Past President's Report

Hi, I’m the Problem, It’s Me!

In my last contribution to Class Action, I wrote about how we all juggle multiple challenges, both personally and professionally, and how it is okay to not always be the most positive, happy, uplifting version of ourselves. I just want to piggyback on that and once again give my network their flowers. Several of my friends/fellow WALA members have reached out just to chat or check in and shared some ideas on how they have handled some challenges.

After some reflection I realized the root of a lot of my problems was me. Yes, I’m the problem, it’s Me!  Me wanting to be the gate keeper of everything as I have always been. Me wanting to have all the answers when questions are asked.  Me wanting to fix every problem for everyone.  Me wanting the supplies stocked just so.  Me not being patient enough to allow the person who should be doing a task to do it and instead doing it myself.  Me wanting the dishwasher loaded a particular way.  Me preferring the towels be folded a certain way…and on and on.

So, in chatting with my cousin over some delicious wine, she asked, “What would happen if it wasn’t done the way I preferred…specifically for work stuff?” She asked, “Would answers still be supplied? Would supplies still be found? Would problems still get fixed? And, of course, the answer to all the questions was YES! It really opened my eyes…I am not saying I will no longer care, but I am no longer expending my energy and time on the stuff that, in long run…just doesn’t matter all that much.

I am retiring at the end of the year and working with our firm administrator to transfer my duties that she will be assuming.  For a few weeks we clashed a bit.  Then I thought of my conversation with my cousin, and I decided I needed to step back and let her start to take the reins.  By holding on loosely, but not letting go, our working relationship has greatly improved, she is learning and becoming more confident and, guess what? Stuff is still getting accomplished!

Yes, I still want my towels tri-folded, but I thank my husband for folding the laundry and then when a towel needs to be displayed, I fold it how I like to see it.

Sometimes we really do just need to let go a bit.  It may feel scary to freefall, but the ride is worth it.

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VP of Membership's Report

Navigating Change: Currently Under Construction

By Shelley Hove, Firm Administrator, Anderson O’Brien

If change is supposed to be exciting, why does it so often feel like a mix of déjà vu, mystery novel, and mild chaos? At our firm, we’re finding out first-hand as we navigate not one, but two major transitions this year:

·       Migrating our case management and accounting systems from Centerbase to Clio and QuickBooks Online

·       Moving our phone system from an on-premise setup to a shiny new cloud-based VoIP platform

And here’s the kicker — we won’t be live in the new software until October. Right now, we’re in the thick of test migrations, figuring out how things are set up, and discovering that not everything transfers over quite the way you expect. (Think moving houses and realizing your couch doesn’t fit through the new door.)

1. Selling the “Why” Before the “What”

Before anyone panicked about new logins or lost buttons, we made sure the team understood the benefits: better integrations, easier remote work, responsive support when we need it, and more robust back-end reporting. These upgrades will make it easier to track firm performance, spot trends, and solve problems before they grow. Knowing why the move is happening has made the “what the heck is this button?” moments a little easier to handle.

2. Planning… and Re-Planning

We have timelines, spreadsheets, and task lists — and they’ve already been updated more times than I care to admit. Test migrations always uncover little “surprises” (like fields that need renaming, data that needs to be cleaned up, workflows that need tweaking, or data that mysteriously takes a vacation during transfer).

3. Communication: The Lifeline

We’re sharing regular updates with staff so no one feels blindsided. Whether it’s our monthly staff meeting, a quick hallway conversation or a formal email, the goal is the same: keep everyone informed so rumors don’t fill the silence.

4. Building Our Change Champions

We’ve got point people in each department who are testing features, catching issues, and bringing ideas back to the group. They’re our early adopters, our troubleshooters, and our unofficial therapists when the “new system” jitters set in.  I sit in this group.

 5. Celebrating the Small Wins

The first time a test matter imported perfectly? We may have cheered. Loudly. When a workflow ran exactly as planned? We documented it like it was a historic moment. In big projects, the little victories matter.

📌 Sidebar: 5 Must-Do’s for Surviving (and Thriving) Mid-Migration

1. Explain the “why” before you dive into the “how.”

2. Make a plan — but keep the eraser handy.

3. Share updates before anyone has to ask.

4. Recruit your champions early.

5. Celebrate progress, even if it’s just one smooth import.

The Reality Check:

We’re not at the finish line yet — far from it. There will be more bumps, more “wait, what just happened?” moments, and probably more coffee than is medically advisable. But each step forward gets us closer to systems that will make us more efficient, more connected, and more informed — thanks to better support and stronger reporting tools.

If you’re in the middle of your own big transition, take heart: the process may be messy, but leading your team through it — with patience, humor, office treats and a lot of flexibility — is where the real magic happens.

