Jan. 11, 2016 – The print January Wisconsin Lawyer™ is now hitting mailboxes. But why wait? Check out the issue online for help understanding the complexities of shoreland zoning today, professional conduct rules and ethics opinions for litigators using technology, legal writing lessons courtesy of Alexander Hamilton, ways to attract new corporate clients, and the annual smartphone roundup comparing models vying for your attention.
Advising Clients with Shoreland Projects
Wisconsin has attempted to balance public and private interests in the thousands of miles of land abutting lakes and other waterways through the legislative mandate of shoreland zoning. In “On the Waterfront: New Shoreland Zoning Laws,” the author says understanding shoreland zoning today requires reading statutory changes from the three most recent legislative sessions in context with existing DNR rules and local zoning ordinances. If you have clients planning shoreland projects, read this article to ensure the legal basis of their waterfront structures is as sturdy as the physical foundations.
Correlating Ethics and Electronic-discovery
Lawyers have an ethical obligation to understand core principles surrounding the preservation and production of electronically stored information, including steps that can be taken to preserve confidential and privileged data. In “Ethics, Professionalism, and E-discovery,” the author outlines some of the most relevant rules of professional conduct and ethics opinions for litigators dealing with 21st-century technology.
Taking a Legal Writing Lesson from Hamilton
Soldier, politician, lawyer, and cabinet member Alexander Hamilton was also a prolific writer, and today’s lawyers can learn much from his approach to wordsmithing. In “Hamilton’s Legal Writing Lessons,” the author riffs on the Broadway musical biography “Hamilton” to illustrate Hamilton’s legal writing prowess.
Choosing a Smartphone
The most well-known smartphone models and some lesser-known rivals compete for consumers’ attention. But what’s best for you? With the author’s comparison of features and functions in “Pick Your Winner: 2017 Smartphone Roundup,” you’ll be equipped to identify your top choices before you head to the sales floor or go online to make your final selection.
Other Columns: Win Corporate Clients, LinkedIn Content as ‘Advertising,’ Status of Mandatory E-filing
101: In “Top 5 Ways to Attract and Win New Corporate Clients,” Joe Kelly says by demonstrating their firms’ savvy, security, responsiveness, and proven compliance with outside counsel guidelines, lawyers can increase their chances at winning corporate business.
Ethics: In “Some LinkedIn Content Might be ‘Advertising,’” Dean Dietrich says lawyers should think about the Rules of Professional Conduct when posting things to their LinkedIn pages to avoid running afoul of the lawyer advertising requirements.
Solutions: In “Mandatory E-filing Now in 23 Counties,” Marcia Vandercook provides an update on the implementation of mandatory e-filing for civil, small claims, family, and paternity cases.
Final Thought: In “A Packer Backer in Maroon(ish) Purpletown,” David Zubke is hoping for another holiday-season-ending match or a Christmas Lambeau win over the Vikings. (Spoiler alert: We took the Christmas win.)
Your State Bar: In “Decline in Membership,” George Brown says, as a result of recent law school enrollment and practice trends, the State Bar’s net membership in FY18 will decline for the first time in almost 60 years.
Check out the January Wisconsin Lawyer.
