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Features

Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law Turns 50: Developments Lawyers Should Know

The Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law was enacted in 1974. Two Wisconsin lawyers sum up the law's evolution in the decades since.

By Jeffrey A. Mandell & Isaac S. Brodkey

The Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law: A Personal Look Back Over 50 Years

A creator of Wisconsin's 50-year-old fair dealership law shares a few memories regarding the law's origins.

By Brian E. Butler

United States Attorneys: A Law Firm Unlike Any Other

U.S. Attorneys bring and defend cases in federal district court on behalf of the federal government. This article highlights U.S. Attorneys' civil work, describing some of the matters handled in the Western District of Wisconsin.

By John W. Vaudreuil

Opinions, Voices & Ideas

President's Message
Moving the Profession Forward – Forever in Blue Jeans?
Whatever the dress code or office location, Dean Dietrich says, law is a profession and lawyers must always act accordingly.

Editor's Note
Writing for Success: Your Magazine
Editor Joe Forward says writing for Wisconsin Lawyer helps readers stay current with changes in the law and in the practice of law and helps authors build relationships, recognition, and credibility.

Your State Bar
Building a Legacy, One Leader at a Time
Ralph Cagle left an indelible impression on the legal profession in Wisconsin, says Larry Martin, including by founding the State Bar's G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy.

As I See It
Race Conscious Admissions in Colleges
James Johnson and Jeanette Esbrook discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's use of precedent in reaching its determination regarding the admissions policies of Harvard College and the University of North Carolina and highlight a few equity efforts that remain for university admissions programs.

Ethics
The Story of Stuff
Stacie Rosenzweig presents tips for deciding how to store clients' files, how long to keep them, and what to do with them when the retention period ends.

Solutions
Learning After the Pandemic
Theresa Elliott explains there is value in regarding continuing legal education as part of lawyers' business strategy instead of as a burden.

Legal History
Lavinia Goodell: 10 Things You Might Not Know about Wisconsin's First Woman Lawyer
Nancy Kopp says Lavinia Goodell was a person of diverse interests and accomplishments, even beyond becoming Wisconsin's first woman lawyer in 1874.

Technology
Mastering Data Resilience and Business Continuity
James Pearson provides suggestions for strengthening the systems for housing law firm data.

Ethics Opinion
EF-24-01: Recording Others Without Disclosure or Consent
On Feb. 6, 2024, the State Bar of Wisconsin's Professional Ethics Committee issued Opinion EF-24-01, discussing the legal and ethical issues of recording others without disclosure or consent. Ethics counsel Timothy Pierce explains.

Final Thought
Speak Up: Cast Your Ballot in State Bar Elections
Joe Cardamone says your vote is crucial to the decisions that affect the direction of the State Bar of Wisconsin.