Former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Sankovitz, a member of the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission Board, requests the State Bar's support for a petition that would increase the amount that lawyers must annually pay towards the Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF), a Wisconsin Supreme Court assessment established in 2005.

Sept. 24, 2024 – The State Bar of Wisconsin’s 53-member Board of Governors recently discussed a petition – filed by eight organizations – that would increase the annual court assessment that lawyers pay into the Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF).

Currently, Wisconsin-licensed lawyers must pay $50 per year to PILSF, administered by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF), to fund “direct legal services to persons of limited means in non-criminal matters,” under SCR Chapter 13.

Lawyers pay the assessment annually as part of their annual State Bar dues and Wisconsin Supreme Court assessments. The Supreme Court created PILSF in 2005, setting the assessment at $50. Nearly 20 years later, the fee remains at $50.

Now, eight organizations have petitioned the Supreme Court to increase the fee from $50 to $75, beginning July 1, 2025, and to $100 annually, beginning July 1, 2027.

The petitioners are the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, Wisconsin Judicare Legal Aid, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Disability Rights Wisconsin, ABC for Health and Centro Legal.

Last week (Sept. 20) at the State Bar Board of Governors’ first meeting of the fiscal year, in Fontana, former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Sankovitz – a member of the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission Board – appeared on behalf of the petitioners, requesting the State Bar’s support for the Petition 24-05.

District 16 Gov. William Harris of Judicare Legal Aid in Wausau argues in favor of approving the petition to help organizations like Judicare provide needed services.

The State Bar’s Board of Governors discussed the petition at length but took no action on whether to support or oppose it. More than 20 board members weighed in, with differing viewpoints. The expectation is that the board will vote on whether to support or oppose the petition (or take no position) at its next board meeting on Dec. 6, 2024, which allows the State Bar to submit its position to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

A feature article on Petition 24-05 – including the background and history of PILSF, the petitioners’ position, and a summary of the board’s discussion – will appear in the Oct. 2 edition of WisBar InsideTrack, which is delivered to member email inboxes.

Board Approves Nomination Committee

The board approved State Bar President Ryan Billings’ appointments to the Nomination Committee, which will identify potential president-elect candidates to run in the State Bar’s 2025 election in April. Those serving on the Nomination Committee this year:

Renee Read (chair) Neenah; Christopher E. Rogers, Madison; Eric Andrews, Brookfield; Ryan Long, Ashland; and Craig Steger, La Crosse.

Board Approves Section Carry Forward Requests

Various State Bar sections requested approval to carry over more than $25,000 in their operating budgets into fiscal year 2025, and the board approved the requests. Carryover balances over $25,000 require the board’s approval.

Those sections included: Business Law, Elder Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property & Technology Law, and Labor & Employment Law.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the Executive Committee’s slate of members to serve on the State Bar’s Audit Committee for fiscal year 2025, including: Tom Phillips (chair), Grant Birch, Sherry Coley, Dave Gorwitz, Alexander Lemke, Melody Rute, and Dave Werwie.

Members may obtain a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the Board of Governors by contacting State Bar Executive Coordinator Kim Jansen by email or phone at 608-250-6106.