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VP of Business Partner Relations' Report

Business Partners, we truly appreciate your continued dedication and support. Thank you for being an integral part of our community. We look forward to your partnership and shared success!

DIAMOND

Gordon Flesch Company, Inc.

GOLD

M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc.

LexisNexis

SILVER

Affinity Consulting Group

James Imaging Systems

Thomson Reuters

U.S. Legal Support

BRONZE

iSolved

WALA’s Business Partners are experts in their fields.

Lean on their knowledge to make your job easier.

Our BPs also enable WALA to provide education, scholarships, and high-quality events. Please be sure to thank a BP next time you’re in their company.

Please send BP referrals to [email protected]

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VP of Special Projects' Report

Our WALA fall social delivered everything we hoped for—friendly competition, big laughs, and a whole lot of team spirit. Members and business partners gathered for an evening of high-energy laser tag and cheering on the Brewers over pizza and cold beverages. It was the perfect blend of camaraderie and fun that makes our community so special.

We kicked off the laser tag challenge by splitting into two teams. The competition was fierce, but Team Red ultimately took the crown. A special shoutout goes to one of our valued business partners who turned in a truly standout performance, not only leading the way for Team Red but outscoring the opposing team—on his own. It was a performance for the highlight reel and a terrific reminder of how much fun our member–business partner connections can be.

After the laser tag dust settled, we shifted gears to rally behind the Brewers. With slices in hand and drinks at the ready, the group settled in to celebrate every hit and hold their breath through the close calls. The energy was contagious, and the conversations flowed just as easily as the refreshments.

Events like this are possible thanks to the generous support of our business partners. We are grateful for your sponsorship and your presence—you help elevate every experience for our members, whether you’re cheering on a team or leading one to victory.

If you missed this one, we hope you’ll join us at our next social. Whether you’re a laser tag ace, a Brewers superfan, or just in it for the great company and good food, WALA events are a fantastic way to connect, recharge, and have fun together. We can’t wait to see you there

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Business Partners

In the interest of justice: the charitable opportunity hidden in your firm’s IOLTA management

By Atty. Joshua J. Kindkeppel, Board Chairperson Emeritus, Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF)

I hope you, as a legal administrator, realize how much we lawyers value your support!

But maybe you don’t know about one way you and your firm are uniquely qualified to help people who aren’t lawyers – people who need help finding justice.

You can help some of our state’s most vulnerable to find safety, stability, and independence. People like Kendra.

Kendra lives in Wisconsin and has Multiple Sclerosis. She couldn’t get Medicaid to provide coverage that had been promised to her for a transplant she needed to live a normal life. Her preparatory chemotherapy left her immune system compromised. Kendra was stuck in limbo, unable to do normal things like take her dog for a walk, garden, or go out on the boat with her family.

If you think about it, how many non-attorneys could convince a reluctant insurance plan that it wasn’t following its own policy?

I’ll tell you Kendra’s happy ending in a moment. I’ll also tell you how you can help more people like her.

What could Kendra’s story possibly have to do with you? It comes down to whether your law firm’s client trust account – also known as an IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) – is housed at an IOLTA Prime Partner financial institution.

IOLTAs help your neighbors access justice

The legal system, frequently, is too complicated for most non-attorneys to navigate.

And, attorneys cost money.

What’s more, in non-criminal situations — “civil law” — you don’t get a guaranteed, free attorney as you would if you were accused of a crime and couldn’t afford one.

Unfortunately, these factors frequently combine to shut people of limited means out of civil justice. Consider these all-too-common situations:

 ·       Victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and other crimes can’t protect themselves or heal the damage.

 ·       Kids with absent parents can’t get health care — because even a loving grandparent can’t authorize it without legally becoming a guardian.

 ·       Veterans are left out on a limb when their rightfully earned federal benefits mistakenly deny important coverage. (A similar thing happens to people like Kendra when health insurance providers deny major procedures.)

 ·       The list goes on.

To address these issues, Interest on Lawyers Trust Account programs were created in every U.S. state, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all Canadian provinces. The idea revolves around funds attorneys hold temporarily (“in trust”) for clients. These deposits are often so small, or held for such a short time, that they can't generate interest for the client. In these cases, attorneys must pool them together with all other such deposits into a single, interest-bearing IOLTA account.

The interest earned on law firms’ IOLTA accounts is paid by participating financial institutions to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF), a nonprofit organization established by the state Supreme Court in 1986 (and where I currently serve as Board Chairperson).

WisTAF uses the funds to make grants to nonprofits providing advice, information, and representation to people who can’t afford attorneys in civil matters.

One of those people was Kendra. After she enlisted help from civil legal aid providers funded in part by WisTAF grants, she finally got the coverage she needed for her medical procedure, and is now enjoying regular life with her dog and other family members. “I don’t know how normal people are supposed to advocate by themselves in this system,” Kendra reflected afterwards.

