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Through the Assigned Counsel Program, the Wisconsin State Public Defender (SPD) appoints private bar attorneys to handle overflow and conflict cases, providing attorneys with courtroom experience in criminal cases representing clients charged with misdemeanors and felonies across the state. “You can absolutely do it,” said attorney Kathleen Pakes, director of the Assigned Counsel Program.

Pakes is talking about new or newer attorneys who may be interested in taking assigned cases, noting SPD provides training and other resources. Learn more…
Continue Reading Episode 29: Private Bar Assigned Counsel Program, State Public Defender with Kathleen Pakes and Melissa Lamb

Yeah, detail-oriented readers of our blog may have figured out that…whoops, I was supposed to draft this post last week and forgot. So here we go this week, and because I cannot help myself when it comes to celebrating every major holiday with Garfield, you are getting a Frankenstein post that covers two topics: one concerning and one thankful (Garfield).

First, the concerning bit.

The government is open again. I am thankful to our elected representatives that the brownout…
Continue Reading Concerned, But Still Thankful

I imagine a lot of you got into law for the same reason I did – I wanted to help people and make a decent living while doing it. It hasn’t always been easy, whether it is a difficult client or a difficult issue.

Now, after 37 years of practice, I’m preparing to retire with one clear certainty: we are better lawyers when we’re not alone.

I’ve been thinking about what made the difference over these decades. It wasn’t

…
Continue Reading We Are Better Lawyers When We’re Not Alone

I visited the SkyFarm in Houston, Texas. August, the lead farmer on this 5.5-acre green space located on a rooftop downtown, took time on an autumn morning to talk about how they can build a space that gets 10-12 hours of sun and reach temperatures up to 170°F into a green space in a sustainable, regenerative way – all with just 6-12 inches of soil – and in a way that the building owner wants to keep that green…
Continue Reading Grow With Intentionality 

Hand man holding illuminated lightbulb, idea, innovation and inspiration with glowing virtual brain, smart intelligent creativity with bulbs, Motivation and innovation concept.
Hand man holding illuminated lightbulb, idea, innovation and inspiration with glowing virtual brain, smart intelligent creativity with bulbs, Motivation and innovation concept.

For years, I kept too much in my head: deadlines, facts, half-finished ideas. It slowed my thinking. Recently I started treating project management as a drive and AI as a processor. The split is simple and it is starting to work.

The drive is where the work lives when I am not doing it. For me that is Asana, our firm’s project management tool. A task carries a short description of the goal, real dates, links to source files,…
Continue Reading Memory and Compute in Everyday Practice

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of making my annual trip to Wisconsin Dells to attend the 2025 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference. As with each year of the conference, it was a reminder that, even as attorneys characterize themselves with independence (solo and small firm attorneys especially so), community is essential. Solo and small firm attorneys face unique challenges of managing law firm operations themselves, including client intake, billing, legal research, and even drafting blog…
Continue Reading Small Firms, Big Ideas; Reflections from the 2025 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference

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Jesse Blocher is the author of a recently published book, “Wisconsin Tort Law: Products Liability,” published by State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE®. He’s also an award-winning author for Wisconsin Lawyer magazine. In this episode of the Bottom Up Podcast, produced by the State Bar, the conversation explores Jesse’s journey into law, the challenges faced by young lawyers, the decline of jury trials, and the intricacies of product liability law.   A partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier, Jesse shares insights…
Continue Reading Bottom Up Episode 28: Product Liability Law and Legal Writing with Trial Attorney Jesse Blocher

Jesse Blocher is the author of a recently published book, “Wisconsin Tort Law: Products Liability,” published by State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE®. He’s also an award-winning author for Wisconsin Lawyer magazine. In this episode of the Bottom Up Podcast, produced by the State Bar, the conversation explores Jesse’s journey into law, the challenges faced by young lawyers, the decline of jury trials, and the intricacies of product liability law.   A partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier, Jesse shares…
Continue Reading Episode 28: Product Liability Law and Legal Writing with Trial Attorney Jesse Blocher

