Page 525 - 2024 Orientation Manual

(1) Monitoring attorney discipline;
(2) Maintaining the competence of the members of the profession by
implementing continuing legal education requirements, establishing
bar admission standards, and supervision of law school;

(3) Increasing availability of legal services to society by providing
legal aid programs, public information regarding the availability of
legal services, and public education on substantive areas of law; and

(4) Public commentary on matters concerning judicial efficacy and
efficiency, including rules of evidence and lawyer advertising. 32

In 1992, The Supreme Court of Wisconsin granted a petition to reinstate the

integrated State Bar. 33 In so doing, the Court noted with approval the Keller

holding that mandatory dues of unified bar members may constitutionally be used

to fund activities germane to the identified state interests in regulating the legal

profession and improving the quality of legal services. 34

Adding further credence to Schneider, the Supreme Court of Rhode Island

stated in 1994 that lobbying to advance legislation proposing changes in the

selection of judges is a legitimate bar concern and not in violation of Keller. 35 An

expansive view of Keller was also enunciated in the 1995 case of Popejoy v. New

Mexico Board of Bar Commissioners. 36 The federal district court approved

expenditures for the following activities: construction of a bar center, lobbying

for the improvement in the delivery of legal services, funding of pro bono legal

services to military reservists and family members in conjunction with the

deployment of personnel during a military operation, and the cost of defending a

32 See 682 F. Supp. 674, 684-85 (D. Puerto Rico 1988).
33 In Matter of State Bar of Wisconsin, 169 Wis.2d 21, 485 N.W.2d 225 (Wisc. 1992).
34 See Id. at 226.
35 See Petition of Rhode Island Bar Association, 650 A.2d 1235, 1237 (R.I. 1994).
36 887 F. Supp. 1422 (D.N.M. 1995).

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