So, IOLTAs are great. They help many people to safeguard their rights and liberties, to live in safety and stability. But IOLTAs have limitations. For one thing, interest rates are unpredictable, which means IOLTA funding is too. In the decade following the Great Recession, from 2009 through 2018, IOLTA income averaged just $385,000 a year. Compare this to the most recent three-year annual average of $3.2 million.

Also, even when interest rates are higher, they don’t generate enough funding for everyone who needs help solving a civil legal problem. Nearly 800,000 people in Wisconsin live below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level — they cannot afford to pay for a lawyer — and some rural counties hardly have any lawyers. In WisTAF’s largest grant program, more eligible clients had to be turned away than could be helped in 2024, due solely to lack of resources.

That makes it harder for civil legal aid providers to help your neighbors find justice.

Where you bank matters, for people in your community

This is where IOLTA Prime Partners come in.

To increase our IOLTA support and make it more stable, WisTAF urges every financial institution with IOLTA accounts to go the extra mile and join our IOLTA “Prime Partner” program. These banks and credit unions voluntarily pay interest that is 0.5% higher than required on IOLTA accounts — as a way to help people in their communities. Right now, 20 out of 160 total IOLTA-participating banks and credit unions participate as Prime Partners.

The list of Prime Partners truly spans Wisconsin - from Kenosha to Spooner, Eagle River to Prairie du Chien. On the whole, Prime Partners pay 40% more interest on IOLTA accounts than the statewide average.

“We are glad to be a part of the program!” staff at West Pointe Bank, a Prime Partner institution in Oshkosh, told WisTAF earlier this year. A contact from First Federal Bank in Southeastern Wisconsin, said their institution “is proud to make the community a better place.”

Law firms’ impact

Law firms that bank at IOLTA Prime Partner institutions know their IOLTA accounts “work harder” for Wisconsin people.

In fact, if every law firm in the state housed its IOLTA account with a Prime Partner, then (working with end-of-2024 figures) more than $1.6 million in additional support would be available to help low-income people access justice each year. That kind of increase could translate to more than 3,000 Wisconsin households every year where people escape physical and emotional trauma, financial ruin, or other injustice.

As if that’s not enough, when you help some people achieve safety and stability, you improve things for everyone. You prevent the need for emergency services. You help people pay off debts, hold down jobs, and achieve stability. In other words, you strengthen communities and the economy.

WisTAF commissioned a study to measure this a few years ago. The researchers discovered every $1 invested in civil legal aid for Wisconsin people brought a mammoth return of $8.40 to the economy.

Take steps to help

Are you wondering what can you do? Here’s my appeal to you as a legal administrator:

·       Check if your financial institution is already on the list of participants in the Prime Partner program.

 è If yes — say thank you! The more Prime Partners hear people value their community spirit, the stronger the program.

 è If no — would you or a colleague let your bank/credit union know you’re interested in banking with a Prime Partner? If they’re willing to join, you could give them WisTAF’s info or let our staff know we could follow up with the institution.

 And if recruiting them doesn’t pan out, perhaps you might consider working with your colleagues to move your firm’s IOLTA to one of our Prime Partners? Although this is a commitment, it also might bring other advantages. That’s what happened at WisTAF — when staff moved our banking to a Prime Partner to better align with our mission, it turned out the business benefits alone would have been enough to justify making the move.

For the sake of Kendra and countless other Wisconsinites who need help safeguarding their rights and liberties to achieve safety, stability, dignity, and independence, I hope you’ll invest some time “in the interest of justice.”

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Business Partner Article

Why Printer Security Matters More Than Ever

In today's digital era, understanding printer security is essential because it plays a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. Despite its importance, printer security is often overlooked in office cybersecurity strategies, leaving organizations vulnerable to potential threats.

Printers, especially multifunction devices, are integral to modern office environments, connecting to networks, cloud services and mobile devices. This connectivity, while enhancing productivity, also introduces security risks. Without proper security measures, printers are at risk of becoming entry points for cybercriminals seeking to access confidential data or disrupt operations.

Identifying Common Printer Security Vulnerabilities

Some of the most common risks to a printer fleet, include things like unauthorized access to stored data, hackers intercepting print jobs, or outdated firmware that hasn’t been patched. And if you’re using multifunction printers that scan, copy and email, those can be even more attractive targets for cybercriminals.

But it’s not just outside threats you need to worry about. Internal risks are real too. For example, an employee might accidentally—or intentionally—access sensitive documents they shouldn’t see. Many printers also store documents temporarily, which means confidential information could be sitting there unprotected if the right safeguards aren’t in place.

That’s why it’s so important to treat your printers like any other endpoint in your network. Keeping them secure helps protect your business’s data and keeps you in line with privacy and compliance standards.

