On July 1, 2019, I did something I never thought I would do: I became “of counsel” to my firm. During most of my career as an elder law attorney, I planned to keep working until I died. I remember mentioning this to a colleague, Robert Fleming, when I was at his office in Tucson in 1996. Robert, Charlie Sabatino, Craig Gordon, and I – all National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) members – were at Robert’s office grading CELA exams. We were talking about our practices. I mentioned that I never intended to retire. Robert replied, “You don’t…

Nothing stops a dinner party conversation quicker than when people inquire of your profession and you reply, “I’m a lobbyist.” Lobbying gives people a certain impression – maybe created by movies or TV, or even by politicians themselves, who often swear off lobbyists on the campaign trail. As often the case, the perception is much different from the reality – and lobbying and advocating for justice and the legal system has never been more important. About State Bar Lobbying The State Bar of Wisconsin lobbying and government relations program is run much differently than other professional or trade associations. Cale …

It was the first day on the job for my new staff attorney. He did not expect that his first day would be spent at a funeral. But there he was, with me. In the casket was a client of mine. She was beautifully dressed in pink, her face peaceful, and her son and family stood nearby. I paid my respects, and they expressed their joy that the final days of her life had been spent at home. If the local adult protective services (APS) agency had its way, things would have been different. She would have died in a…