Mark L. Thomsen’s path to law is unlike any other story. In this episode of the Bottom Up podcast, host Emil Obviagele dives deep with Mark, a veteran Milwaukee-based litigator and partner at Gingras Thomsen & Wachs LLP. The episode explores Mark’s unique upbringing in Nigeria, his return to America, and the cultural shocks he experienced. They discuss his journey into law, activism, and the importance of fighting for justice. The conversation delves into the role of lawyers in…
Continue Reading Episode 27: From Steelworker to Civil Rights Lawyer – Veteran Litigator Mark L. Thomsen's Unique Journey

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Mark L. Thomsen’s path to law is unlike any other story. In this episode of the Bottom Up podcast, host Emil Obviagele dives deep with Mark, a veteran Milwaukee-based litigator and partner at Gingras Thomsen & Wachs LLP. The episode explores Mark’s unique upbringing in Nigeria, his return to America, and the cultural shocks he experienced. They discuss his journey into law, activism, and the importance of fighting for justice. The conversation delves into the role of lawyers in…
Continue Reading Bottom-Up Episode 27: From Steelworker to Civil Rights Lawyer – Veteran Litigator Mark L. Thomsen’s Unique Journey

Woman saying no

Want to hear the easiest way to clear up your calendar, your stress, and your risk? How to improve your work and life? It’s simple! Say “no.”

Now, it is simple to suggest that, but we all know it isn’t as easy to do. But I have found it to be easier if I prove to my Agriculture Economics college professor that I was, in fact, listening in class. I remember that opportunity costs are real. “Opportunity cost is…
Continue Reading The Value of No

Close up of a female psychologist taking notes and a students knees
Close up of a psychologist notes and a students knees during a mental health meeting in a stylish office
You’ve never been in therapy before. You’ve heard the lingo and you recognize that it’s talked about quite a lot, especially since COVID. But the idea of doing it yourself is strangely intimidating. There are things that you’re not terribly comfortable talking about, things you’ve never really discussed with another person, and even things you have never said out loud. The idea of actually saying them to another person is daunting.

At the same time, you’re continuing to run…
Continue Reading Starting Therapy for the First Time: What to Expect When You’ve Never Done This Before

 
The Power to Switch Off: Take Control of Lawyer Burnout
Just like a light switch, you have the power to disconnect from work stress and create boundaries that protect your well-being while maintaining professional excellence.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re feeling the weight of an unsustainable workload, the pressure of always being “on,” and the creeping sense that your legal career is demanding more than you can give. You’re not alone—and more importantly, there’s a path…
Continue Reading Running Hot Without Burning Out: A Lawyer’s Guide to Sustainable Performance

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Are you a family law attorney or want to learn more about family law as a practice area? In this episode of the Bottom Up Podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, attorney Max T. Stephenson describes his experiences as a family law attorney with Gimbel Reilly Guerin & Brown LLP for more than a decade.

Starting as a new lawyer with no family law experience, Stephenson discusses his 12-year career path and provides insights on building and…
Continue Reading Episode 26: Building a Family Law Practice – Insights from Max T. Stephenson

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In this episode of the Bottom Up Podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, host Kristen Hardy talks with former Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Ellen Brostrom, now a mediator at Resolute Systems LLC, and Wauwatosa Municipal Court Judge Krista LaFave, also a personal injury attorney at Warshafsky Law.

Both explore their unique career paths, motivations for public service, and the differences between circuit and municipal courts. They discuss the importance of courtroom presentation, the challenges with pro se…
Continue Reading Episode 25: Practice Insights and Tips with Judges Ellen Brostrom and Krista LaFave

Exciting News! Starting in 2025, two new podcasts will join Bottom Up in a rotation of podcasts produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin. Bottom Up, co-hosted by Emil Ovbiagele and Kristen Hardy, will continue to explore topics of interest to lawyers in the early stages of their careers. They’ll be back in March 2025. Two new podcasts – Listening to Lawyers and Practice Pulse – will expand the State Bar’s family of WisLawNOW podcasts, giving lawyers more access…
Continue Reading Episode 24: Listening to Lawyers and Practice Pulse Join the Podcast Mix in 2025