News Briefs

Melli award honors contributions to women in the law

The Legal Association for Women is accepting nominations for the 1999 Marygold Melli Achievement Award.

Since 1994, the association has presented the award to a Wisconsin individual who has made significant contributions to women in the law by advancing the interests of women members in the legal profession; promoting improvements in the administration of justice; promoting equality and social justice for all people; promoting the rights of women in society; and/or improving relations between the legal profession and the public.

The award honors Marygold Melli, professor emerita at the U.W. Law School, who successfully managed a distinguished career at the school, a prolific writing career, and extensive community and professional service while raising four children.

Ruth B. Doyle, Mary Lou Munts, Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, Hon. Barbara Crabb, and Diane Greenley are previous award recipients.

Nomination forms and additional information are available from Gretchen Vetzner, 16 N. Carroll St., Madison, WI 53703, (608) 257-1369. Nomination materials are due by July 1, 1999.

Guardian ad litem training requirements go into effect July 1

On July 1, SCR 35 goes into effect. This rule requires that all attorneys who wish to serve as guardians ad litem (GAL) in family court must have attended six hours of GAL education during the combined current reporting period specified in SCR 31.01(7) when he or she accepts an appointment and the immediately preceding reporting period. The training must be approved under SCR 35.03.

Attorneys wishing to serve as GALs in family court can earn up to 13 GAL training credits at the video replay of the State Bar seminar "Guardian ad Litem Training: Child Custody and Family Law."

The video replay of this two-day seminar is June 16 - 17 in Eau Claire, Green Bay, Hudson, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Rhinelander, Superior, and Wausau. The first day of the seminar offers basic training for lawyers without GAL experience. The second day addresses advanced GAL issues. For more information on the seminar, contact the State Bar.

Legal service agencies need computers and office equipment

Has your firm upgraded its computers recently? Have you redecorated your offices, leaving behind empty filing cabinets and bookshelves? If so, consider donating the items to one of Wisconsin's legal service agencies.

The Milwaukee firm of Davis & Kuelthau S.C. recently donated 10 laptop computers to Legal Action to assist the agency's efforts.

"These computers are invaluable tools in keeping on top of our clients' cases and obtaining current information," says John Ebbott, executive director of Legal Action. "Our lawyers can stay in closer contact with government agencies, community groups, their local bar associations, and their colleagues while away from their offices. We truly appreciate Davis & Kuelthau's generosity."

Six of the donated laptops are used in Legal Action's Milwaukee office, while the remainder have been divided among its Madison, Kenosha, and Racine offices. The agency, which provides free civil legal services to low-income and elderly people, still is in need of computers (486s or better), modems, copiers, laser printers, filing cabinets, and bookshelves.

For more information on donating equipment to Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., contact Sandra Dobbles of Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc. at (414) 278-7777, ext. 3059. Cathy Smith of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee Inc. says, "We're always looking for computers (486s or better) and office furniture. Our building manager can arrange to pick up donated items." Contact Smith at (414) 765-0600, ext. 123.

Legal Services of Northeastern Wisconsin Inc. can use "anything you've got," according to office manager Carolee Petty. For more information on donating equipment, contact Petty at (920) 432-4645.

WisBar adds news feeds from Reuters

The WisBar News Connection is a new area on WisBar that provides users with round-the-clock news coverage.

The News Connection offers Reuters news, sports, and business coverage; financial commentary from Upside; news and political commentary from News.com; computing and technology news from ZD-Net; and a list of the week's top video rentals - with links to descriptions, reviews, and photos from each film - from Hollywood Online.

The award-winning Web site also offers free case law from the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals; access to 7th Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court decisions; downloadable legal forms; and Caselaw Express, a free email service that provides subscribers with weekly indexes of cases added to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals databases.

Young Lawyers publish "HIV and Your Rights" handbook

People living with HIV or AIDS in Wisconsin now have a new legal resource. The AIDS Law Committee of the State Bar Young Lawyers Division has produced "HIV and Your Rights," a 45-page handbook that covers legal issues including estate planning, discrimination and civil rights, landlord-tenant issues, health insurance, and government-provided benefits. The handbook also includes a statewide resource section with related programs and phone numbers.

"The majority of people living with HIV and AIDS in this state live in poverty and are unaware of their legal rights or the legal resources available to them," says Ilan Chorowsky, chair of the committee. "This free handbook answers any questions they might have about confidentiality rights, obtaining health insurance, advance planning needs, discrimination, or how to get professional help with such issues."

