Wisconsin State Law Library

Welcome Back to Your Library - Amy Crowder

With the Risser Justice Center reopening to the public starting July 6th, we welcome researchers back into the library. Our print collection, digital subscription databases, and special collections such as briefs and legislative drafting files are available for you to use independently.

The David T. Prosser Jr. Library’s doors are open from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. One-on-one help will be kept brief for your safety and ours. More in-depth research assistance will continue to be available by email or calling (608) 267-9696 during reference hours, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Our online and eBook collections are accessible 24/7 and can be used from your home or office. The Lexis Digital Library is a convenient way to read ebook versions of many of our print Lexis-published books. This month we are happy to debut a new database you can access remotely, CCH AnswerConnect. Visit our eBooks and Articles & Journals page to browse our entire online collection. Or head directly to the book or law review you want to read using links in our catalog.

July 2nd was our last day of offering our by-appointment sidewalk pickup service. Researchers can now check out and return books in the library during our open hours. You can still call us to request that we pull books and have them ready for you to check out at the library. The library’s ground floor book drop is convenient if you want to make a quick return. Our Borrow by Mail service continues to be available throughout the state, including the Madison and Milwaukee areas. Attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Wisconsin may use this service. Send a request through our Borrow by Mail form, or ask a reference librarian for help.

The library’s popular CLE webinars continue. With close to 1200 attendees at our webinars and other online presentations, we recognize our Zoom-based training classes are of great help and convenience to you. The library is continually adding classes to our webinar schedule. See our monthly Library News column and Classes page for a current schedule. Check our list of classes offered to request a course or suggest a new class.

Our branch librarians in the Milwaukee and Dane County courthouses continue to offer reference assistance and access to legal forms. Visit our Locations page for up-to-date information about hours and services.

We know that you have missed in-library services. We're excited to welcome you back into the library this month.

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New Database! CCH AnswerConnect - Carol Hassler

The library’s robust tax research collection is expanding online with CCH AnswerConnect. Log in with your library card to read tax articles on a variety of topics, with information covering Wisconsin and Federal tax laws. Search everything, or head to a jurisdictional tab from the home page to narrow your search to Federal or Wisconsin tax law.

Search everything

The simple search box is a gateway to a variety of resources, including short topical articles, related laws and regulations, reference charts, cases, forms, and more. Use the facets to delve into specific types of information.

Browse by topic

State and Federal tax topics provide quick analysis of an area of tax law, with links to resources or related topics to learn more. Use the browse features to get a foundation in new areas of law.

For example, an analysis of services and sales tax gives a broad overview - with a handy map for all states. Our subscription provides specific access to Wisconsin articles and sources, so the Wisconsin treatment by state is a selectable link you can follow for more specific information.

State summaries include relevant statutes and regulations, cases or other rulings, and other helpful documents. For a quick introduction, or to scan for updates, try browsing by topic.

Log in and search

Sign in to CCH AnswerConnect with your Wisconsin State Law Library card for tax research at your fingertips. Contact a librarian if you need help with any of our tax research materials or for help tackling your next research task.

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New Books - Kari Zelinka

New Edition! Wisconsin Civil Procedure Before Trial, 7th ed., 2020-2021
Call Number: KFW 2937 .W56 C56 2021

Wisconsin Civil Procedure Before Trial, the State Bar’s comprehensive text to prepare you for trial, has been updated. If you are a novice attorney, you should plan on keeping this close at hand. If you are a seasoned attorney, updated material may interest you as well as the comments, queries, and practical advice found throughout the book. A few of the updates include a Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision discussing aspects of joinder, many mediation practice tips, and a 2020 Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision discussing the need for a party to object to an arbitrator’s behavior at the time it occurs.

Chapters include:

• Venue, statute of limitations
• Jurisdiction
• Joinder of parties and claims
• Pleadings
• Service of process
• Provisional remedies and declaratory relief
• Motion practice
• Termination without trial
• Discovery
• Dispute resolution procedures
• Case management procedures

New Edition! Flexible Trusts and Estates for Uncertain Times, 7th ed., by Jerold I. Horn, 2021
Call Number: KF 730 .H67 2021

We are all living in uncertain times, so Flexible Trusts and Estates for Uncertain Times may be applicable now more than ever. This updated seventh edition contains over 150 sample forms and over 20 complete wills, trusts, and other instruments - and a discussion of the benefits of each. Changes that have occurred since the last edition, which are discussed and analyzed, include generation skipping tax, the repeal and restoration of estate tax, repeal of some taxes, enactment of wealth taxes, and the pandemic.

