed reports are deemed filed when they are submitted to the electronic CLE reporting system, except that a late-filed report is deemed filed upon receipt of payment of the late fee.

IT IS ORDERED that notice of this amendment of Supreme Court Rules 31.01 and 31.03 be given by a single publication of a copy of this order in the official state newspaper and in an official publication of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Dated at Madison, Wis., this 10th day of September, 2009.

By the court:

David R. Schanker
Clerk of Supreme Court

Wisconsin Lawyer