Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

In 2017, lawyers can get CLE credit for pro bono work

By: Erika Strebel, [email protected]//July 21, 2016//

In 2017, lawyers can get CLE credit for pro bono work

By: Erika Strebel, [email protected]//July 21, 2016//

Listen to this article

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has released the final language of rule changes that would allow licensed attorneys in the state to earn continuing legal education credit for pro bono legal work.

The rule, which will now take effect Jan. 1, 2017, will let attorneys earn one credit for every five hours of pro bono work performed in a two-year reporting period. The changes will also expand in-house attorneys’ ability to do pro bono work, doing away with the requirement that they must perform the work through a legal-aid program.

The justices released two other orders Thursday, including one approving changes to the court’s ethics rules for lawyers. Wisconsin’s rules will now mirror those promulgated by the American Bar Association.

The court also released an order rejecting two Kenosha attorneys’ proposal calling on the court to permit lawyers to discuss or write about public aspects of their closed cases.

The justices on Tuesday also issued orders involving two other petitions, including an order dismissing a State Bar request that would have let people charged with a crime but never convicted remove records of those charges from an online database.

The justices also issued an order involving the creation and review of the Access to Justice Commission, a 17-person body that works to ensure state residents have access to legal representation.

Polls

Should Wisconsin Supreme Court rules be amended so attorneys can't appeal license revocation after 5 years?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Legal News

See All Legal News

WLJ People

Sea all WLJ People

Opinion Digests