Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 50 Update as of July 1, 2021
How do you get certified for student practice? - Students engaged in activities under SCR 50 must obtain written certification from the UW Law School by way of a form issued by the clerk of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. - Students must submit this form, which can be found here, to the law school and wait for its approval decision (generally takes around an hour). - Students must carry this certification at all times when appearing in court. - This certification is valid until either 24 months after it is issued, 12 months after the date of graduation, or as soon as the student is admitted to a legal practice. - This certification will be withdrawn if the student stops being regularly enrolled in the law school, or if the court deems it fit to cancel it for any reason.
Where can a student work? - A clinical education program operated or sponsored by a Wisconsin law school, including externships, practicums, supervised field placements and experience-based programs operated or sponsored by a Wisconsin law school. - One can find information about University of Wisconsin Madison Law School clinical programs here, and its experiential learning programs here. - One can find information about the Marquette University Law School’s clinical opportunities from Professor Thomas Hammer. - A qualified pro bono program as defined in SCR 31.01(12); No. 20-04 4, which is a program either: - operated by a nonprofit legal services organization that receives funding from the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF) - 2020 WisTAF grant recipients can be found here. - operated by a Wisconsin law school, existing on the date that this rule is adopted that is operated by a Wisconsin bar association, - or approved by the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) as a qualified pro bono program. - BBE approved programs can be found on a searchable list here or on this list from the Wisconsin Bar’s website. - A nonprofit legal services organization that receives funding from the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation or the Legal Services Corporation. - A government agency which employs the supervising lawyer.
How can students get involved in pro bono projects? - Students can choose to volunteer at current pro bono opportunities in a wide range of practice areas or create their own pro bono project through the UW Madison Law School’s Pro Bono Program. - At the Unvi. of Wisconsin Law School Pro Bono Program volunteers must complete the Canvas training course prior to training for or volunteering at their projects. - Students can choose to volunteer at a wide range of pro bono opportunities through the Marquette University Law School’s Pro Bono program as well.
How can private attorneys or firms participate? - Individual Attorneys and Host Sites (organizations or firms) can submit a pro bono project proposal to the UW Law School Pro Bono Program to find volunteer law students. - This proposal must conform to the law school’s requirements and guidelines, which can be found here. - Once received, completed applications will be reviewed and responded to within two weeks.
What type of liability do supervising lawyers have? - Under SCR 50, students must work under the supervision of a lawyer who is an active member of the State Bar of Wisconsin. - Supervising lawyers must assume personal professional responsibility for any services performed or undertaken by the student while under the lawyer’s supervision. - For more information about the liability of supervising law students, lawyers can call the State Bar of Wisconsin ethics line found here.
Who can you contact at the Univ. of Wisconsin Law School for more information? - Student Practice Certification: - Amy Arnsten ([email protected], 608-262-0050) - Externships: - Erin McBride ([email protected], 608-890-4934) - Clinics: - Mitch ([email protected], 608-263-9575) - Pro Bono Program: - Email [email protected] - Prospective Individual Attorneys and Host Sites: - Email [email protected]
Who can you contact at the Marquette University Law School for more information? - Student Practice Certification, For-Credit Clinics, Judicial Internships, and Supervised Field Placement: - Thomas Hammer ([email protected], 414-288-5359) - Pro Bono Program Program: - Angela Shultz ([email protected], 414-288-6823) - Katie Mertz ([email protected], 414-288-4965)