November 2014

UpcomingAWL Meetings

& Special EventsCLE Program

Litigation Plan: Its Development and Benefits

Thursday, November 6Noon-1:10 p.m.

Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., 555 E. Wells St., Suite 1900

More information

Stockbox BuildThursday, November 6, 5-8 p.m.

Hunger Task Force 300 E. College Ave., Bldg 205

(old 440th Air Force base) Details in President’s Message, pg. 3

Holiday Luncheon & Toy DriveWednesday, December 10

Noon-1:30 p.m.The Ambassador Hotel

2308 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Full calendar available on our website

Or e-mail to dana@barefoot-marketing.comOr fax to 414-255-3615

If e-mailing or faxing, please bring a check made payable to AWL to the event

Make checks payable & mail to:Association for Women Lawyers

3322 N. 92nd StreetMilwaukee, WI 53222

Join us for a festive three-course meal at the elegant Ambassador Hotel. Steal a little time for yourself and enjoy an opportunity to visit with friends and colleagues. Bring unwrapped toys to donate to the Milwaukee Women’s Center (details on page 5). This is a great event to share with staff or assistants as well. Parking is provided by the Ambassador at no cost.

The charge for the Holiday Party is $30 for AWL members and $35 for non-members. Please RSVP with payment by Friday, December 5 at 5 p.m. using the form below or register and pay online at www.associationforwomenlawyers.org.

Registrations after the deadline will be $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

Holiday Party & Toy DriveWednesday, December 10

Noon to 1:30 p.m.Ambassador Hotel

2308 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

Holiday Party RegistrationName Firm Member?

__________________________________________________________________________________ yes no

__________________________________________________________________________________ yes no

__________________________________________________________________________________ yes no

__________________________________________________________________________________ yes no

__________________________________________________________________________________ yes no

Feel free to use additional paper if needed.Please RSVP by Friday, December 5. Pre-registration is necessary. “No Shows” will be billed.

Register and pay online at www.associationforwomenlawyers.org or

Estate Planning Discussion GroupThe Estate Planning Discussion Group will be holding a brown bag lunch discussion on Wednesday, November 19 at the offices of Godfrey & Kahn, 780 N. Water St. Dick Gamble, of Fiduciary Partners, Inc., will speak on “A Professional Trustee’s Perspective of the New Wisconsin Trust Code. All AWL members are welcome. RSVP to Kelley Daugherty.

Women’s Leadership & NetworkingMark your calendar and plan to join women’s leadership coach Rhonda Noordyk for a

presentation and networking program on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 5:30-7 p.m. More details to be announced soon.

Save the Date for Women Judges’ NightMark your calendar for the 35th Annual Women Judges’ Night, to be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. Our keynote speaker will be Hon. Patricia Gorence.

Find Us OnlineHave you visited our website? It’s a great place to search for

members, register for events, learn about public sector job openings, and more. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AWLMKE.

Help Us Find YouIf you’ve recently moved or otherwise changed contact information, please log into your listing on the AWL website. Updating your details will make it possible for us to keep you informed and for other members to provide accurate referrals. Make the most of your AWL membership by keeping your contact details current!

Dues RenewalsAWL members have received a renewal notice via email. Our thanks to those who have already paid their 2014-15 dues. Those who haven’t will get an electronic reminder. Dues are payable by check, or with a credit card in one of two ways: via Paypal or by phone with our administrator, Dana Robb (414-750-4404). If you have further questions, please contact Dana directly.

Member NewsWelcome New Members• Edona Ajvazi • Kelsey Anderson • Jasmyne Baynard

By Kristen N. Nelson

Judge Rebecca Dallet always knew that she wanted to be a lawyer, to be in public service, and to make a difference; but it was a mock trial in ninth grade

that foreshadowed her current legal role. As the judge in that mock trial, she remembers thinking that what she was doing was really important.

Since taking the bench, Judge Dallet has presided over drug, gun, homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect cases in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. While some may think hearing these types of cases is a difficult job, she relishes her current role. Being a judge allows her to make a difference. The fact that she is a woman in a traditionally male field is not lost on her. Out of the 47 judges in Milwaukee County, only 14 are women. Judge Dallet believes that more women should step up to be a judge because women bring different life experiences to the bench. Yet she recognizes the difficulty that many women have in taking leadership roles. Although she wanted to be a judge, it took encouragement

from others to step up and run for the bench. Judge Dallet recalled the doubts she felt in selling herself as a candidate, though she was clearly qualified.

