Virtual Schedule
Schedule is subject to change
Substantive Law Track
Practice Management Track
Technology Track
Quality of Life and Ethics Track
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022
Real Facts on Virtual Assets (1.5 CLE)
Does technology like cryptocurrency and NFTs really affect you or your practice of law? You might be surprised. For example, bitcoin may be a factor you’ll have to account for when assisting with bankruptcy or handling divorces. Even if you don’t personally use these virtual assets, it’s important to know what to do when one happens to cross your desk. Understand how technology, cryptocurrency, and NFTs come into play in specific disciplines as well as whether attorneys can accept cryptocurrency as payment.
Staying Safe: De-Escalating Difficult People and Securing Your Office (1.5 LAU)
Learn how to defuse tense situations with clients, potential clients, and others you encounter in your practice. Recognize red flags that may lead to confrontational situations, know what to do when a client won’t take no for an answer, and get recommendations on improving the security of your physical space. You’ll hear different perspectives and the considerations for each: small town vs. city, female vs. male, and working with clients in practice areas that lend themselves to more emotional volatility than others. Receive tips on protecting your physical safety, including a demonstration by a certified Taekwondo instructor.
Digitizing Your Office: Utilizing Sharepoint and Digital Files (1.5 LPM)
Digital client files not only cut down on physical storage space but allow for better security and backup in the event of a disaster. But a digital client file that is poorly structured is inefficient. Learn ways to structure your digital client file and the options available for storage that allow convenient access and security. You’ll also learn how to use Sharepoint (which is included in certain business subscription levels of Microsoft 365) to manage law firm documents and perform practice management functions.
Implementing Flexible Work Schedules and Maximizing Your Time (1.5 LPM)
Attorneys don’t have to do things the way they’ve always been done. In recent years, moving away from a traditional Monday to Friday schedule has gained more traction, and the change can lead to increased attorneys satisfaction and wellness. Gain specific tips on how to increase your own efficiency, how to best manage your time during the workday, and protect your health to prevent your work from overwhelming you with stress and anxiety. Hear the pros and cons of non-traditional work schedules, as well as how to plan for and use them.
Lunch Break – Lederer Award Presentation (No CLE Credit)
Plenary Session: Under Oath: Views from the Bench (1.5 CLE)
During the pandemic, Wisconsin courts had to adapt and pivot just like everyone else to move their dockets along. Get a view directly from the bench as Wisconsin judges share their thoughts on procedural and court rules, virtual court appearances, the use of court commissioners, and more. Have your questions ready! This lively, informative panel discussion will include time for judges to answer questions submitted by attendees.
The ABCs of SNTs (1.0 CLE)
Attorneys in personal injury, probate, or other civil practice areas will learn to recognize situations where a special needs trust (SNT) for a person with a disability should be considered. You’ll come away understanding what SNTs are, the differences between private SNTs and pooled trusts, alternatives to SNTs, and more!
Utilizing an Efficient Client Intake Process (1.0 LPM)
A good first meeting is the foundation for a good client relationship. Using reliable forms, checklists, and processes ensures that you, your staff, and your clients know what to expect and what to do. How do you get metrics, build a funnel, and make this an efficient and painless process for both sides? Stanley Tate will share a desirable and successful system that you can put to use in your practice.
Cryptocurrency and Blockchain 101 (1.0 CLE)
As cryptocurrency and blockchain have become more and more mainstream, it’s crucial that attorneys understand what these technologies are, as well as how they can be used and implemented in the legal industry. Learn what these tools are, why they exist, how they are used, and why lawyers need to know about them. While the Real Facts on Virtual Assets session is specific to certain practice areas, this session will offer a deeper dive on what virtual assets are and how they work.
Rural Practice: Providing Equal Access to Justice (1.0 LAU)
Hear about the high quality of life attorneys can have both professionally and personally in a small town practice. Small towns offer a wide variety of work that can meet your interests and by making strong community connections, you can achieve great satisfaction in your work and your personal life, all while helping promote access to justice.
Reverse Mortgages (1.0 CLE)
Reverse mortgages are being used more and more as the population ages. Understand who benefits from a reverse mortgage, when to avoid a reverse mortgage, and what to expect from the process.
What's Your EQ? (1.0 LAU)
Perhaps you’ve heard or seen “EQ” in your news feed, and wondered what the heck it is. Or, like many, you have been looking for ways to implement it. Find out what EQ (emotional intelligence) is and how it can benefit your practice, improve the culture of your workplace, and your working relationships with colleagues, employees, and clients. You’ll be able to self-assess and walk away with strategies for communicating with others in a productive way and improving emotional awareness to manage stress.
