Wisconsin State Law Library

Welcome to the Legal Profession - Michael Keane

Spring is the time of year when graduates of Wisconsin's law schools are admitted to the bar. We know that learning and professional growth never stop, and we're here to help! Members of the State Bar of Wisconsin may check out books and use online subscriptions through the Wisconsin State Law Library. New attorneys can apply for a library card online at any of our three libraries located in Madison and Milwaukee.

The library's print collection offers a broad selection of high value materials for beginning attorneys, with a special focus on Wisconsin law. The library also offers a number of online services that can help lawyers throughout the state. Access to well-known legal databases and ebook collections are available to cardholders through the library's website. The library also offers a borrow-by-mail service for attorneys who can't make it into one of our libraries.

Our reference staff is always ready to offer their assistance to you in your research. Send your questions to us by e-mail (wsll.ref@wicourts.gov) or call (608) 267-9696. Congratulations on completing your formal education! We are ready to help you in your ongoing pursuit of knowledge in the legal field.

Onsite Library Tours in May and June

Library users are invited to the David T. Prosser Jr. State Law Library for onsite tours in May and June. This is an opportunity to review databases available in the library, learn about library services, and tour the print collection. This is an illuminating activity for new hires, summer associates, paralegals, and even longtime library users.

One hour tours will be offered on Wednesday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Register online to book your tour today!

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New Books - Kari Zelinka

New Book! Wisconsin Family Law from A to Z, by Carly F. Boothe and others, 2021
Call Number: KFW 2494 .A75 W572 2021

Family law attorneys have the sensitive job of helping clients through difficult family transitions and making decisions that will have long lasting impacts for everyone involved. Wisconsin Family Law from A to Z will help you learn techniques and strategies for gathering information ethically. Your clients may have a hard time when going through divorce and custody battles and it's your job to work for their best interests now and in the future. Use the sample forms, suggested language for agreements, timelines, and practical tips to get the best outcome for your clients.

Chapters include:

• Marriage dissolution - process and procedure
• Discovery in divorce
• Child custody and visitation rights
• Finance 101 for family law practitioners
• Ethics
• Common and not so common family law issues and answers

New Book! Wisconsin Estate Administration from Start to Finish, by Jennifer R.  Heinz and others, 2021
Call Number: KFW 2547 .A75 W8724 2021

If you're looking for a course manual for an introduction or refresher in estate administration, check out Wisconsin Estate Administration from Start to Finish. You'll find pertinent statutes, checklists, sample forms, letters, and timelines at your fingertips to make the process easier. The authors begin with the process of filing in probate court and understanding the different between formal and informal administration. Later, they move on to address other issues, like the order of inheritance according to the law of intestate succession. More complex issues such as jointly held property and accounts, will contests, and undue influence are covered in depth. Finally, ethics topics like identifying who is your client, attorney fees, and confidentiality are covered. 

Chapters include: 

• Commencement of proceedings and information gathering
• Initial steps to the estate administration process
• Marshalling assets
• Handling creditor claims and debt
• Complex issues in estate administration
• Distribution and closing of the estate
• Ethics and estate administration

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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Boost Your Job with These Books - Carol Hassler and Abby Hartenbower

Whether you're new to the profession, or continuing to hone your skills, we have books that can help! Unlock new strategies to manage your solo or small practice by diving into our books on the business of law. Our libraries also have several resources which can help you hone your writing or prepare briefs and opinions. Everything listed in this Briefs and Opinion Writing research guide is available at the David T. Prosser Jr. Library and can be checked out with one of our library cards.

Featured books in this display include:

• The amicus brief: how to write it and use it effectively, by Reagan Wm. Simpson and Mary R. Vasaly
• An associate's first year: a guide to thriving at a law firm, edited by Jennifer L. Bluestein
• Basic manual for the legal professional, NALS
• The bluebook: a uniform system of citation
• Flying solo a survival guide for the solo and small firm lawyer, edited by K. William Gibson
• Job quest for lawyers: the essential guide to finding and landing the job you want, by Sheila Nielsen
• Opinion writing, by Ruggero J. Aldisert
• The survival guide to implementing effective law firm management strategies, by Arthur G. Greene and Sandra J. Boyer
• The winning brief: 100 tips for persuasive briefing in trial and appellate courts, by Bryan A. Garner

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Tech Tip - Heidi Yelk

Google Snippets and Web Search Results: a twist on "copy link to highlight"

In February, the Tech Tip featured Google's "Copy Link to Highlight" feature. This tool allows you to add highlighted text to a webpage and create a direct link to share with others who are using Chrome. The special link jumps your user right to the section of the page you wish to showcase. 