It is because of her experience as an attorney and a judge that Judge Dallet appreciates the value of AWL. She believes that it is important for women lawyers to support each other, and that AWL offers a place to go where people understand. As an AWL member for many years, Judge Dallet has participated in the mentoring program, both as a mentee and mentor, and is a member of the Community Outreach Committee. She was also part of the Moms in the Bar, finding it a great place to share information with other mothers. The law runs in Judge Dallet’s family. Her grandfather and father were both lawyers, as is her husband. She credits her father with encouraging her to go to law school. He told her

that she could do whatever she wanted, be whatever she wanted, and that he knew that one day she would run for public office. After graduating from Case-Western Law School, Judge Dallet and her husband moved to Milwaukee. Though she was originally from Cleveland, they chose Milwaukee because it was his hometown, but also because she loved the sense of community. It was in Milwaukee that Judge Dallet began her work in public service. Judge Dallet spent nine years working as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee and two years working as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. When Judge Dallet became the presiding court commissioner in Milwaukee County, she was the first woman to hold that position.

Hon. Rebecca

Dallet

continued on page 4

continued on page 3

Despite the fact that I am in denial that it is already fall, as the leaves change colors and the air turns colder I realize that Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

As the holidays approach, it is traditionally a time to give thanks and also a time to give back to the community. This year, I hope that you will join me and other AWL members and guests in giving back by helping to ensure that some of the most vulnerable in our society have enough to eat and a happy Thanksgiving.

AWL’s Community Outreach Committee has organized a new event for AWL members and guests. On Thursday, November 6, we are organizing a group to volunteer for Hunger Task Force by preparing “stockboxes” that will be delivered to low-income senior citizens in the area free of charge. A stockbox contains 16 nutritious items including rice, cereal, juice, beef stew, pasta, and vegetables. Each month Hunger Task Force delivers nearly 10,000 stockboxes to local seniors, helping them stretch their food budgets.

AWL members, guests, and family members (volunteers must be 12 and older) will build the boxes by hand at Hunger Task Force’s south warehouse, located on the old 440th Air Force base at 300 E. College Ave. from 5 to 8 p.m.

This event, which was organized by the fabulous leaders of AWL’s Community Outreach Committee, Jill Kastner and Kelly Dancy, is particularly timely given that Wisconsin senior citizens were recently mistakenly cut from the FoodShare program. As Hunger Task Force reported, people with disabilities and families living in subsidized housing recently (and mistakenly) endured cuts to their FoodShare benefits. However, they are now eligible to have those benefits restored.

I’m a firm believer that “every event is a networking event,” a saying that I always attribute to past president of AWL and longtime member and leader

Giving Thanks and Giving Back

of the Community Outreach Committee, Jennine Sonntag. If you participate in this event, not only will you be giving back to your community, but you’ll also be networking with AWL members and guests. Nor will this be your typical networking event; be prepared to roll up your sleeves, wear appropriate shoes or work boots and comfortable clothing, and get to know and work together with your fellow AWL members and guests.

I look forward to seeing you there and I assure you that you will definitely get back more than you give.

• Katie L. Czapansky • Dayna Frenkel

Foley & Lardner LLP• Jill Halverson • Emily Harriman • Katie Hill • Megan Kaldunski • Krisin Kuzniar • Carol L. Lewis • Susan Lund

Legal Action of Wisconsin• Julia Mader • Kayla McCann • Sara McNamara • Danielle Meriwether • Laura Mikeworth

What’s Going On, cont.

Milwaukee Area Technical College offers a 64-credit Paralegal Associate of Applied Sciences program at its downtown Milwaukee campus. Instructors include AWL member Lori Kornblum.

With coursework focused on the practical aspects of law, the program provides a broad background and prepares students to work as paralegals in the legal community, government, business or industry. Courses are available days and evenings, and selected courses are offered online. The program is approved by the American Bar Association. List Your Firm’s Openings on TechConnectMATC’s student employment service, called the JOBShop, helps place students and graduates of the program in jobs. It also offers access to TechConnect, a database of job openings which is shared with students and graduates of all 16 Wisconsin technical colleges.

