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JUST WISCONSIN NEWSLETTER 
Summer 2013

   
CAN ACCESS TO JUSTICE BE NONPARTISAN?

In most states, the answer is a resounding "Yes." Investing state resources in civil legal services to the indigent is the norm across the country as a cost-effective supplement to the financial contributions from attorneys, judges, other individuals, banks, private foundations and the federal Legal Services Corporation. Despite the Commission's best efforts, Wisconsin remains one of only four states with no state funding for civil legal services. In states as diverse as Mississippi, Texas, Washington and New York, bipartisan groups of legislators agree that state government has a shared responsibility to provide some of the financial support that helps to ensure that the most vulnerable state residents have access to basic legal advice and representation to resolve civil legal problems that threaten basic human needs. Learn More


Gregg Moore
WELCOME

The Just Wisconsin Newsletter is another way for you to keep up with developments in the Access to Justice Commission and in the larger legal services community in Wisconsin. But it's not just about us. It's about you as a service provider, client, lawyer or judge. It's also about the people you serve. We welcome submissions from individuals and organizations with news that would interest Wisconsin's equal justice community. What would you like to see in future editions? Send your news to either our newsletter editor, Rita Lord, or our staff coordinator, Jeff Brown.

Gregg Moore

President

Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission


Vergeront
Hon. Margaret Vergeront
UPDATING THE JUDICIAL CODE
Judges & Self-Represented Litigants

A working group convened by the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission is examining possible changes to the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct that would provide additional guidance to judges to help address one of the challenges raised by the growth in self-represented litigants. The working group, led by retired Court of Appeals Judge Margaret Vergeront, has been preparing proposed changes as well as gathering suggestions from judges and practicing attorneys. The working group is still reviewing the comments that it received and expects to complete its work this summer. Read more


Milwaukee courthouse     
NEW LAWYER FOR A DAY PROGRAM
A Milwaukee Experiment

Mike Gonring at Quarles & Brady had an idea. What if we tried something that has worked in other places to recruit lawyers to serve as "lawyer for a day" in a courtroom where most litigants struggle without lawyers? Gonring describes his law firm's first in Wisconsin partnership with Sojourner Family Peace Center and Marquette University Law School. They have teamed up to offer pro bono representation to domestic abuse victims in injunction hearings with Gonring as the first volunteer. Read more


           
ONLINE LEGAL ADVICE UP NORTH
Northern Wisconsin Legal Advice Project

Wisconsin Judicare has launched a new online legal advice website is now available for low-income residents of thirteen northern Wisconsin counties in the Tenth Judicial District.The project was funded in part by the State Bar of Wisconsin and provides a way for volunteer Wisconsin lawyers to answer questions posed by eligible low income clients. Read more


Judge Anderson
Hon. John Anderson
    
LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION
An Issue of Access to Justice

A newly filed rules petition in the Wisconsin Supreme Court would establish guidelines and support for limited scope representation in Wisconsin. Courts and attorneys continue to search for tools and procedures that will address the challenges with an ever increasing self-represented population in the judicial system. Limited scope representation is one such tool that enhances access to justice for some public members who may not wish to or are unable to retain counsel throughout an entire legal proceeding. The petition is an outgrowth of several years of work by volunteers on a subcommittee of the Wisconsin Court System's Policy Planning Advisory Committee. Read more
 


PRO BONO CULTURE IN LAW SCHOOLS
Wisconsin law students learn by giving back

Students at Wisconsin's two law schools provided more than 14,000 hours of pro bono service during the 2012-13 academic year, earning special recognition for their efforts. Both schools have created pro bono societies to recognize their continuing students and graduates. Read more

If you would like to support our work to improve access to justice in Wisconsin, you can make a tax-deductible contribution online through our JustGive page.
  

If you would like to support our work by volunteering your time on a committee or in some other way, contact us.


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