As the State Bar of Wisconsin puts its final touches on the June Annual Meeting & Conference, I am once again struck by the outstanding work done by our Legal Education team.
Under the brand PINNACLE®, this team produces Wisconsin-focused seminars and substantive practice resources, including live, webcast, and on-demand seminars and a comprehensive library of treatises, system books, and practice forms. It’s important to know that this work is collectively created by the State Bar’s professional staff with your colleagues.
PINNACLE is not some outside entity. It is your State Bar at work. Our Legal Education team works with nearly 1,000 highly respected State Bar members who give their valuable time and expertise to you and this organization. What bigger service to the profession is there?
Last year the readers of a legal publication named the State Bar of Wisconsin as the best source for continuing legal education in Wisconsin. Recognition of these resources goes well beyond this state. Over the years, the State Bar of Wisconsin has received many outstanding achievement awards for its publications and programs from ACLEA, an international network of CLE providers.
In addition to their recognized value, State Bar products and seminars are moderately priced when compared to other CLE providers. A PINNACLE full-day program on average is 7 credits and costs $229 in person and $259 for the webcast ($33 and $37 per credit, respectively). Many national providers have moved away from full-day programs and do 1 to 1.5 credit hours almost exclusively, putting their cost per credit in the $140-$200 range. The State Bar’s 1-hour webcasts cost $89 and $109 for 1.5 credits.
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The benefits of attending a PINNACLE program don’t end with the credits you earn. You also receive Wisconsin-specific information from Wisconsin experts, meet other similarly situated lawyers, and expand your network. And, most speakers welcome your calls and outreach after the program concludes. The Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference, to name just one of the nearly 100 annual programs and conferences, is a fantastic networking and practice-building event that brings together about 400 members, experts in substantive law and practice management, and the latest technologies and services.
PINNACLE’s library of 80-plus treatises and practice guides (known as the “brown binders”) is the primary source for efficiently practicing in the state. Its resources include everything from forms and checklists to practice tips and nuanced discussions of case law. The collaboration of experienced lawyers and a professional editorial and production team results in a wealth of knowledge not available in many other states – not to mention the countless hours these resources save.
Which gets me back to the Annual Meeting & Conference. This year’s AMC is at the Hyatt Regency in Green Bay, June 13-14. The 2016 event in Green Bay drew roughly 500 participants, the largest attendance recently. I’m sure this year’s AMC will be equally outstanding.
Please join me.
