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The FTC's Web Site Privacy and Security Rules for Every Business

Every business engaged in Internet commerce or using a Web site to collect personal information – not just those businesses subject to financial services industry regulations – must comply with the Federal Trade Commission rules governing the use and protection of personal information. Failure to comply can be very costly.

The Origin & Evolution of the Partial Veto Power

In the April general election, a referendum will give Wisconsin citizens an opportunity to limit the governor’s partial veto power. Here’s a look at the proposed amendment and how it compares to the origin and evolution of partial veto power.

FTC Lessons to Avoid Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices when Conducting Internet Commerce

The FTC has authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act to bring enforcement actions to stop unfair and deceptive acts or practices. Results of enforcement actions can be harsh and long-lasting; companies should follow these basic rules to avoid becoming a target of an FTC action.

Marquette Law School and Quarles & Brady open legal clinic in Spanish-speaking community

On Feb. 13 the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic, in partnership with Quarles & Brady LLP, opened its doors on Milwaukee's south side. While the clinic is located in the Spanish Center and is staffed with bilingual volunteer attorneys, law students, and interpreters, any person with a legal need and no financial means to pay for legal advice is welcome.

Madison attorney to blog about his experience teaching in Russia

Madison winters aren't cold enough for attorney Jim Troupis so he is heading to Siberia. Troupis of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP will teach the rule of law and litigation in the American legal system to law students at Baikal State University of Economics & Law in Irkutsk, Russia, from mid April to early May.

Opinions, Voices & Ideas

Inside the Bar
State Budget Woes and the Practice of Law
The State Bar is closely monitoring state fiscal developments here in Madison and will keep you informed about how the state's response to the budget shortfall could affect the judiciary and other State Bar members.

President's Message
A Giant Among Its Peers
The State Bar of Wisconsin is recognized as one of the most productive and innovative bars in the nation, thanks to the many lawyers who selflessly serve their colleagues. Still, there's always room for improvement, and so informed feedback is vital to its continued success.

For the Good
Representing asylum seekers has taught Linda Clifford the true meaning of personal courage
Imagine being forced to flee your homeland because you converted to a different religion. Your host country has denied your application for asylum and you face religious persecution, possibly death, if you are forced to return home. You come to the United States in hope of finding a safe place for you and your two daughters to live. Your fate, as well as that of your family, now rests in the hands of an immigration judge. You face a complicated legal process, but you have no money to hire an attorney.

Guest Editorial
Empty Pockets and Overfilled Dockets: Prosecutors Leaving the Profession
A Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau report shows that the state cut prosecutor positions at a time of increased crime statewide. Increased caseloads and a lack of pay progression caused more than half the assistant district attorneys to leave the profession within the last six years. The high turnover and prosecutor shortage have now developed into an unmanageable crisis in our criminal justice system as crime victims and law enforcement officers are underserved.

Ethics
A Dialog on the New Rules of Professional Conduct: Part 1
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Dean Dietrich and Ralph Cagle discuss some of the changes to Chapter 20, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Wisconsin attorneys, including the impact of informed consent and written agreements on the practice of law and lawyers' potential exposure to malpractice claims.

Practice Tips
Monitoring Cases
Monitoring case filings can help lawyers stay current in their practice areas and up to date on cases in which they're involved. Here are some free and fee-based services to help you keep your edge.

Practice Tips
The Greatest Set of Motions You've Never Heard of
Plaintiffs' attorneys who use, under the right set of circumstances, the relatively obscure motion for judgment on admitted claim or motion for an order to satisfy the admitted claim can achieve a good result, reduce the length of litigation, and save their clients time and money. Here's how.

Managing Risk
The Art of Client Selection
Turning down cases isn't easy, but sometimes it's necessary. Here are some things to think about when deciding whether to represent a potential client or accept a particular legal matter.