Previous Page

Your New Bar Center

New capabilities

Wound throughout the building is the computer network that is "anywhere from 10 to 100 times faster than virtually any other computer network in Dane County in the private and public sectors, save for the university," says Green Bay attorney Mark Pennow, chair of the State Bar's Electronic Bar Services Committee. "Folks wonder why things always have to go faster. The answer is that the demands being made on the technology infrastructure these days are escalating geometrically."

For instance, while Internet transmissions once were slow, containing only an occasional picture and mostly text, development of new Internet technologies and subtechnologies, such as audio and video, has boosted the demand for speed. "Everybody wins with a faster network" in the new facility, Pennow explains. "We're able to do a lot in terms of remote learning and dissemination of information. Lawyers benefit because they can get information that would not have been available to them before, and certainly not available in this convenient electronic format."

"There may be reasons why the State Bar may or may not decide to implement various technologies in the future," Pennow adds. "But one thing seems reasonably sure: The network that runs through the walls and ceilings of this building will not be that reason. We're eliminating the technical bottleneck as far as we're able."

As Internet technology advances, State Bar Distance Education Coordinator Steve Rindo envisions offering CLE seminars on a delayed or live basis over the Internet. Not only will that make CLE easily attainable to members anywhere in the state, even around the world, but the Bar Center's technological infrastructure will aid in the effort. "Online distance learning is an important trend in the continuing legal education industry," Rindo says. "The new Bar Center's added meeting space, coupled with our ability to internally transmit live speaker presentations to the Internet, offers the Bar a competitive edge in providing our members the opportunity to attend seminars without geographic concerns."

Thus, the new facility will serve as a hub for CLE and other information dissemination, says Cheryl Daniels, a State Bar Facilities Committee member and administrative law judge for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. That's an important feature, Daniels notes, for her fellow government lawyers who are in far-flung locations.

"We have the potential to develop more CLE for government lawyers," she says, "and we can reach out to our entire membership. Whether you're a government attorney in Madison, or in Oneida County, or a Wisconsin lawyer who works in Washington, D.C., you'll be able to see the programs through the new technology we have."

Internet-based technology is only part of the picture, Rindo emphasizes. The infrastructure is in place to someday provide video conferencing technology in all conference rooms, allowing two-way video and audio communications. This will be used to connect people during meetings. "We're not planning to use it in education ­ not yet at least," Rindo says. "But the hard wiring is in place" for that purpose in the future.

Yet another important technological component is the technology center, with its 12 work stations, where Bar members with computer skills ranging from novice to advanced can obtain hands-on computer training. Next door in the assembly hall, the stationary projector and screen used for video replays also can present computer displays, offering additional computer training space if needed. Another future function of the technology center is to serve as a site for pilot tests of new CLE and law office technologies, including hardware and software. Evaluators ­ members and staff ­ will be able to try out new systems, right in the lab, and give immediate feedback. "So not only can we use the lab to teach lawyers about computers," Pennow points out, "but we can use it to test out new ideas for learning tools that we haven't even conceived of yet."

Dianne Molvig operates Access Information Service, a Madison research, writing, and editing service. She is a frequent contributor to area publications.