The Impact of the Internet on CLE
The Internet offers great potential in assisting Wisconsin lawyers in
their practices by providing instant and continuous access to legal
resources. The State Bar is experimenting with a variety of ways to use
the Internet to access Wisconsin-specific legal resources and delivering
continuing legal education programming, according to State Bar CLE
Seminars Director Katy Duren. The CLE department is creating an online
resource library, which features a searchable database of State Bar CLE
materials and practice resources, including CLE seminar and convention
outlines, CLE Books, and Wisconsin Lawyer articles. These materials will
be downloadable from WisBar, or may be ordered and delivered in print
format.
The CLE department also is experimenting with a variety of other
Web-based and Web-enhanced projects, including Web-enhanced telephone
seminars for credit (the first of which, "Wisconsin Legal Research
Resources on the Internet," is scheduled for Oct. 16, 2000).
While the potential for delivering CLE programming over the Internet
is exciting, Duren notes that there are some challenges to overcome,
including lawyers' comfort level with technology. While the technology
exists (with some limitations, including bandwidth) to provide
Internet-based resources and learning opportunities, some of the most
innovative models require relatively sophisticated computer equipment
and users. In addition, Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules governing
continuing legal education currently do not allow credit for many forms
of Web-based training. In the not too distant future, however, Duren
anticipates that Internet-based CLE will be accredited in Wisconsin.
In addition to its Internet initiatives, the State Bar offers a
variety of training opportunities to assist lawyers in increasing their
computer skills and efficiency. Offerings include seminars on
computer-assisted legal research and specific law office computer
applications for common programs such as Word® and
WordPerfect®. The technology training room in the new Bar Center
allows for hands-on technology courses for lawyers and law office staff.
For more information, contact Katy
Duren at (608) 250-6040.
Wisconsin Lawyer
