July 17, 2024 – It’s time to start thinking about the best parts of fall – and that includes the
Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference (WSSFC) in October.
But before gathering to earn CLE, network, and have fun, your help is needed.
We are now accepting nominations for the
2024 John Lederer Service Award, sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin
Solo/Small Firm & General Practice Section.
The award will be presented at the 2024 WSSFC, Oct. 17-19, 2024, at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.
Emil Ovbiagele (center) is the 2023 recipient of the John Lederer Service Award. He is shown here after receiving the award in October 2023, with past recipients, from left: Matt Beier, representing Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (WILMIC); David Krekeler; Paul Angel; Nerino Petro; Nancy Trueblood; and Kate Knowlton.
About the Lederer Award
The Lederer Award recognizes lawyers focused on improving the lives and practices of solo and small firm attorneys in Wisconsin. The only criteria for the award is that the nominee shows leadership in furthering the mission of the Wisconsin Solo and Small Firm Conference – which is to educate and support solo and small-firm attorneys as they practice law, manage their businesses, and enjoy their lives.
It is presented annually to an individual, group, or organization exemplifying the leadership, spirit, and dedication of attorney John Lederer of Oregon, Wisconsin, who saw it as his mission to help solo and small firm lawyers master the skills and technology needed to build their practices.
Nominations Due Friday, Sept. 6
The deadline for nominations is Friday, Sept. 6. Nominations may be sent as a letter via email or by using the
nomination form available for section members on Wisbar.org (section membership and WisBar.org login required).
Nomination letters or the completed form should be sent to section board and award selection committee member Nancy L. Trueblood at
nancy@ntruelaw.com.
Nominations via letters should include:
name and contact information of the person making the nomination;
name and contact information of the individual, group, or organization being nominated; and
a one-paragraph statement on how the nominee meets the criteria for the award.
Nominations are evaluated on the nominee’s continued, selfless service to projects, efforts, or organizations that benefit solo and small-firm practitioners across Wisconsin.
Save the Date for the 2024 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference
The John Lederer Service Award will be presented at noon on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at the
Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conferencd (WSSFC).
The 2024 WSSFC takes place in person at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on Oct. 17-19, 2024. Save the date, and look for more information next week at
wisBar.org/WSSFC.
Who was John Lederer?
John H. Lederer (1948-2009) saw it as his mission to help solo and small-firm lawyers master the skills and technology needed to build their practices. A 1973 U.W. Law School graduate, he was a visionary when it came to integrating technology into the practice of law, and chaired the State Bar’s Technology Resource Committee (TRC) from 1991 to 1996.
While serving on the TRC in 1996, he took on the copyright controversy with Westlaw, participating in an ad hoc coalition that defeated a legislative attempt to create private-publisher property interest in federal case law, and facilitated Wisconsin’s universal citation program. The universal citation, issued by courts, prevents any company from claiming a copyright on the publication of cases, making them available to attorneys at no cost.
Past Recipients of the John F. Lederer Service Award
