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• • U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Wisconsin Tax Exemption Case
  • The unemployment tax exemption requested by Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. of Superior, which a Wisconsin Supreme Court majority denied, invites the U.S. Supreme Court to evaluate First Amendment protections.

Features

• • Supreme Court Denies Petition Requiring Interpreters in Municipal Court Proceedings
  • But indicating more data is needed, the court will refer the matter to the Wisconsin Judicial Council for further consideration.

• • State Bar Receives Reports of Notario Fraud in Immigration Law
  • Individuals who are not licensed to practice law in Wisconsin are offering and providing immigration legal advice or immigration legal services they are not authorized to provide, according to recent reports the State Bar of Wisconsin has received from bar members.

• • 2025-26 Wisconsin Legislative Session Kicks Off
  • The 107th Wiscconsin Legislature has officially begun, and the budget will be the focus for both the legislature and State Bar advocacy efforts.

• • A New Jersey Case and the Insidiousness of Arbitration Agreements
  • A recent appellate decision out New Jersey – McGinty v. Zheng – illustrates the court’s increasing willingness to enforce arbitration agreements. Theresa Kobelt discusses the decision, which raises questions about the voluntariness of such consent givenfor one service but applied to an entirely different service and bearing different risks.

• • Ethical Dilemma
    Charging Legal Fees for Nonlegal Work
  • The rate a lawyer can charge for nonlegal services depends on whether the lawyer's professional skill and knowledge added value to the work. Sarah Peterson explains.

• • Guidance from the Bench for Young Lawyers: Trial Tips
  • What are the most common mistakes young lawyers make when taking their case to trial? Judge Yadira Rein shares tips for making a more persuasive argument, writing better proposed orders, and how newer attorneys can gain more courtroom experience.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

• • The Wisconsin Lawyer's Guide to Earning, Tracking, and Reporting CLE
  • Do you find continuing legal education (CLE) rules confusing? You have enough to worry about. In about five minutes, learn what you need to know about earning, tracking, and reporting CLE.

• • Know an Outstanding Jurist, Lawyer, Diversity Advocate, Legal Worker, or Law Student?
  • Do you know someone deserving of recognition for their work in the profession or their community? The State Bar of Wisconsin seeks to honor them for their hard work. Award nominations are due Jan. 31, 2025.

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• • Planning Ahead: The Importance of Revisiting Estate Plans
  • Estate planning is not a one-and-done event. Attorneys who advise clients on their future wishes need to consider the long term – what could change as life goes on.

Features

• • Budgeting for Justice
  • Funding to the criminal justice system was increased in Wisconsin's last biennial budget. State Bar members should ask lawmakers to continue to invest in justice.

• • From Montgomery to Milwaukee: The Journey of Lawyer Lindsey Draper
  • Attorney Lindsey Draper shares his journey through the legal profession, emphasizing the importance of lawyer wellness and mental health, on this episode of the Listening to Lawyers podcast.

• • What Home Inspectors Aren't Legally Responsible for May Surprise You
  • For those seeking to purchase a home, a home inspector can offer valuable insights about a building’s structure and components – but their responsibilities are not comprehensive. Kevin Trost discusses the legal responsibilities of home inspectors under Wisconsin law.

• • Supreme Court: Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Remains as Holdover
  • Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Chief Administrator Meagan Wolfe remains a lawful holdover appointee after her term ended July 1, 2023, the case reopened disagreement over the Prehn case that decided this result.

• • Researching Securities Law: Locating Agreements and Contracts on a Budget
  • How to find filings on EDGAR, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's database.

• • The Wisconsin Business Entity Handbook: Overview
  • What is the best business entity structure for your client’s specific needs? Prof. Nathan Hammons overviews the new "Wisconsin Business Entity Handbook."

• • Final Call: Run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors Position
  • Put your leadership skills into action and gain valuable experience. Lawyers of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome. Sign up to run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors' position – petitions are due March 3, 2025.

• • 50 or More Pro Bono Hours in 2024? Certify Now for Pro Bono Honor Society
  • If you donated 50 or more hours of qualifying pro bono legal services to benefit low-income Wisconsin residents in 2024, you qualify as a member of the Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society – certify your service by March 1, 2025.

• • Final Order 24-02: Interpreters in Municipal Court Proceedings
  • On May 20, 2024, a rule petition was filed asking the court to establish a right to a qualified court interpreter for certain individuals in municipal court proceedings with limited English proficiency, without regard to indigency, at municipal expense.

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• • From Appellate Lawyer to Chief Justice Counselor
  • The Hon. Robert M. Dow, Jr., appointed Counselor to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, recently provided practical litigation advice at the U.W. Law School Thomas E. Fairchild Lecture.

Features

• • The Corporate Transparency Act Is Back in Effect With a March 21 Reporting Deadline
  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced in a Feb. 19 alert that the Corporate Transparency Act is back in effect. The new deadline for most companies to file beneficial ownership information reports is now March 21, 2025.

• • Civil Legal Aid: A Smart Investment for Taxpayers
  • State funding for civil legal aid could support thousands of families, streamline court operations, and create economic returns for communities. Let your lawmakers know your thoughts on civil legal aid funding as they build the next state budget.

• • Rural Practice Development Program Offers Stipends – Apply by March 31
  • The State Bar of Wisconsin’s new Rural Practice Development Program offers stipends and other support for attorneys relocating to a Wisconsin county in need of more attorneys. Here's more information about the program – apply by March 31.