Best Practices in Cybersecurity (1.0 LPM)
The threat to your digital data is ongoing. Attorneys have an ethical duty to understand these threats, the technology being used in their practice, and the best ways to implement technology and policies to protect law firm data against a data breach. Learn tools and tricks that can and should be implemented immediately to improve the security of your firm’s data.
Insight From the Office of Lawyer Regulation (1.0 CLE/1.0 EPR)
The Office of Lawyer Regulation’s (OLR) new Director is joining us to discuss what you should know and everything you want to know. Bring your questions! He’ll discuss the lawyer regulation system and its structure, the Supreme Court Rules regarding the procedures for the lawyer regulation system and OLR’s processes, OLR grievance statistics, and the responsibilities a lawyer has when a grievance is filed against them.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
A Deeper Look: State Bar of Wisconsin Group Health Plan Benefits for Law Firms (No CLE Credit)
Opening Plenary: Running a Lean Law Firm (1.5 LPM)
While most industries have enthusiastically adopted and championed the “science of industrial management,” law firms have been reluctant to do the same. It’s time to stop resisting and learn how to transform your law firm using “Lean” methods and technologies pioneered by companies like Toyota and relied upon by the world’s most profitable – and highest-performing – companies.
Can They Do That? The Myth of the "Sanctity of Land Ownership" (1.0 CLE)
The government, for good or bad, has the ability and authority to affect a property owner’s use of their privately owned property. This session will touch on some typical ways in which that happens such as eminent domain, zoning restrictions and regulations, land use and taxation, and rental regulations and fair housing.
Considerations in Attorney Compensation (1.0 LPM)
Compensation is often discussed as salary, or billable versus collected hours and insurance. But many lawyers are looking beyond that. Time, support, flexibility, mentorship, ability to do other projects - these are all taken into account by those you’re seeking to hire and retain. Find out why it’s important to job-seekers in the legal profession for employers to consider factors other than pay when hiring and how you can compete for top new legal talent.
The Small Firm’s 9-Step Data Protection and Disaster Recovery Checklist (1.0 LPM)
Malware, data loss, and software glitches are very real issues with very real consequences. This session will equip you with a checklist to help ensure your computer network, and data, is safe and secure from disruption, if not absolute devastation. You will receive guidance on how to implement this quick nine step checklist in your practice.
Compassion Fatigue (1.0 LAU)
It isn’t just criminal and family law attorneys who experience compassion fatigue. With everyday work stress, the pandemic, social justice issues, the war in Ukraine, and family obligations to name a few – we are all carrying heavy burdens as attorneys and as human beings. Recognize signs of compassion fatigue and learn to first identify and then manage it. Know what precautions to take so that you can avoid becoming overwhelmed by compassion fatigue and continue to effectively serve your clients, family, and community.
Civil Liberties in School (1.0 CLE)
From mask mandates to word or book bans to curriculum choices, there has been a lot of recent national attention on what is, or isn’t, allowed in public schools. Discuss what parents, students, and school districts are facing and what can (and can’t) be done to address these types of disputes.
Death & Disability (1.0 LPM)
It’s never too soon to designate a successor for your law practice. Attend this vital workshop on how to use the Law Practice Succession Registry to draft your own forms. Solos and small firm attorneys in particular need to have plans and forms in place in the event of unexpected death or disability, and planning now will save lots of stress and anxiety for your family, clients, and the legal community in the future.
Word Power (1.0 LPM)
Microsoft Word is an extremely powerful tool that attorneys tend to underutilize, never taking advantage of the software's full capabilities. Come discover about what you may not have even known was possible with Microsoft Word. You’ll find user-friendly ways to maximize your efficiency and accuracy in document generation.
Ethics Jeopardy (1.0 CLE/1.0 EPR)
Learning about ethics can be fun and interactive! Hear about real ethics scenarios and take your best guess at the outcomes. All attorneys need to be reminded and refreshed about ethics topics and this session will do just that by informing and updating them on ethics issues.
What You Need to Know About Election Law (1.0 CLE)
Whether you represent municipalities, serve as a poll worker, or just have a personal interest in elections, make sure you know the latest on Wisconsin election law. This introductory session will help you understand the Wisconsin regulatory framework, voter registration basics, absentee voting, important case law, and more.
