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Wisconsin Legal Trends 2023

Twenty-five Wisconsin lawyers and others in the legal profession weigh in on trends in 17 practice areas as well as law firm marketing, office management, legal research, and employment.

By Joe Forward

Security Is Top Priority for State Court System

Two primary goals of the justice system are to protect individuals' rights and resolve disputes. Threats and violence to court system employees pose a special danger to society at large. The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s task force on court security will study and make recommendations about improving security in county courthouses and for active and reserve judges.

By Jeff M. Brown

As I See It
Seven Days in June: The U.S. Supreme Court and a Constitutional Counterrevolution

Two opinions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022, Dobbs and Bruen, were notable because they signaled that a majority of the justices are ready to change the path of judicial lawmaking in the United States.

By Dr. Howard Schweber

Opinions, Voices & Ideas

President's Message
Less Formality Can Be a Loss to the Profession
Margaret Hickey says attending a court hearing or other legal proceeding via videoconference is a convenience, but it should not be treated as an opportunity to appear wearing informal clothes and from inappropriate settings.

Your State Bar
Serving the Court, the Public, and Our Members
Larry Martin recently presented to the Wisconsin Supreme Court an annual report describing activities that help the State Bar fulfill its court-mandated responsibilities.

10 Questions
Ngosong Fonkem: Providing International Trade Law Advice to Business Clients
Ngosong Fonkem, chair of the State Bar's International Law Section, discusses his path to and the work of providing representation on all aspects of international law to business clients.

Ethics
Office Sharing: Fewer Square Feet, Same Ethical Duties
It is okay for lawyers with different firms to share office space, Dean Dietrich says, but only if confidentiality of client identity and information is maintained.

Solutions
30 Days' Notice Requirement: Making or Breaking Eviction Cases
Nick Toman and Luke Dremel say the CARES Act requirement for 30 days' notice of eviction from some rental properties remains in effect post-pandemic and might have substantial effects on landlords and tenants.

On Balance
The State of Our Well-Being
Julie Bonasso says a revolution is underway in terms of lawyer well-being, and members of Generation Z will demand that the legal profession operate in accordance with a new economy and modern workforce by leading from a place of people first.

Technology
ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence: Will It Replace Lawyers and Legal Staff?
Practice management advisor Christopher Shattuck explains the technology behind ChatGPT, what it can and cannot do, and why he thinks the tool will not replace human lawyers. Ethics counsel Aviva Kaiser discusses the professional ethics rules implicated by use of the ChatGPT tool.

Final Thought
A New Lawyer's Challenge: Balancing Career and Family Life
Lawyers before us have done it, but young lawyers today face even greater challenges in balancing work and life, says Jose Castro. Here's what he's learned to achieve that balance.