• • Ethics
    Breaking Up Is Hard: How to Withdraw Ethically
  • Stacie Rosenzweig provides tips to ethically withdraw from an attorney-client relationship.

• • Estate Planning in Uncertain Times
  • It appears that 2025 is a year of sweeping policy changes in the U.S. Evan Lin discusses what estate planning attorneys should keep in mind for their clients this year.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

• • Final Call: Run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors Position
  • Put your leadership skills into action and gain valuable experience. Lawyers of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome. Sign up to run for a 2025-26 State Bar Board of Governors' position – petitions are due March 3, 2025.

• • Law Foundation Grants Available for Charitable and Public Education Programs – Apply by April 18
  • Grants of up to $2,800 are available for programs that help public understanding of the legal system. Past recipients include teen court programs across the state and programs that increase access to justice. Apply by April 18, 2025.

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• • Scudder: Local Discussions Instead of Federal Lawsuits
  • Judge Michael Y. Scudder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit analyzed the legal landscape of "culture war" cases and concluded constitutionally mandated justiciability limitations further democratically healthy local deliberations.

Features

• • Title VII Damage Cases in the Seventh Circuit Since Muldrow
  • Muldrow v. City of St. Louis relaxed the requirements for demonstrating “harm” in Title VII discrimination cases. Martin C. Kuhn examines Muldrow’s impact on such cases in the Seventh Circuit, including those cases where courts have declined to apply or extend Muldrow.

• • Justice Hagedorn Opines that There Are No Procedural Bars to Disclosure Under Public Records Laws
  • Justice Hagedorn opines in a solo concurrence in Wis. Voter Alliance v. Secord that the common-law legal requirements for a writ of mandamus do not affect public records cases.

• • Does Standalone Energy Storage Have a Place in Wisconsin Law?
  • Energy storage is taking the energy word by storm, so much so that standalone energy storage projects are becoming commonplace. Orrie Walsvik and law student Scout Devoti discuss how standalone projects may fit into Wisconsin’s regulatory scheme.

• • Civil Legal Aid Funding Campaign Has a New Home
  • The State Bar has created a one-stop website to help keep members informed and engaged on the campaign to increase state funding for civil legal needs. Visit JusticeBreakingPoint.org to learn more.

• • Ethical Dilemma
    Can I Charge a Contingent Fee in a Probate Matter?
  • When a probate client suggests paying a contingency fee – a small percentage of the gross value of the estate – in lieu of paying your hourly rate, is it OK to say yes?

• • Help Your Business Clients with PINNACLE's LLCs and LLPs Handbook – Newly Supplemented
  • Does your business client need an LLC, LLP, C or S corporation, or partnership? With the information in 'LLCs and LLPs: A Wisconsin Handbook' from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, you can help them achieve their dreams for their businesses.

Top Story

• • ABA Resolutions: More Than Words
  • High-sounding American Bar Association (ABA) resolutions, like those approved at the semi-annual meeting in February, lead to tangible actions that further ABA goals to improve the legal profession, reduce bias in the legal system, and advance the rule oflaw.

Features

• • Leaders in Law: A Conversation with ABA President-elect Michelle Behnke
  • What does it take to be a leader in the legal profession? Michelle Behnke, President-elect of the American Bar Association and a Past-president of the State Bar of Wisconsin, shares insights into how to build a fulfilling legal career rooted in authenticity, passion, and purpose.

• • Joint Finance Committee Announces Public Hearings on State Budget
  • The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee will hold four public hearings around the state, giving State Bar of Wisconsin members and Wisconsin residents an opportunity to voice their priorities for state funding.

• • Podcast: Practice Insights and Tips with Judges Ellen Brostrom and Krista LaFave
  • Judge Ellen Brostrom and Judge Krista LaFave speak with host Kristen Hardy, offering insights on how young lawyers can navigate their careers.

• • Ethics
    Potential Limitations in Lawyer Employment Agreements
  • Dean Dietrich reminds law firms to be careful when considering restrictions on a departing lawyer's opportunity to engage in the practice of law, because of conflicts between ethics rules that apply to attorneys and general employment law principles.

• • Celebrating 150 Years of Wisconsin Women Lawyers
  • What has changed for women in the legal profession over the past 150 years, and what challenges remain? Nancy Kopp, a former commissioner with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, explores the progress women lawyers have made since Lavinia Goodell became Wisconsin’s first female attorney in 1874.

• • These High School Students Have Polished Litigation Skills
  • In an extremely close battle with Shorewood High School, Whitefish Bay High School took first place in the 2025 state championship round on March 9, 2025, at the State Capitol. Congratulations to both teams for an excellent finals round!

• • How to Increase Your Chance of Success in Your Appellate Practice
  • Need to boost your understanding of the appellate process in Wisconsin? Check out these books and a CLE program from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE.

• • Annual Meeting Is in Madison This June: Register Now for Best Rates
  • Registration is open for the State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Meeting & Conference. This year AMC takes place June 18-20 in Madison. Join us at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center – register now for the best rates.

• • West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards
  • A selection of recent Wisconsin case verdicts are shared below.

• • Law Foundation Grants Available for Charitable and Public Education Programs – Apply by April 18
  • Grants of up to $2,800 are available for programs that help public understanding of the legal system. Past recipients include teen court programs across the state and programs that increase access to justice. Apply by April 18, 2025.