Supreme Court offices

Office of Lawyer Regulation

The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) is an agency of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. OLR receives grievances relating to lawyer misconduct, conducts investigations, and prosecutes violations of lawyer ethics rules.

Contact information

Office of Lawyer Regulation
Keith Sellen, Director
110 East Main Street, Suite 315
Madison, WI 53703-3383
Phone: (608)267-7274 or (877) 315-6941
Fax: (608) 267-1959

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About OLR and the lawyer regulation system

The Wisconsin Supreme Court created the lawyer regulatory system in 2000. The system assists the Court in supervising the practice of law and protecting the public from misconduct by lawyers.

For additional information see:

Detailed information about ethical standards, organizational structure, and grievance procedures are contained in the following Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules (SCRs):

News

Find information about recent disciplinary cases, upcoming reinstatement hearings and pending public cases in the services for public section.

Financial institutions can now find information on lawyer trust and fiduciary accounts on the information for financial institutions page.

Annual law firm certifications regarding trust and fiduciary accounts PDF

Full insurance coverage on IOLTAs terminated as of December 31, 2012 PDF

Vital information for lawyers regarding credit card payments Adobe PDF

2013 trust account management seminars - September 27, 2013.

Remote deposits to credit card trust account Adobe PDF

OLR has added a practice tip Adobe PDF for lawyers on credit card trust accounts and the mechanics of utilizing such accounts.

Lawyer status and history search now available - On January 12, 2012, a new online search program for lawyer status, standing, and discipline history debuted. Information about lawyers is now more readily available to everyone. Access the search here. Or, from the court system's main page, on the "how do I" tab follow the link to "find the status/standing of a lawyer." To search, enter the name, bar number, or other information to see a list of all lawyers meeting the search criteria. Select a particular lawyer for information about the lawyer's firm and contact information, current status and standing, any pending public disciplinary cases (with a link to the case on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Access site), and public disciplinary history (with a link to each final disciplinary order).

Filing a grievance

Grievances can be filed by telephone or in writing. For information about filing a grievance and the process involved visit the services for public section.

Lawyer status and history

While OLR is required to keep information about grievances and private discipline confidential, OLR may provide information regarding a lawyer's license status and public discipline, including public reprimands, license suspensions and revocations.

For information regarding a lawyer's current status and public disciplinary history, consult any or all of the following:

Search lawyer status and history
Wisconsin State Bar lawyer search (external link)
Compendium of Professional Discipline
Recent disciplinary cases
Reinstatement hearings
Pending public cases

Trust Account Program

Lawyers have fiduciary obligations to safeguard and account for the funds and property of clients and others in their possession. OLR is responsible for overseeing lawyers' compliance with Wisconsin's trust account rule, Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 20:1.15. For further information regarding lawyer trust accounts, including record keeping requirements, overdraft reporting, IOLTA compliance, and annual certifications visit the services for attorneys section.

Financial institutions: For further information on lawyer trust accounts, lawyer fiduciary accounts, overdraft reporting, IOLTA requirements, credit card trust accounts, and prohibited transactions, visit the information for financial institutions page.

Lawyer fees

Lawyer fees are subject to many regulatory requirements. They must be reasonable. Advanced fees must be refunded if unearned. Lawyers have alternatives for handling advanced fees. For more detailed information about fees and fee agreements, see the services for attorneys Adobe PDF section .

Pro hac vice admission

For information on pro hac vice admission and the application form see the services for attorneys section.

Assistance from other organizations

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