More than 50 Tips (1.0 LPM)
A WSSFC favorite and back by popular demand, this highly energetic session is sure to have useful tips and tricks for everyone. Attorneys, legal administrators, and paralegals will all benefit from discovering tidbits about how to make an efficient, productive, and viable law practice.
Practice Management Software: Newest Features & Offerings (1.0 LPM)
Practice management software has evolved significantly over the years in an effort to provide full-featured systems that enable attorneys and staff to manage and operate their firms from anywhere. Learn about the most recent feature offerings, how they differ, and why your firm might benefit from investing in a full- featured practice management system.
Lawyer Self-Care: Why it Matters and Putting it into Practice (1.0 LAU)
The National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being was developed to create a movement toward improving the health and well-being of the legal profession. Discover why well-being is so important and why you need to prioritize your own self-care before you can help others. You’ll pick up practical, easy-to-implement techniques you can use to add self-care to your daily routine.
Plenary Session: Gadgets, Gizmos, and Widgets (1.0 LPM)
A true WSSFC tradition, this fun, high-energy session is back and packed with more useful information than ever! Make your work day more enjoyable with our technology and practice management tips – from ways to save money to hacks for making the most of the tools you use every day. Get product recommendations for improving your office technology and hear about new gizmos to streamline your work processes.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
Plenary Session: Substantive Law at Sunrise (1.0 CLE)
Whether you practice in a specific area or have a general practice, you need to be familiar with a range of substantive law – and know when it’s necessary to refer clients out with needs that fall outside the scope of your practice. Thanks to this fast-paced, rapid-fire primer, you’ll be up-to-date on what you need to know about annuities, crime victims’ rights, consumer credit reports, start-up agreements, and animal trusts.
Rural Flavor (1.0 CLE)
If you think your family has drama, you’ll leave this session feeling like you belong to a picture perfect ‘80s TV sitcom family. Explore cases and filings from a real-life small town family, the Links. The session will explore business law, torts, appellate procedure and more as we chew on the inter-family squabbles surrounding an international company headquartered in a town of 600 people. Free jerky may be offered.
Finesse with Finances (1.0 LPM)
We've seen balance sheets and profit and loss statements, but what are they telling us? Learn how to decipher those, demystify cash flow forecasts, and understand more about how you can determine where your business stands, financially speaking, and where it may be headed in the future. Plus, you’ll learn about a few handy deductions you may not currently be taking advantage of.
Getting the Most Out of Outlook (1.0 LPM)
Outlook is still the most commonly used email management software in law firms, but most lawyers aren’t using the full capabilities. Learn advanced settings and features that will improve email efficiency and accuracy as well as ways that Outlook integrates with the overall Microsoft 365 universe of applications.
What My Facebook Posts Teach About Lawyer Mental Health (1.0 LAU)
As lawyers we have an obligation to our clients and public. Meeting these obligations can become more difficult when we’re not taking care of ourselves. Stuart Teicher, Esq., posts some funny stuff while on the road as a CLE presenter. Like most of society, he documents his life on Facebook. The difference is that most of his posts actually teach important mental health lessons for lawyers. Join him as he discusses how lawyers are affected by anxiety, compassion fatigue, over-functioning, and more.
ERISA Disability Benefit Claims: What All General Practice Attorneys Need to Know (1.0 CLE)
Get a broad overview of the life of an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) disability claim and understand the most important steps that all general practice attorneys should be aware of. You’ll also learn to avoid common mistakes that many claimants and inexperienced attorneys make along the way. In addition, discuss emerging trends in ERISA cases, including how claims for long-COVID are being handled and the unique challenges facing claimants disabled by mental health conditions.
Social Media's Role in Your Practice (1.0 LPM)
You have a social media presence and that means people are engaging with it. How do you deal with trolls, client relationships, and influencers? What if someone wants to sponsor your channel? What if you want to sponsor one? Social media, blogs and lawyer review sites are great ways to get in front of potential clients and demonstrate knowledge in a specific area of law. However, there are also pitfalls if you do not understand what to post or how to handle negative online feedback. Understand the best ways to engage on social media and what interactions to steer clear of.
Digital Notetaking (1.0 LPM)
Learn about different options including e-ink tablets to iPad tablet apps and the pros and cons of each method.
Implementing Mindfulness into Your Practice (1.0 LAU)
Mindfulness is honing the ability to recognize our thoughts, understand multiple perspectives, and maintain a sense of balance and ease in the midst of success and challenge. Get a dynamic introduction to mindfulness and boost your journey as a community leader who’s present and attuned to yourself and those you lead.