Future new Wisconsin lawyers gather outside the Supreme Court Hearing room just prior to being sworn in.

Visit the State Bar of Wisconsin on Facebook for more photos of this event, or click here.

April 10, 2014 – Surrounded by family and friends, 30 lawyers who passed the Wisconsin Bar Exam were admitted to practice law in Wisconsin today.

In February, 55 people took the bar exam representing 25 law schools and 95 jurisdictions; 72 percent passed.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson welcomed the lawyers along with justices Ann Walsh Bradley, N. Patrick Crooks, David T. Prosser Jr., Patience D. Roggensack, and Annette Ziegler; Board of Bar Examiners director Jacquelynn Rothstein; and State Bar President Patrick J. Fiedler. Justice Prosser administered the oath in the Supreme Court Hearing Room.

Rachel Sperling Leonard smiles as her dad, Milwaukee attorney Michael Sperling, moves her admission to the State Bar. Rachel is a fourth generation lawyer. She follows in her dad, paternal grandfather, and great grandfather's footsteps.

Rothstein noted President Barak Obama’s challenge at the commencement address at Morehouse College, an all-male, historically black college in Atlanta, last year.

“… you now wield something even more powerful than the diploma you’re about to collect – and that’s the power of your example … men who are sensitive to the wrongs, the sufferings, and the injustices of society and who are willing to accept responsibility for correcting (those) ills … make sure everyone has a voice, and everybody gets a seat at the table.”

Following the swearing-in ceremonies, Justice Bradley spoke to the new lawyers.

Bradley relayed the story of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes and the train ticket. Holmes boarded a train and became quite agitated when he discovered he had misplaced his train ticket. The conductor, seeing his frustration, assured the justice it was not a problem; he could mail the ticket in when he found it. To which Holmes replied, “It’s not the ticket I’m worried about, it’s knowing where I’m going.”

Bradley suggested that Justice Holmes’ question is a lifelong question, and it is a particularly important question for lawyers. Lawyers earn the opportunity and the responsibility through their profession to make a difference in people’s lives.

New member Jennifer M. Allen (seated center), surrounded by her family as they celebrate Jennifer’s admission.

Hassan Abraham signs the Supreme Court roll. Every attorney admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin since the state was a territory has signed the roll.

“We expect a lot of you,” she said. “You are problem solvers. Being public servants is an important role for lawyers, and another lifelong question. What are you going to do?”

She told another story of a Wisconsin farmer. He was an Air Force pilot who was shot down in Germany. He spent several years as a prisoner of war and came back to Wisconsin where he raised his family and worked his farm, but he held many leadership positions in the community. Even after he gave so much; he never stopped giving. He was ever-present in his community.

“Like him, you must let your voice be heard. I urge you to reflect on what your life of service will be. The piece of paper you get today is an instrument for doing justice and it’s yours to use.”

The State Bar welcomes the following new attorneys:

Visit the State Bar of Wisconsin on Facebook for more photos of this event, or click here.