Employers may submit job or internship openings directly on TechConnect. As soon as the information is entered, it will be e-mailed to all registered students and graduates who meet the qualifications. Any student resumes that match the qualifications also will be attached to the file of the submitting employer.

To register as an employer and list a job, visit the site and: • Click on the State of

Wisconsin graphic• Click on the black bar in

the light blue box labeled “Employers Register Here”

• Enter contact and company details in highlighted areas

• Accept the “User Agreement”

Employers with questions about TechConnect or the JOBShop should call 414-297-6244, or email. For questions about the paralegal program, call 414- 297-7678. Check for more information on the program online.

MATC Offers Paralegal Program, Job Resources

• Tiara Oates • Kayla Paleka • Shannon Schweinhagen • Shannon Tenney • Karin Werner

Foley & Lardner LLP• Melissa York

Godfrey & Kahn• Soniya Yunus

Wisconsin Court of Appeals

* * *

If you have an event to publicize or an item for member news, send it to Dana Robb. Deadline for the next issue is November 16.

Judge Dallet does not limit her public service to her job. She also volunteers and encourages her three daughters – ages 12, 14, and 16 – to do the same. She and her husband ran the youth program at their synagogue for eighteen years, encouraging kids to get involved in social action. By promoting public service to her daughters, Judge Dallet hopes to teach them the importance of being a part of the community and to understand other people. Professionally, Judge Dallet serves on several boards and committees. She is on the Board of Directors for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, a member of the Wisconsin Criminal Jury

Profile, cont.Instructions Committee, and a faculty member for the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence, just to name a few.

It is hard to imagine that, with so much on Judge Dallet’s plate, she would have any free time. But she says she still manages to workout every day. She is also an avid reader, and is currently reading We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Jay Fowler. Weekends are spent with family and attending her daughters’ sporting events.

When Judge Dallet was asked who inspires her, she answered “the people I actually reach.” After speaking with her, it is easy to see Judge Dallet reaches many people.

Take Fastcase With YouTake smarter research on the go with Fastcase apps for iOS and Android. Use the app to search caselaw and statutes, custom-ize and re-sort search results, and use any of the integrated citation analysis tools. Then sync the mobile apps with your main

Fastcase Helps With Legal Research Needsaccount to bring together your favorites and search history. Save cases on the go, then ac-cess them at your desktop.

For more information about Fastcase, including training opportunities, contact Kristin Huotari at 608- 250-6152.

The State Bar of Wisconsin of-fers free Fastcase access as part of their member benefits pack-age. In addition to traditional search tools, this next-generation legal research service offers advanced search and visualiza-tion tools to help find citations more efficiently. Several recent updates have been made to Fastcase.

Authority Check Fastcase has enhanced its Authority Check with the addition of Bad Law Bot, an algorithm that searches for and flags cases with negative cita-tion history and provides links

to those cases. Although Bad Law Bot is not intended to be a complete replacement for a full editorial citator, it flags all cases that have been overturned and subsequently cited to by another court opinion.

Two Great Things Together For years, Fastcase’s Interactive Timeline has plotted search re-sults on a graph, to quickly iden-tify the most-cited cases and see the relationships between them. Forecite identified potentially significant cases that were not included in the search results. Fastcase has now combined these two features.

Do you know an outstanding woman lawyer who has achieved professional excellence in her field and has paved the way to success for other women lawyers?

The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession is seeking nominations for the 25th Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of

Call for NominationsAchievement Awards. These awards will be presented at a luncheon on Sunday, August 2, 2015, during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The deadline to submit the nomination form and supporting materials is the close of business on Monday, December 1. For more information, visit the ABA website.

Excerpted from miamiherald.com

The television show Bad Judge made its debut October 2nd on NBC. Two weeks later, the Miami-Dade chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers sent a letter to network CEO Steve Burke, asking him to kill it.

Saying the show depicts a female judge as “unethical, lazy, crude, hyper-sexualized and unfit to hold such an esteemed position of power,” the letter stated:

“We believe that media images that depict women in a negative light, even when intended to be funny, are damaging and often dangerous. Our mission has been to advance women in the legal profession, to help women climb the ranks and to be taken seriously in the legal profession. However, this show does just the opposite.

