Wisconsin OKs CLE credit for bias, culture courses

Wisconsin state attorneys can receive Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for courses in cultural competency and reduction in bias. The courses are not required.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court released a final order based on a request from the Wisconsin State Bar allowing the courses.

The amendment to Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 31.02(5) establishes lawyers with the ability to receive credit for up to six hours in cultural competency and reduction in bias among the 30 required hours of CLEs during each two-year reporting period.

The court voted 4-3 to approve the new CLE credit offerings with Justices Brian Hagedorn, Rebecca Grassl Bradley and Annette Kingsland Ziegler dissenting.

The newly approved category is another specialty CLE category, such as law practice management and lawyer and awareness and understanding that are optional with a maximum number of reportable credits for each reporting periods.

The revised rule defines what constitutes cultural competency and reduction in bias to clarify courses applicable for credit. Cultural competency courses seek “to improve client communication and representation through the lens of knowledge and understanding of diverse populations with a sensitivity to cultural and other differences in personal traits” when interacting with the public and legal community.

Courses in “reduction of bias” are “designed to educate attorneys to identify and reduce from the legal profession, the practice of law, and the legal system at large, biases against persons because of but not limited to age, race, gender, gender identity, economic status, veteran status, creed, color, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation and to remove barriers to access to justice arising from discriminatory behavior.”

“Attorney client relationships are the foundation of the legal profession,” the memorandum from the State Bar said in support of the new CLEs. “To continue to enjoy confidence with the public, the legal profession must be prepared to meet the clients’ expectations and needs.”

The State Bar petitioned the Supreme Court for the new CLE rule on June 27, 2024, after receiving unanimous approval from the 52-member Board of Governors.

The State Bar previously requested similar courses be made available to attorneys. In 2022, the bar petitioned the Supreme Court for a similar requirement for “diversity, ethics and inclusion or recognition of bias.” The Supreme Court denied that petition on a 4-3 vote.