This conversational-style article explores the ways that we, as family law attorneys, must address mental health issues, from our clients’ cases to our own lives. More importantly, we have to start looking at how we best address mental health struggles in our practice and lives. We are Called ‘Counselors!’ Have you ever asked yourself why they call us counselors? According to Etymonline, the term counselor comes from Old Friench “counseiler” – “one who gives counsel or advice, a
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Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2025
Date and Time: November 6, 2025 8:00 am
Location: Hilton Garden Inn151401 Cty Rd NN, Wausau, Wisconsin
Presenters:
Sara J. Ackermann, Samuel J. S. Moheban, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl, Morgan H. Sweeney
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Ruder Ware’s Annual Employment & Benefits Law Conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn (map and directions) on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
7:30 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
8:05 – 8:55 a.m.
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What Is the Role of an Executor in Illinois Probate?
When a loved one passes away in Illinois, their estate often needs to go through a legal process called probate. Probate ensures that debts are paid, taxes are filed, and assets are distributed according to the person’s will or, if there is no will, under Illinois intestacy laws. At the center of this process is the executor—sometimes called a “personal representative.”
But what exactly does an executor do? Let’s break down their responsibilities.
Who Can Be an
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White House Announces Gold Card Visa Program and Teases Upcoming Platinum Card Visa Program with Unique Tax Benefits
On September 19, 2025, the President signed an executive order directing the creation of a “Gold Card” program in which a one-million-dollar gift to the United States on behalf of an individual or two-million-dollar gift to the United States by an entity on behalf of an individual shall be treated as evidence of eligibility for an employment based first or second preference immigrant visa. The Department of Commerce, Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security have 90 days
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Advisory Council agreed-on bill does little to nothing for workers or anyone else
The Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council has been meeting for most of 2025 over Department proposals and then proposals from the labor and management representatives.
After the Sept. 18th meeting ended, council members apparently reached agreement, because on the morning of Sept. 24th LRB drafts of agreed-on bills were ready for review by council members.
Note: The minutes of the Sept. 18th meeting show that council members went to caucus and did not return from that caucus to announce
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AI-Written Contracts: What to Do When a Client Brings You One
The “home cooking” or DYI of business documents is nothing new. There have always been people who have chosen to draft important documents without the help of an attorney, often to their detriment. The recent rise of AI tools which offer content generation in moments has seen many business owners and entrepreneurs use them to generate contracts, corporate documents, and even complex legal strategies without the involvement of attorneys. Why AI-drafted Agreements Often Fall Short While AI tools typically
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The Child’s Wishes after TPR: An Afterthought? A Proposed Amendment to Chapter 48
After the court grants a termination of parental rights (TPR), children are at their most vulnerable legal juncture. At this step of the proceedings, children are legal orphans, waiting to be adopted or to find other permanency. So, imagine the devastation when a change of placement is filed and the child has no opportunity to do anything about it. That is precisely what happens under current law. After a TPR is granted, children, their counsel, and their guardians ad
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New Fiscal Year, New State Bar Board of Governors
New State Bar Executive Director Jill Rothstein gives her report at her first Board of Governors meeting.
Sept. 24, 2025 – The 53-member State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors (Board) held its first meeting of the fiscal year (FY 2026), meeting in Wausau, and welcomed 11 new governors and two building bridges liaisons.
It was also the first Board meeting for new President Dan Gartzke and new Executive Director Jill Rothstein.
The meeting came after the annual Joint
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Presidential Proclamation Creates $100,000 Payment Requirement for New H-1B Petitions
Late last week, the White House issued a Proclamation which added a payment requirement of $100,000 to new H-1B petitions. The Proclamation provides a narrow exception for persons whose employment is determined in the Secretary of Homeland Security’s discretion to be in the national interest of the United States. This new requirement went into effect on September 21, 2025, and expires after 12 months absent extension.
A memorandum issued by USCIS later clarified that the proclamation only applies to
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An Uncertain Road: The Trump Administration’s Pause on New Visas for Commercial Truck Drivers
On August 22, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the federal government will pause issuing new visas for foreigners seeking to be commercial truck drivers.
On X, Rubio said: “[T]he increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”
The announcement came after a fatal accident involving an alleged undocumented immigrant who reportedly made an illegal U-turn with a commercial vehicle. According to
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A Plain-English Guide to Protecting Your Educational Content
Courses rarely live in one place. A video on your platform, slides in a folder, worksheets in a download, templates you keep improving. If you create a course, you own the rights to the words, images, and structure you made. Registering those rights creates a public record and unlocks stronger remedies if someone reuses your work without permission. It also makes licensing cleaner when you sell a bundle or individual modules. The useful question is not only how to
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von Briesen Welcomes Payton Rahn and Mackenzie Retzlaff
von Briesen & Roper, s.c., announced today that Payton L. Rahn and Mackenzie L. Retzlaff have joined the Milwaukee office.
Rahn is an Associate in the Labor & Employment, Government and School Law Sections. She assists both private employers and governmental entities on a wide range of employment matters. Rahn is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bar Association, Association for Women Lawyers (AWL) and Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association (MYLA). She received a J.D., cum laude,
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DOJ and HHS Intensify Health Care Fraud Action with FCA Enforcement Group
In an effort to intensify their efforts against health care fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced on July 2, 2025, the creation of a DOJ-HHS False Claims Act (“FCA”) Working Group (the “Working Group”). While DOJ and HHS have a long history of collaborative work under the FCA, this initiative signals a heightened and coordinated focus on investigating and prosecuting health care fraud. The Working Group aims
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Court of Appeals: No ‘Trial Penalty’ for Different Sentences in Similar Statutes
Sept. 22, 2025 – Two state statutes that covered the same criminal act – one that required a mandatory minimum sentence – were not unconstitutional under federal and state precedent, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I recently held in
State v. Kenyon, No. 2022AP2228-CR (Sept. 16, 2025) (recommended for publication). “[W]e find no case that stands for or even implicitly supports the proposition that a trial penalty is imposed when the State chooses to charge a defendant
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Can You Avoid Probate in Illinois?
Can You Avoid Probate in Illinois?
Probate has a reputation for being slow, expensive, and stressful—and for good reason. In Illinois, the probate process can take months (sometimes more than a year) and often involves court filings, legal fees, and public records. The good news? With the right planning, you may be able to minimize or completely avoid probate for your estate.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone’s affairs after death. It makes sure
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