Some chapters include:

• Bypass trusts
• Payments to beneficiaries
• Discretionary distributions
• Annuity trusts
• Use of exemptions
• Dispositive configurations
• Allocation of death costs
• Avoiding and attracting grantor-trust agreements
• Accommodation of qualified plans and IRA interests
• Inter vivos marital distributions
• Irrevocable life insurance trusts

See our latest New Titles list for a list of new books and other resources.

For assistance in accessing these or other resources, please contact our Reference Desk.

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Tech Tip - Heidi Yelk

Two Factor Authentication for your Google Account

If you have a Google account, you know it's not just email. You've likely stored documents, photos, contacts, your calendar, and more. With so much information tied to your login, it makes sense to explore more security. If you work from home, bank online, or use a service such as MyChart you are already familiar with two factor authentication required for security.

Consider taking the easy step of implementing your own two-step authentication for your personal Google account. At the most basic level, all you need is a phone to receive a call or text message with a security code.

You can find more information or get started by visiting the Google 2-Step Verification page. Once you've turned on 2-Step Verification, you have the ability to discontinue use and/or customize its use across your various devices.
Soon Google may suggest 2-Step Verification by default, according to Google Gets Serious About Two-Factor Authentication. To read about additional services that allow account holders to set up two factor security, see this article from PC Magazine, Two Factor Authentication: Who Has It and How to Set It Up.

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Library News - Carol Hassler

2020 Annual Report

The COVID-19 pandemic changed many peoples’ personal and professional lives. Our library users needed to adapt and change how they worked. This prompted the State Law Library to rethink how we provided our services. While our doors were closed, our services remained open to the public. Staff at the David T. Prosser Jr. State Law Library, Milwaukee County Law Library, and Dane County Law Library are proud to have provided continuous research and collection support to the Supreme Court and State of Wisconsin throughout 2020. In our newly released annual report, we cover special events, services, and new initiatives.

Welcome new attorneys!

Last month we contributed to an article in the State Bar of Wisconsin’s InsideTrack. Check it out at the link below.

Five resources every new lawyer should know
Congratulations, new lawyers! There's still a lot to learn--so here are resources that law librarians say every new lawyer should know about.

Legislative history 101

Our August webinar is now open for registration through the Wisconsin State Law Library. Registration for each webinar is limited to 100. Registrations will be approved daily by the moderator. Once your registration is approved, you will get an email confirmation with connection information. Please reach out to carol.hassler@wicourts.gov with questions.

Introduction to Wisconsin Legislative History
Wednesday, August 18, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Location: Live webinar - Register for Introduction to Wisconsin Legislative History
1 CLE credit applied for

I need the legislative history of a Wisconsin statute. Where do I start? What do I do? Participants will look at the primary resources used to research Wisconsin legislative history, learn about the online Wisconsin legislative drafting files, and learn some helpful tips and tricks along the way. This introductory class covers basic research strategies and sources.

Lexis Digital Tours

The Lexis Digital Library is a convenient way to read ebook versions of many of our print Lexis-published books. For a tour of the new ebook platform, join one of our upcoming training webinars. It's a great opportunity for you to become familiar with Lexis Digital, and to ask any questions directly to a Lexis Digital trainer.

Register for our July training session: July 7th, 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Access Lexis Digital through our eBooks page or directly from book links in our catalog.

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July Snapshot

Newspapers: A Snapshot in Time
Photo by Carol Hassler

What a long, strange time it has been! Soon after librarians began remote work, we canceled our print newspaper subscriptions (but kept the digital access). As a result, our newspaper shelves became a snapshot in time from March 2020.

We are accepting snapshots! Do you have a photo highlighting libraries, attractions or points of historical interest? Send your photo the editor at carol.hassler@wicourts.gov to be included in a future issue.

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