(From left) Madison attorney Stephen Hurley receives the Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award from Wisconsin Law Foundation President Mark Pennow.

(From left) Guest speaker Hon. Charles N. Clevert Jr., U.S. District Court Eastern District, with Fellow Paul Swanson.

Rebecca Oettinger of Baraboo is welcomed into the 2014 Class of Fellows.

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

Nov. 19, 2014 – The Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation annual black tie event drew a crowd of more than 140 from across the state. Members and their family members gathered to welcome 64 new Fellows into the Class of 2014.

Madison attorney Stephen P. Hurley received the Wisconsin Law Foundation Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of service to the profession and the community, and Hon. Charles N. Clevert Jr., U.S. District Court Eastern District, was the featured speaker. Both men focused their comments on the importance of mentors for new attorneys and the responsibility for lawyers to give back to society.

Clevert, who grew up in a housing project in Richmond, Va., said he was inspired to become a lawyer as a young man when he had the opportunity to see a young lawyer in court. The man was Doug Wilder, who went on to become the first African American governor of Virginia. To this day Wilder is his mentor and friend. “He gave back and continues to give back,” said Clevert. “With that as a motivating factor how can I not give back. Members of the Foundation continue to give back, and it makes a huge difference in lives of people in the community, the state, and throughout the nation. I applaud you and urge you to continue. Do whatever you must along life’s highway to help those who are less fortunate and encourage others who you meet along that highway to do the same.”

Accepting the Goldberg Award, Hurley remembered a former professor who said “an obligation of a law degree is to put something back into the system, remembering that it is going to treat you very well and lawyers have that obligation.” Thanking his mentors, he said, “Nobody ever does it on their own, and were it not for mentors, I never would have made it.” Acknowledging the significant role the Foundation plays by underwriting that notion, Hurley said, “For the Bar to prosper, lawyers have to give back, and we have to leave the law a little better off than when we chose it.

2014 Class of Fellows Inducted

This is the 15th class inducted to the Fellows program, increasing membership to 338. Fellows are elected by the Fellows Board of Trustees. The program recognizes known by their peers for high professionalachievements and outstandingcontributions to the advancement andimprovement of the administration ofjustice in Wisconsin.

In memory of longtime State Bar ofWisconsin and Wisconsin Law Foundation leader, G. Lane Ware, Ruder Ware provided underwriting support to defray a portion of the costs for theFellows reception and dinner. Ware passed away on June 5, 2014.

Fellows Membership

Fellows are State Bar of Wisconsin members who are recognized for their outstanding attainmentin professional, public, or private careers for high professional achievements and outstanding contributionsto the welfare of their community, state, and nation and the advancement and improvementof the administration of justice in Wisconsin. In addition, the Fellows commit to providingsustained financial support to furthering the mission and work of the Wisconsin Law Foundation.

2014 Class of Fellows

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