Sept. 18, 2018 – Only after all six of her children were finished with college and – in one case, law school for Benjamin – did Roxanne Lutgen of Wausau pursue her own dream of becoming a lawyer. “I went to school after everybody else did,” she said.

She earned her degree in Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s hybrid J.D. program – which allowed her to take classes and study most of the time while working full time. It took the complete support of her husband, Tim, who handled day-to-day tasks for the three years she was in school. “This was a fantastic program,” Roxanne said.

Benjamin graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2009 and practices in Brookfield. “I’m the oldest of six children. My parents both supported us to realize our dreams. It was very special to see her realize her own dream today,” Benjamin said.

Already a certified public accountant, Lutgen is vice president of finance and CFO with Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. She will expand the work she does in her current position – and wants to do pro bono work with Judicare. “I look forward to seeing what I can do for my community.”

Does Benjamin have advice for his mother as a more experienced attorney? “I’m still learning from her,” he said. “But I may have a little bit of advice for her, too.”

Roxanne Lutgen is one of sixty-nine new lawyers who took the Attorney’s Oath on Sept. 17, 2018, before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, listened to words of wisdom from their new colleagues, and signed the Attorney’s Roll. They were 60 who passed the bar exam, joined by lawyers from other states joining via reciprocity, and five graduates of the U.W. Law School.

Of those taking the bar exam, 65 percent passed; 69 percent of those taking it for a first time passed the exam, said Jaqueline Rothstein, director of the Board of Bar Examiners.

And all have a reason to celebrate the beginning of a new stage in their lives.

New Wisconsin Lawyers

There’s Ahmad Murrar of Milwaukee, who graduated in May from Georgetown University Law School. His mother, Hannah Murrar, was proud to watch him take the oath and become a lawyer. He wanted to become lawyer since high school. “He’s quiet, so everybody said, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ He never changed his mind,” she said.

Ahmad studied about 13 hours a day for two months for the bar exam – and passed it on his first attempt. In October, he starts his position in Milwaukee with Foley and Lardner – where he had worked as a law clerk while a student.

“He worked hard, until he achieved want he wanted to do,” Hannah said.

Tatiana Shirasaki is a lawyer again after 20 years. Before coming to the U.S., she practiced in Brazil. She has one more step to go before all is done: She will complete her LLM-SJD next year. Having passed the bar exam, she is now a Wisconsin lawyer, and ultimately hopes to practice in immigration law. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

Lauren Zenk discovered she wanted to be a lawyer when taking a political science class in college. “A friend said, ‘Let’s try this out,’” said her mother, Kelly Zenk. And she was hooked. Lauren obtained her law degree from the University of Minnesota, and will practice in corporate litigation with Quarles and Brady in Milwaukee.

U.W. Law School graduate Bethesda Zewdie’s two friends, Sarjo Barrow and Tanya Salman – both practicing in Madison – stood up as movants for her.

Zewdie’s experience growing up in Ethiopia – she emigrated at age 16 – was a reason to become a lawyer. “I grew up with the law not being helpful to people,” she said. “Having moved here, and knowing what I can do as a lawyer, it was important to me.”

Zewdie works in immigration law, personal injury, and consumer protection with Lawton and Cates in Madison.

Raquel Garcia Posada is from California, but chose to attend U.W. Law School. “It’s has a great program,” she said. She took the bar exam in California in July, where she still awaits the results. “They said the pass rate was 27 percent,” she said.

She wanted to be an attorney since she was 17 years old. “I read a lot about it, and thought that it will be a good way to use my influence to help others.”

She aims to practice in international law, especially human rights. “I want to use my education to empower others,” she said.

Brian Dollhopf of Milwaukee went to law school at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. “He is the eighth person in our family to get a degree from that school,” said his mother, Louise Damiano of Green Bay. He will practice in business litigation with Foley and Lardner.

Dollhopf’s ambitions to become a lawyer started with an introduction to law class in high school. “After that, his course was set and he never wavered,” Damiano said. “He did is research. He said, ‘I know this is not going to be like the television show Law and Order.’”

Welcome to These New Wisconsin Lawyers

Via Bar Exam John R. Abendroth Elburn, Illinois Patrick Anderl, Milwaukee   Peter Anderson, Fort Atkinson Andrew Auderieth, Hudson,   Joseph Bauer, Chippewa Falls Mary N. Beall, Madison Veronica Canton, Buffalo Grove, Illinois Theresa Anne Carey, Viroqua   Thomas Chmielnik, Milwaukee   Colleen Cullen, Milwaukee   Evan J. Dahl, Oshkosh Jon Derenne, Milwaukee   Brian Kenneth Dollhopf, Milwaukee   Alexander Dunn, Milwaukee   Travis S. Gaetz, Elk Mound Biswajit Ghose, Mequon Tanner Gille, Janesville   Benjamin Gillig, Chicago Heba Hazzaa, Brookfield   Katherine A. Headley, Woodstock, Illinois Daniel J. Hood, Gurnee, Illinois Ashley Hornung, Milwaukee   Corey R. Hoze, Milwaukee   Kourtney Imig, Elcho   Timothy Michael Johnson, Chicago Matthew Douglas Jones, Kenosha   Kourtney Lynn Klassa, Shell Lake   Emma Lawton, Wausau   Kelsey Ann Leopold, Milwaukee   Roxanne Marie Lutgen, Wausau   Hannah Lutz, Milwaukee   Marissa Adriana Rodriguez, San Antonio John Shaft, Madison Tatiana Tamae Soares Shirasaki, Mayville   Tiffany Ann Biedermann, Appleton

Katherine Mayer, Manitowoc   Anne Claire McDonald, Oshkosh   Kathleen Ann McStay, Oak Brook, Illinois Helaina D. Metcalf, Milwaukee   Ahmad Khalid Murrar, Milwaukee   Kyle Olsen, Madison Samuel J. Olson, Oconomowoc   David Palay, Madison Nicholas Paul, Chicago Aude Sylvanna Peden, Madison Trevor J. Peterson, Wausau   Elizabeth M. Pierson, Milwaukee   Emrah Polat, Schofield   Morgan Rae, Grand Chute   Ryan Riffle, Milwaukee   Christopher T. Ruska, Grafton   Joseph M. Ruth, Port Washington   Amanda Marion Marie Schamens, Milwaukee   Andrew T. Stoker, Oconomowoc   Chris Terris, Milwaukee   Erika M. Tribuzi, Madison Sarah Watson, Madison Saralinda R. Watts, Baraboo   Evan James York, New Berlin   Lauren N. Zenk, Milwaukee   Via Foreign License Alec Hillbo , Madison Renagh O’Leary, Madison Timothy Poodiack, Milwaukee Michael Stimson, Middleton   Via U.W. Diploma Sara A. Heyn, Castle Rock, Colorado Raquel Garcia Posada, Los Angeles Mary Katherine Salutz, Madison Bethesda Zewdie, Madison Natalie Sophia Zibolski, Madison