Aug. 21, 2024 – Fall is right around the corner. That means fall weather and falling leaves, football weekends, and State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® fall programming.
"Active" status lawyers admitted to practice law in Wisconsin must obtain at least 30 continuing legal education (CLE) credits every two years. At least three of those credits must be in the area of ethics and professional responsibility (EPR).
The reporting period for those admitted in an odd-numbered year ends Dec. 31, 2025.
If you were admitted in an even-numbered year, the reporting period technically ends on Dec. 31, 2024. The rules grant an additional month to obtain and report CLE activity for the reporting period. That is, to avoid a late filing fee or other penalties, 2023-24 courses must be completed by Jan. 31, 2025, and CLE reports must be submitted electronically to the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) on or before Feb. 1, 2025. Note that the 30-credit requirement applies to “Active” status members.
“Senior Active” members – those age 75 and older who are still practicing law – are only required to obtain 15 credits, three of which must be ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) credits.
CLE Programs in September
PINNACLE ramps up its programming every fall to ensure members can meet their CLE reporting deadlines while they learn what’s new in specific practice areas. Here's what's brewing for September.
Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2024 (Sept. 4, 8:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., 4.0 CLE, In-person and webcast, Madison, and select webcast dates through December). Wisconsin public policy strongly favors public access to information and transparency in government (see Wis. Stat. §19.31). But complying with public records and open meeting laws isn’t always a straightforward process. The Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2024 is the perfect opportunity for both new and experienced lawyers to gain clarity on Wisconsin law and catch up on the latest developments. Two nearly identical recent Wisconsin Court of Appeals cases resulted in contradictory rulings on public access to health information about people adjudicated incompetent to vote. You’ll analyze the key differences in each district’s application of the public records law and discuss the “except as otherwise provided by law” exemption to the presumption of public access.
20th Annual Employee Benefits Update 2024 (Sept. 5, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 7.0 CLE, in-person and webcast from Madison, with select webcast dates through December). Robust benefit plans are one way that employers attract, retain, and motivate top talent. But as any attorney in the business of helping employers take care of their employees knows, the world of employment compensation and benefits is complex and constantly changing. Make things simple with the comprehensive overview you’ll receive at the 20th Annual Employee Benefits Update. Ensure your clients are offering their employees the best compensation and benefit plans possible with in-depth updates on a broad range of topics, including:
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legislative and regulatory updates concerning retirement planning;
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fiduciary considerations for health and welfare plans;
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how the FTC’s final rule banning noncompetes impacts nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans; and
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recent changes to executive compensation in employment agreements.
47th Annual Torts Update 2024 (Sept. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., 4.0 CLE-1.0 EPR, in-person and webcast from Madison, with select webcast dates through January 2025). With so many important new court decisions on tort law topics, you don’t want to miss the 47th Annual Torts Update. We’ve compiled recent updates and insights you need to know to stay current, along with a lineup of experienced practitioners to help you make sense of it all. In this quick-hitting half-day program, you’ll explore:
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how the history behind certain statutes can be used to strengthen your cases;
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recent case law on the “exposure period” for statutes of repose;
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how Stelling v. Middlesex Insurance Co. impacts venue change;
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new decisions on informed consent in medical malpractice cases; and
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recent developments from litigation over Wisconsin’s Safe Place Statute.
How to Select a Jury: Demonstrations by Experienced Trial Lawyers 2024 (Sept. 25, 12:30 to 4:15 p.m., 4.0 CLE, in-person and webcast from Milwaukee, with select webcast dates through January 2025). While you won’t win a case at voir dire, it’s certainly possible to lose one there. Selecting the ideal jury is a skill best learned through experience. That’s why, for more than 30 years, State Bar PINNACLE has partnered with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) to teach trial skills in a mock courtroom setting. How to Select a Jury: Demonstrations by Experienced Trial Lawyers is designed to showcase an array of voir dire styles and techniques employed by veteran trial lawyers. You’ll witness jury selection in a dynamic mock trial format with Hon. Eugene A. Gasiorkiewicz presiding.
There’s More
Visit the WisBar Marketplace for all PINNACLE programming.