A similar function is happening with another Google tool called "Google Features Snippets."  But in this case, Google is doing the thinking for you. (Admittedly, not always a good thing.)  If you are a heavy Chrome user, you may have noticed "highlighting" that seems to magically appear on webpages. Here's what is happening. 

If the Google search engine determines that content on a webpage is a good match for your query, the search result page may return a "featured snippet" as the top result at the top of the page. When you click on the top result, it will take you to the highlighted section of that webpage where "your answer" will stand out.

As a researcher, you may want to share this webpage but you may not want the highlighting and you may not want to feature the text that Google has chosen. We'll share how to remove that highlighting and find a shorter URL for the webpage. 

Below is pictured a Google search example that has returned a "Featured Snippet" from the Social Security Administration blog page.

Clicking on the link takes you halfway down the page to the text that Google has decided answers your question. Google has added text highlights and also created a very long URL to get you there. 
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html#:~:text=Benefits%20For%20Your%20Divorced%20Spouse,is%20age%2062%20or%20older

You may want to share this page but not the extra highlighting. The fix is very simple. To remove, simply right click near the text highlighting and choose "Remove highlight" The purple highlighting will disappear and the URL will be shortened to a web address that takes you to the top of the webpage: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html 

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Library News - Carol Hassler

Libraries closed on Memorial Day

All three libraries will be closed on Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day. Send questions and requests to wsll.ref@wicourts.gov or leave a message at 608-267-9696. We'll get back to you on Tuesday, May 31st.

Legal research tools and techniques

Carol Hassler will present, along with other instructors, in Legal Research Tools and Techniques, an upcoming seminar available through the State Bar of Wisconsin. The seminar, taking place on May 4 from 8:30-2:45, is packed with strategies, tricks, and tips to get remarkably successful and time-saving results for your next legal research task.

Welcome back to in-person classes

Join us at the David T. Prosser Jr. State Law Library for our first in-person training in a couple of years, and a brand-new class!

Basic Knowledge for Legislative Research in Wisconsin
Wednesday, June 15, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: David T. Prosser Jr. State Law Library
FREE. 1 CLE credit applied for - Register for Basic Knowledge for Legislative Research in Wisconsin

Get an introduction to the basic tools for understanding the legislative process: the format of legislative documents, the vocabulary, tips on reading statutes, and using information associated with the statutes to better understand and more easily research state law. This class is a great prequel to drafting file research and is appropriate for any legal researcher interested in the Wisconsin legislative process.

Webinar learning opportunities

Sign up for a webinar this spring! Registration in our webinars is limited to 100 and all 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 abigail.case@wicourts.gov with questions.

Advanced Wisconsin Legislative History
Wednesday, May 4, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Live webinar - Register for Advanced Wisconsin Legislative History
FREE. 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 advanced class covers additional search strategies, budget bills, advanced use of drafting records, and Supreme Court rule order research.

Wisconsin Legislature Website
Thursday, June 23, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Live webinar - Register for Wisconsin Legislature Website
FREE. 1 CLE credit applied for

In this hands-on overview of the Legislature's site you'll learn how to track legislative activity, locate bills and acts, using finding aids for legislative sessions, and search the online Wisconsin Statutes. You'll also learn about notification services, and how to find publications of the various Legislative Service agencies.

Onsite Library Tours in May and June

Library users are invited to the David T. Prosser Jr. State Law Library for onsite tours in May and June. This is an opportunity to review databases available in the library, learn about library services, and tour the print collection. This is an illuminating activity for new hires, summer associates, paralegals, and even longtime library users.

One hour tours will be offered on Wednesday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Register online to book your tour today!

National Library Week roundup

National Library Week was so early this year (the first week of April), that we turned it into National Library Month! All month we gave away free book bags at our circulation desks and shared some information about Lexis Digital Library eBooks. Did you miss an article from us this month? Catch up at the links below:

• What's in your research bag? A summary of Lexis research tools and Lexis Digital Library eBooks.
• Jurisdictions in Civil Actions. Learn how to quickly identify a section in this valuable eBook on jurisdictional issues.
• Researching wills in Lexis Digital. Get some quick tips to efficiently read or find sample will clauses in this eBook.
• Employment in Wisconsin. A quick summary of a variety of employment law concerns are in this helpful eBook.

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May Snapshot

The Spirit of Polonia / Solidarity
Photo by Jenna Marquardt

The Spirit of Polonia, by artist Edmund Lewandowski, adorns the south side of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Its three rings symbolize harmony, unity and infinity, and surround the bronze sphere of earth. This sculpture was placed in front of the courthouse in 1979.

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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