FL Women Lawyers Want TV Show Pulled

“Our organization understands that Bad Judge may be intended to be hyperbole, but we nonetheless find it damaging to women in the legal profession. The show is not only offensive to the many women judges who serve with the highest levels of integrity but also dangerous to the extent those who hold preconceived notions about women judges will find their sexist beliefs reaffirmed.”

Burke and his representatives at NBC, did not return calls for comment.

In the United States, there have been four female justices on the Supreme Court. Less then 35 percent of the active judges sitting on the 13 federal courts of appeal are women, and 32 percent of the active U.S. district court judges are women, Deborah Baker, president of the FAWL said in her letter.

PresidentLaura Schulteis KwaterskiU.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin

517 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 530Milwaukee, WI 53202414-297-4484laura.kwaterski@usdoj.gov

President-ElectCaroline SpongbergNorthwestern Mutual720 E. Wisconsin Ave.Milwaukee, WI 53202414-665-6212carolinespongberg@ northwesternmutual.com

SecretaryMelissa R. BeresfordP.O. Box 511814Milwaukee, WI 53203melissa.r.beresford@gmail.com

TreasurerMalinda EskraWisconsin Court of Appeals330 E. Kilbourn Ave., Ste 1020Milwaukee, WI 53202414-227-5160malinda.kyle.eskra@wicourts.gov

Director of MembershipAnn T. BoweGettelman Law Office2929 W. Highland Blvd.Milwaukee, WI 53208414-344-4434atbowe@wi.rr.com

Director of ProfessionalismLinda GradyThe Strategic Financial Alliance3870 S. 108th StreetGreenfield, WI 53228414-545-0404ljgrady5@yahoo.com

Director of ProgramsShannon BrusdaGodfrey & Kahn SC780 N. Water St.Milwaukee, WI 53202414-273-3500sbrusda@gklaw.com

Director of Special EventsEmily McIntyreSchmidlkofer, Toth & Loeb, LLC949 Glenview Ave.Wauwatosa, WI 53226414-259-9300mcintyre@lawintosa.com

Past PresidentJennifer AllenAlan C. Olson & Associates, SC2880 S. Moorland Rd.New Berlin, WI 53151262-785-9606jallen@employee-advocates.com

How to Reach UsOur administrator, Dana Kader Robb, can be reached at 414-750-4404 or dana@barefoot-marketing.com. Her fax number is 414-255-3615. Please send changes in your contact informa-tion directly to her.

If you’ve changed jobs, won an award, are hosting an event, have committee news or a topic of interest to AWL members, this is your forum. Please submit information to Dana using the above contact details. We reserve the right to edit for length and content. Deadline is the 16th of each month prior to the issue. Newsletters will be in members’ hands within the first week of the month.

Visit our Web site at www.associationforwomenlawyers.org.

AWL members and friends got good and dusty helping to build a Habitat for Humanity home near Washington Park on October 11th. Thanks to everyone who donated a Saturday to help another woman reach her dream of home ownership: Cathy Burgoyne, Jill Kastner, Susan Lund, Carmen Ortiz (not pictured), and Dana Robb.

AWL Helps Build a House Toy Drive to Benefit Women’s Center ClientsToys brought to the Holiday Party on December 10th will be donated to the Milwaukee Women’s Center, a division of Community Advocates that provides comprehensive services and treatment for women, men and children whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health issues, and poverty.

Although the primary children clients of Milwaukee Women’s Center are between 5-10 years of age, we are looking for toys and games for children of all ages, from infants though 16 years old. Milwaukee Women’s Center will also accept used iPods and MP3 players, as well as gift cards.

Please do not wrap your gifts, as the staff can better allocate the gifts if they can see what they are. However, do feel free to donate gift wrap, ribbon, and bows in lieu of (or in addition to) your toy donations.

AWL members are encouraged to make this event a toy drive at your firm too. What a great way to get everyone involved in the spirit of giving!

For those unable to attend the Holiday Party but who still want to donate, please drop off your donation with Jill Kastner at Legal Action of Wisconsin, 230 W Wells St., Room 800.