"HIV and Your Rights," to be released June 15, will be distributed to hospitals, testing sites, social service organizations, and libraries statewide. The booklet also will be distributed at the State Bar Annual Convention in Green Bay on June 23 - 25. For information or to receive a copy of the "HIV and Your Rights" handbook, call (800) 486-6276, ext. 47.

Study reveals increase in minorities and women at large firms

Current data from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) show that, nationally, women attorneys and attorneys of color working as associates or staff/senior attorneys in the nation's largest law firms closely match their numbers among recent law school graduates. About two in five (40.9 percent) associates and staff/senior attorneys are women; 11.8 percent are people of color.

The results are from an analysis of the 26 cities with the most individual law offices listed in the latest National Directory of Legal Employers, which is published by NALP.

The study reveals that both groups were best represented among summer associates: 18.5 percent were attorneys of color and 44.4 percent were women. Denver had the highest percentage of women partners, and Miami had the highest percentage of partners of color, 18.2 percent, with no other city even hitting 10 percent. The most women associates can be found in Baltimore, Austin, and San Francisco, all with percentages in the high 40s. The most associates of color are in the California cities of Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and San Francisco, all with percentages in the 20s.

NALP also analyzed data from all firms listed in the directory, including Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, 12.59 percent of all partners are women; 1.13 percent are people of color. Among all associates, 40.13 percent are women, and 6.65 percent are people of color. Thirty-eight percent of summer associates are women; 16.13 percent are people of color.

Avoid temptation to reply to email "spam"

"Spam, unsolicited email sent by commercial vendors as a sort of electronic direct marketing effort, is popular because it costs almost nothing, especially when compared with printing and postage costs for direct postal mail campaigns," according to Art Saffran, State Bar of Wisconsin Computer Services director. Many times the spammer's offer is for a get-rich-quick scheme or "adult-oriented" product, service, or Web site. "Spammers" collect email addresses from a variety of sources; some commercial Web sites sell their email address lists gathered from people who buy online or register at a Web site.

So what can you do to avoid spam? With the wealth of information and services online today, you shouldn't have to avoid joining interesting discussion groups or shopping online simply to escape ending up on a spammer's emailing list, says Saffran.

"Your first temptation might be to reply to the spammer and tell them where they can put their email. Spammers are elusive, however, and many times the return address is fake, and any email sent to it will be returned as 'undeliverable.' And if your reply does get through, that only confirms that there's a warm body attached to that address, and you're likely to receive more spam."

Software companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are developing spam blockers and filters; some legislatures are considering passage of anti-spam legislation. Some computer-savvy anti-spam activists encourage researching and contacting spammers' ISPs. But until there is a truly effective piece of spam-blocking software or legislation, the best tool you have to discourage spam email is: the "delete" key. To reduce spam email, delete all spam email and never buy products from spam offers.

Coming in June: Wisconsin Lawyer gets a facelift

Next month the Wisconsin Lawyer will sport a new look: a redesign that substantially updates the publication's appearance since its current format was launched 10 years ago.

"Although the publication's design has evolved over the past decade, it's time for a facelift," observes editor Joyce Hastings. "The new design offers a more contemporary column format that is visually appealing and easier to read. In addition, the popular 'Personal Mentions' column will feature member photographs to facilitate lawyer-to-lawyer networking."

A readership survey conducted nearly a year ago also gave impetus to editorial fine-tuning. "The survey results hit home the importance of delivering editorial variety to appeal to the diverse needs of the Wisconsin Lawyer readership," comments Brookfield attorney Mark C. Young, chair of the 13-member Communications Committee, which serves as the publication's editorial board.

"While our instate readers prefer the publication continue to emphasize state legal developments, our 5,000 out-of-state members are more interested in practice management," says Young. "And while younger readers tell us of their interest in technology and career assistance, our more seasoned readers like an occasional legal history piece. Our challenge is to offer something of interest to you, no matter your practice setting."

"Of course, the Wisconsin Lawyer's success depends upon readers' contributions," says Young. "If you have a time- or money-saving practice tip, share it with your colleagues. Turn the speech you wrote for a seminar into an article. Contribute a humorous anecdote. Tell us about human interest stories, from the lawyer who has a unique pastime to someone whose public service activities has exceeded the call of duty." Contact the Wisconsin Lawyer staff or call Joyce Hastings at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6126.