Best Practices for Securing Your Office Printers

Before you can improve your print security, it helps to know where you stand. That’s where a business technology needs assessment comes in—it gives you a clear picture of your current print setup, helps you spot any weak points and lays out a plan to align your print environment with your business goals.

That said, no matter what kind of business you run, there are a few tried-and-true steps that can help keep your printers secure. Here are five best practices our customers have found especially helpful:

1. Install Print Management Software
   These tools give you more control over your print environment. You can track usage, set permissions and more—all from one dashboard.
2. Use User Authentication
   Make sure only the right people can access sensitive documents. Tools like badge readers, PIN codes or pull printing (where users release jobs at the printer) can help prevent unauthorized access.
3. Keep Firmware Up to Date
   Just like your phone or computer, printers need updates too. Installing the latest firmware helps protect against known bugs and security holes.
4. Run Regular Print Security Audits
   Think of this like a check-up for your printers. By regularly reviewing your print environment, you can catch and fix security issues before they become real problems. Staying proactive is key.
5. Train Your Team
   Even the best security tools won’t help if your team doesn’t know how to use them. Make sure employees understand the importance of print security and follow best practices when handling sensitive information.

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance Through Printer Security

Industries like healthcare, education, finance, and government have to follow some pretty strict rules when it comes to keeping data safe and private. Laws like HIPAA (for healthcare), FERPA (for education) and SOX (for finance) are in place to make sure sensitive information stays protected. That means IT teams need to make sure data is secure, accurate and only accessible to the right people. It’s not just about avoiding fines—it’s about building trust and doing right by the people whose data you handle.

When you make printer security a priority, you’re doing more than just locking down devices—you’re protecting your business. It helps prevent unauthorized access and data breaches and it keeps sensitive information safe. That kind of protection builds trust with your customers and partners, and it helps you stay on the right side of compliance rules in today’s connected world.

Leveraging uniFLOW and PaperCut for Optimal Print Security

Modern print management solutions like uniFLOW and PaperCut are essential for securing your print environment. These solutions offer robust functionalities, including user authentication, secure print release and detailed tracking of print jobs.

Developed by Canon, uniFLOW, integrates seamlessly with Canon devices and supports other brands, offering secure printing, cost tracking and enhanced productivity features.

PaperCut, on the other hand, is an independent print management software that supports a wide range of printer brands. It provides comprehensive reporting, secure print release and environmental impact tracking.

Both solutions ensure that printed or scanned documents remain secure, help reduce waste by optimizing your print fleet and provide insights that can help you manage and control your print environment effectively.

By leveraging these tools, businesses can enhance their security posture, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve overall efficiency in their print management processes.

Don’t let the wrong technology hold your organization back. Contact Gordon Flesch Company to schedule a business technology needs assessment to see if there are any gaps that need to be addressed or opportunities for added efficiency within your print fleet.

How to Print Securely

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Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events

WALA Roundtable

WALA Roundtable

For more information on the above or any of WALA’s educational offerings, please contact our Chapter’s VP of Education,  [email protected]

Full calendar of events can be found here: Calendar of meetings and events

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Management Resources

1.             “AI SEO For Law Firms: Website Changes For 2026.”  To understand what your law firm website needs to change to remain relevant and visible in 2026, it helps to have a firm grasp of how AI search tools differ from traditional search engines. Some of these differences may be apparent to you from your own experience, but what goes on behind the scenes has important implications for your law firm’s content and its technical search engine optimization (SEO). Above The Law.  10/3/2025. ai-seo-for-law-firms-website-changes-for-2026/ 

2.             “Leaders, It’s Time to Stop Being Cozy.” Being cozy is dangerous because it lulls people and organizations into repeating what once worked, even as the world around them changes. Four tips from a CEO to get out of your comfort zone and help your company fly.  Kellogg School of Management.  10/1/2025

https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/leaders-its-time-to-stop-being-cozy#! 

3.             “The Law Firm of the Future is More Human.”  The legal field is not known for its work-life balance, but that is becoming increasingly important to today’s workforce.   American Bar Association.  1/10/2025 https://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_practice/resources/law-technology-today/2025/the-law-firm-of-the-future-is-more-human/?login

4.             “A Complete Guide to Law Firm Structure & Effective Management.”  Amidst our rapidly changing legal landscape, effective law office management is an evolving challenge. To manage a big or small law firm successfully, lawyers must cultivate a growth mindset and be willing to break free of tradition. But sometimes, that’s easier said than done.  Clio.  9/15/2025.  https://www.clio.com/blog/law-firm-management/

5.             “You do need to be aware that there are issues surrounding the software. Your data may not be private, you may be using someone else’s work, or you may even get the wrong information from AI.”  Joseph LaLonde Blog March 8, 2024.  https://www.jmlalonde.com/4-things-to-consider-when-using-ai-for-business/

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ALA's Corner

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