State Bar of Wisconsin history

1 James Willard Hurst, The Growth of the Law - The Law Makers 19 (1950). (Prof.

However, in December 1956, the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted rules that integrated the State Bar, requiring all Wisconsin-licensed lawyers to be members and clarifying the ability of the State Bar to hold property.

However, in December 1956, the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted rules that integrated the State Bar, requiring all Wisconsin-licensed lawyers to be members and clarifying the ability of the State Bar to hold property. As a result, in February 1958 the foundation deeded title of the Bar Center to the State Bar of Wisconsin.4

Beginning in 1961, the form and purpose of the fledgling foundation began to take shape.5 In December 1961, foundation president Alfred LaFrance outlined its purposes as being to provide:

In 1963 the foundation established a modest student-loan program, based on the advice of the Marquette University and U.W. law schools on the need for student loans.

The pioneer law office, which opened in 1964, continues today as an integral part of Stonefield Village.

In 1965 the foundation began working with the Wisconsin Supreme Court to obtain pictures of all the justices who had served on the court and to establish a continuing photo file of justices.

The program was terminated in 1968 on the ground that there was no longer a need, but the foundation provided emergency funds to law students on specific requests by the law schools.

In February 1969 the program was reestablished to provide law students with loans payable without interest until two years after graduation and at 5 percent interest thereafter.

In 1974, with increased activity and more contributions, the foundation hired its first staff director, David Mills.

Also in 1975, the foundation presented, with the Wisconsin Education Radio Network, a series on public radio of 15 segments on the topic "Inquiry: The Justice Thing."

In 1976, at the suggestion of State Bar member John Joanis, the foundation and the State Bar agreed that the State Bar dues statement include an assessment of a $10 contribution to the foundation to be collected along with State Bar dues.

In the board meeting minutes for January 1979, it was noted that 150 lawyers became members.

In 1981 the foundation began another fund-raising project, Lawyers Endowment for Public Service (LEPS), which encouraged 1,000 lawyers to pledge $1,000 each to create a $1 million endowment fund, with the income to be used for foundation operating expenses.

In 1982 it established the annual Charles Goldberg Distinguished Service Award to honor a Wisconsin lawyer for lifetime service in the public interest.

In 1983 the foundation instituted a Case Mediation Program in conjunction with a Dane County Bar Association project.

In 1984 a Mock Trial Program, based on earlier mock trials that were part of Project Inquiry, began on a statewide basis.

When Kaufman resigned in June 1986, Cathryn Balliett served as director, followed by Rhonda Lagoni and Karen McNett.

In 1987 the foundation developed a project to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States Constitution.

In 1988, as a result of another drive, 280 lawyers provided a total of $126,000.

Fundraising to finance the event took various forms, including the sale of Holstein cow-inspired "M-o-o-o Shirts." In 1989 Wisconsin's champion, the Rhinelander High School Mock Trial team, was crowned national champion in competition in Louisville, Ky.

In 1990 the foundation arranged for Prof.

In June 1991 foundation president Donald Heaney and State Bar president-elect Daniel Hildebrand appointed a committee, chaired by Gerald O'Brien, to review the foundation's work and make recommendations about its future.

In July 1992 the name of the Wisconsin Bar Foundation was changed to the Wisconsin Law Foundation and its programs were transferred to the State Bar.

By 1996, showing little or slow growth, the endowment fund of the Wisconsin Law Foundation totaled $420,000.

In 1997, in an effort to grow those funds at a faster rate, foundation leaders considered several possible innovations, including conducting a major capital fund drive, but no such fund drive was authorized or conducted.

Nevertheless, foundation coffers continued to grow through the generosity of its donors, reaching $558,000 in 1998 contributed from 1,100 foundation members.

The Foundation Fellows program was begun under the leadership of Truman McNulty in 1999.

Ethics 2000 Committee proposed changes to Rules of Professional Conduct

In Fall 2001 the foundation introduced Letter of the Law, a newsletter that reports at least annually on the foundation's many activities and events, advocates for financial support of foundation programs, and discusses relevant matters affecting the foundation.

Shortly thereafter, a national economic recession may have stunted participation, resulting in 673 foundation members in 2002 and net assets approximating $754,000.

9, 2003, reenactment of the Wisconsin Bar Association's founding.

When WisBar underwent a major redesign in 2004, the foundation gained improved linkage with all State Bar entities' Web pages, including those of its divisions, sections, and committees.