Jan. 20, 2010 – Planning for the 2010 State Bar Annual Convention, May 5 - 7 in Madison, is in high gear. There are three big reasons to attend this year’s convention. In a tough economy, this is the most economical opportunity to:

• Earn a year’s worth of credits in a few days. Choose from 36 CLE programs. Earn up to 18 CLE credits and up to 8 EPR credits.

• Enjoy networking with colleagues.

• Learn about valuable products, services and equipment that can help you run your practice more efficiently and effectively.

This year’s convention, May 5 – 7, will be held in Madison at the Monona Terrace Convention Center. Members will receive brochures in early February, but why wait when you can start planning now.

CLE programming

Wednesday:

• Administrative & Local Government Law Section

• Elder Law Section

• General Practice Section/Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee

• Health Law Section

• Individual Rights & Responsibilities Section/Public Interest Law Section

• Litigation Section

• Practice 411/Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP)/Wisconsin Association of Legal Administrators

• Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section

• Earn CLE while you eat. Choose from two CLE box luncheons on Wednesday. The programs are offered by the Health Law and Law Office Management sections.

Thursday:

• Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is the Thursday morning Spotlight CLE speaker. Since her retirement, Justice O’Connor has continued to be an energetic advocate for preserving fair and impartial courts. This program is sponsored by the Professionalism Committee, Senior Lawyers Division, and Appellate Practice Section.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Section/Family Law Section

• Bultman Financial

• Criminal Law Section

• Environmental Law Section/Energy & Telecommunications Law Section

• Indian Law Section

• Labor & Employment Law Section

• Legal Research Using Fastcase and the New Wisbar Legal Research Page

• Metadata and Redaction

• Professionalism Committee/Senior Lawyers Division/Appellate Practice Section

• Social Media Use Policies: Why Your Clients Need Them & How to Create Them

• The Politicization of Judicial Election Campaigns; Whose Party is it Anyway?

• Young Lawyers Division

Friday:

• Agriculture/Agribusiness Law Section

• Bankruptcy Insolvency & Creditors' Rights Section

• Construction & Public Contract Law Section

• Diversity Outreach Committee

• Fee Arbitration Committee

• Government Lawyers Division

• Intellectual Property Law Section - CLE Box Luncheon

• Law Office Management Section

• Legal Research Using Fastcase and the New WisBar Legal Research Page:

• Media Law Relations Committee

• Nonresident Lawyers Division

• Professional Ethics Committee

• Earn CLE while you eat. Choose from two CLE box luncheons on Friday. The programs are offered by the Energy & Telecommunications Law and the Environmental Law sections.

Networking

• James Boll of Madison will be sworn in by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson as the 55th State Bar president on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. Immediately following the swearing-in ceremony, all attendees are invited to attend a celebration honoring Boll.

• Enjoy an array of valuable products, services, and equipment that can help you run your practice more efficiently and effectively. Meet State Bar representatives and learn more about your member benefits, and meet vendors that tailor their products and services to the legal community at Legal Expo 2010. The Expo is open throughout the convention.

• New this year! Don’t worry about choosing which recognition event to attend. All attendees are invited to a reception in the Exhibit Hall on Thursday evening, 5:15 -6:15 p.m., where you can see the many products and services that are on display at the Legal Expo, reconnect with friends, and enjoy complimentary hors d’ oeuvres, beer, wine, and soda. Immediately following the reception, 6:15 - 7:45 p.m., continue mingling with your colleagues at the Volunteer Recognition and Member Networking Reception. This event includes the award presentations to Wisconsin attorneys for providing outstanding volunteer services to the public and the profession.

More about Convention

Register