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Commentary: Cheap entertainment for the cost conscious
Lawyers are working harder these days. In 1965, associates typically billed 1,400 to 1,600 hours annually, while partners billed 1,200 to 1,400. Forty years later, associates’ hours were up to 2,000 annually, according to an ABA Law Practice Management Section magazine article from 2006. But everyone knows the old adage about all work and no […]
Commentary: Lawyers should whine for tax credits too
Reading the local progressive newspaper the other day, I came across a story about some farmers and municipalities who want land designated as “agricultural enterprise areas.” If that were to happen, the farmers would get annual tax credits of $5 to $10 per acre, in exchange for agreeing to keep the land in farm production […]
Commentary: The key to security as a lawyer: Networking
Throughout law school I was very focused on grades and making certain that I ranked as high as possible in my class. But while it is impossible to deny that grades and rankings are important in law school, I was surprised to find that what matters more than anything as you move into your career […]
Commentary: Grandparents’ case raises hard questions
There is an old Jewish story about two men who go to a Rabbi to decide a dispute. After the first one told his side, the Rabbi told him: “You’re right.” “Wait a minute, Rabbi,” said the other, “You haven’t heard my side.” After telling his side, the Rabbi scratched his beard and told him: […]
Commentary: Half a case may be better than none
For the legal profession, the impact of the current recession has been felt the most by the nation’s one million-plus lawyers who are sole practitioners or members of small firms. These lawyers are not at the top of the compensation scale to begin with. They generally work on what’s called “the consumer side” of law, […]
Commentary: Observations from a morning in court
Last week, I spent 3 ½ hours in a courtroom in the Milwaukee County Public Safety Building. I needn’t tell you cats how tedious – I mean thrilling – that was. But I would like to relate a couple of experiences from that morning. At one point, while I was waiting in line to get […]
Commentary: Internal marketing efforts can improve profitability
Studies conducted across the country repeatedly show the value of internal marketing to professional services firms. A national study of 200 human resources executives conducted by Wisconsin-based Business Development Directives revealed firms with strong internal marketing initiatives experience higher-than-average growth rates and profitability. The explanation is very simple — highly-trai[...]
Commentary: A close look at SaaS Highrise
A few months ago I wrote about cloud computing and the emerging field of software-as-a-service (SaaS). Highrise from 37 Signals is a SaaS offering that can help a busy law office coordinate efforts and communication for ongoing matters. It’s a multi-tenant, multi-user tool that allows you and your colleagues to share case information, assign work […]
Commentary: No ‘Big Love’ for polygamy laws
My favorite TV show, “Big Love,” is back on the air for a new season. If you’re not familiar with the show, it’s a family drama about a man in Utah, his three wives, and their assorted children. A frequently-used device to drive the plot is their ever-present fear of criminal prosecution for polygamy. My […]
Commentary: An idea for a new video game
When I was a kid, I used to go to the bowling alley to play a video game called “Wizard of War.” Like most video games of the time, the goal was to navigate mazes and fight monsters of one sort or another. Over time, video games became more realistic. Now, you can play a […]
Commentary: Can I really raise my rates?
As the holiday season began, I received an e-mail inquiry from a lawyer asking if I had a standard letter that his firm could use to inform clients that hourly rates would increase on January 1. Since most firms have faced two-plus years of pressure by clients to cut rates, it was interesting (to say […]
Commentary: I am not my brother’s dog’s keeper
Mark Twain once remarked that the major difference between a man and a dog is that, if a dog is cold and hungry, and you shelter and feed it, the dog will be grateful. The man, in contrast, will steal your best whiskey. Twain’s remark played out in a case that the Wisconsin Supreme Court […]
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- Wisconsin joins Feds, dozens of states to hold airlines accountable for bad behavior
- Trump ahead of Biden in new Marquette poll
- Bankruptcy court approves Milwaukee Marriott Downtown ‘business as usual’ motion
- New Crime Gun Intelligence Center to launch in Chicago
- Arrest warrant issued for Minocqua Brewing owner who filed Lawsuit against Town of Minocqua
- Wisconsin Supreme Court justices question how much power Legislature should have
- Milwaukee’s Common Council now has the most African Americans, women and openly LGBTQ members ever
- Office of School Safety Provides Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management Training Ahead of 25th Anniversary of Columbine Shooting
- Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear arguments in Democratic governor’s suit against GOP-led Legislature
- Lawsuit asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to strike down governor’s 400-year veto
- Wisconsin man pleads not guilty to neglect in disappearance of boy
- ACS Selects University of Wisconsin Law School’s Miriam Seifter for 2024 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholar Award
WLJ People
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Russell Nicolet
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- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Dustin T. Woehl
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Katherine Metzger
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Joseph Ryan
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – James M. Ryan
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Dana Wachs
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Mark L. Thomsen
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Matthew Lein
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Jeffrey A. Pitman
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – William Pemberton
- Power 30 Personal Injury Attorneys – Howard S. Sicula
