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E-banking: Modernizing Trust Account Rules

Amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys bring the rules governing lawyers’ handling of trust property more in line with modern banking practices. The new rule took effect on July 1, 2016.

By Timothy J. Pierce

School Accountability After “No Child Left Behind”

Most federal and state lawmakers agree that U.S. schools need to better serve all students, especially ones from disadvantaged backgrounds, but controversy continues over how to meet that goal. Learn what the federal Department of Education and Wisconsin’s elected officials are doing to reform K-12 public schools.

By Jessica E. Ozalp & Rachel E. Snyder

Sounding the Depths of Wisconsin’s Mediation Privilege

The primary goal of mediation is to reach a settlement; nearly as important is conveying information during mediation in such a way that Wisconsin’s mediation privilege protects the communications. This article discusses the privilege and its three general exceptions.

By Daniel J. La Fave

Outside the Box: Justice Prosser on His Career and the Supreme Court

After 18 years on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Justice David Prosser is retiring on July 31, 2016. Here, he talks about his career, opinion writing, judicial independence, recusal, and collegiality.

By Joe Forward

Opinions, Voices & Ideas

Profile
Fran Deisinger: Pursuing a ‘Better Life’
During his year as State Bar president, Deisinger hopes to bring together members with diverse views and harness their collective action, to improve the profession and the legal system.

Your State Bar
Go Rural, New Lawyer
George Brown invites new lawyers to hop on the Greater Wisconsin Initiative Bus Tour, Oct. 7-8, to experience the opportunities of practicing in rural areas.

101
How to Collect on a Judgment After the Demise of the Creditor’s Lien
Megan Stelljes shows lawyers other ways to use the supplemental examination so as to help creditor clients maximize their ability to collect from debtors, now that the supreme court has done away with the creditor’s lien.

Ethics
Lawyer’s Conflicts Might Not Be Imputed to All Firm Members
In certain circumstances, says Dean Dietrich, a firm can represent an entity despite a firm member’s personal conflict of interest with the client.

Technology
So, You Want To … Scrub Metadata from Word Files
Tison Rhine gives you the steps to remove potentially embarrassing, or worse, metadata from your Word files.

On Balance
5 Ways Lawyers Can Profit from Positive Leadership
Paula Davis-Laack says these tips will help you become a better lawyer and leader.

Managing Risk
Bankruptcy Cases: Proceed with Caution
Tom Watson warns, lawyers unfamiliar with recent bankruptcy law developments risk committing errors that could harm their clients and endanger their own disciplinary records.

Final Thought
Counselor, Heal Thyself
Bartlett Durand says simple professionalism isn’t difficult, but it can reap rewards for your own practice and our society.