Features

Study probes causes of Wisconsin's exploding prison costs

April 15, 2009 – Mental illness, substance abuse, and unemployment are causing inmates on supervised release to head back to prison, according to research prepared for a study of Wisconsin's criminal justice system. If not addressed, the cost of reincarcerating these offenders will contribute to $2.5 billion of corrections spending over the next decade.

Give 'til it hurts': Legal professionals worn down by 'compassion fatigue'

April 15, 2009 – Lawyers and judges who work with trauma victims are at risk of "compassion fatigue," the physical and emotional drain of regularly listening to episodes of human-induced violence. Coping tips may begin with simply acknowledging the problem. The Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program offers to help with compassion fatigue and seeks to educate legal professionals on the issue, including a presentation at the May State Bar Annual Convention.

Law school applications up at UW-Madison, down at Marquette for entering class of 2009

April 15, 2009 – Wisconsin law schools report overall strong interest from applicants. Nationally, applications to law school have reportedly grown by 2 percent.

WisBar Media

ABA TECHSHOW: Practice management advisor dispels perception that Wisconsin's legal profession lacks technology innovation

April 15, 2009 – Nerino Petro, State Bar practice management advisor, talks with LexBlog's Rob La Gatta at the recent ABA TECHSHOW about legal profession's adaption to technology innovation in Wisconsin, including use of new social media tools. In accompanying videos, Petro interviews legal vendors about new product developments aimed at improving lawyer productivity.