In the Wisconsin Supreme Court Hearing Room in Madison, soon-to-be new Wisconsin lawyers take the Attorney's Oath. For additional pictures, see the photo albums on the ​​​State Bar of Wisconsin Facebook page​.

May 24, 2023 – They are all new lawyers headed into practice in sports law, public interest law, mergers and acquisitions, business law, and more. Before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in six separate ceremonies, 167 new Wisconsin lawyers – new alumni of Marquette University Law School – took the Attorney's Oath and signed the Attorney's Roll book, becoming new Wisconsin lawyers on May 22, 2023.

"Today is one of the great days," said Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler, with the Wisconsin Supreme Court welcoming so many new lawyers to the practice of law in Wisconsin.

"You are some of the most educated and intelligent people," she said, "and you're going to do great things with that."

In giving words of advice, Chief Justice Ziegler quoted poet and author Maya Angelou: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

As a lawyer, people will come to you with their problems, the chief justice said. "And don't forget to be human," she said. "You will deeply and profoundly affect people in very positive ways. Go forward and do good things."

Justice Pat Roggensack gives the Attorney's Oath during the 1:30 p.m. ceremony for Marquette Law School graduates.

New Beginnings

Anisha Amin is from Georgia – and chose Marquette University School of Law for the quality of its programs. She wants to practice immigration law. "She wants to settle down in Milwaukee," said her father, Pinesh Amin . While Anisha is the first lawyer in her family, her father is an engineer, her mother, Bhavana Amin, works in finance, and her brother is in school to become a dentist. "She makes us very proud – we're so happy and thrilled," said Bhavana.

Cayla Irene McNeil became the first lawyer in her family. "This has been such a long journey," said her mother, Carletta Scrivens-McNeil, joined by father Don McNeil. "But she persevered – and it feels so good." In college, Cayla decided to become a lawyer after a judge spoke to her class in Columbus, Ohio. Cayla will practice in mergers and acquisitions with Quarles and Brady.

Fefe Jaber signs the Attorney's Roll book at the Wisconsin Law Library, the final step in becoming a Wisconsin lawyer.

For Julie Barnett, the day culminated years of work. She entered law school with the idea of helping people. "I know it's the cliché, but I really love learning about the law," Barnett said. She heads to the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in Milwaukee. From Ann Arbor, Michigan, and with two uncles who are lawyers, she chose Marquette after deciding on law while in college. Celebrating with her were her father, Jeff, and mother, Laurie, "We're so proud," said her father. "It is such an honored profession."

Donald Henderson Jr. of Milwaukee wanted to become a lawyer for a long time. "This was his goal, and he stuck with it," said his mother, Armetta Henderson. "I'm so proud of him – the hard work has paid off." Donald Jr. followed in his father's footsteps, attending Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. "He followed behind me, then he went on to get his law degree," said his father, Donald Henderson. Donald Jr. will be practicing estate planning and family law in Racine at the Penn Rakauski law firm. "I've always been someone who likes a challenge, and learning the law was that in itself."

With family and friends taking photos, Jeremy Fernando points to his name on the list of new Wisconsin lawyers following a ceremony on May 22, 2023.

Joe Franke's movant was his father, former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John Franke, now a reserve judge. His father, Joe said, was a key factor in helping him through his college and law school years. "It's not what I pictured of him when he was growing up," Judge Franke joked. It was in college that Joe was inspired to enter the legal profession. "Today is the culmination of a lot of hard work," Joe said. He is headed to real estate transaction work in Milwaukee.

Laureen Lehnberg is "excited" to finally become a lawyer – which represents the start of a second career. In 2017, she decided to go to law school, and attended part-time for six years. "My whole career, I've worked in consumer protection," she said. As an attorney, she plans to focus on the public policy that governs consumer protections for financial services. "It's not particularly fair right now as I see it," she said. "It's difficult for banks and other financial institutions to meaningfully protect consumers as they offer products and services to them."

Anders Cassoday McLeod's movant was her father, Eric McLeod of Madison. He pointed out that Anders is the great-great-granddaughter of Wisconsin former Chief Justice John B. Cassoday, who served on the Court from 1880 to 1907. Prior to that, Cassoday served as Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 1877, after Wisconsin Supreme Court denied Lavinia Goodell's admission to the bar based on her gender, Cassoday introduced legislation to ensure that "no person be denied practicing law on account of sex." "That bill became law," Eric McLeod said, "and here we are today. … I am confident she will honor the legacy of Justice Cassoday."

James Thayer Carpenter chose law out of a desire to have an impact. He wanted to become a lawyer since high school. He plans to work for a nonprofit and go into public interest law. Being a lawyer "means I have a very humbling responsibility" to uphold the traditions of being an attorney, he said.

In the Supreme Court Hearing Room, Marquette law school graduates turn around for photos by family and friends after taking the Attorney's Oath.

In 7^th grade, Kate Wiedel wrote down that she wanted to be a lawyer. Her goal never wavered, said her mother, Diane Wiedel. Kate is headed to practice in business law in Milwaukee. The day, Kate said, "feels surreal. I'm very excited for the opportunity."

When Lukas Jaeger thought about a career, he wanted something he could be passionate about – and that's when he found law. "I've been confident this is the right choice ever since I started law school," he said. From Menomonee Falls, he is the first lawyer in his family. "For my whole life, I've always been dedicated to public service. Today is the final step for me to actually work to make a difference in the community I live in, and I'm excited about that." Lucas will work as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee County.

Fefe Jaber grew up on the South Side of Milwaukee, and her goal in law was to give a voice to those who might not have one. One day, she plans to become involved in politics. She's the first in her family to attend college and law school. Becoming a lawyer "is huge for me," she said, and is the result of setting goals to make a difference in your own way. She's learned that "whatever you set your mind to, you can do it, even if you're not as privileged as others," she said. Fefe is headed to work on the management side of labor and employment law. "It's a way for me to make a change on the management side with the perspectives I have."

Alana Sawall and Daniel Sawall were married even before they started law school in 2020 – they met in college. As it turns out, Alana, working as a paralegal, decided to go to law school. As she studied for the LSAT, Daniel joined her. Together, they chose Marquette. Starting in June, Alana will be working in estate planning an elder law at Schober Schober & Mitchell S.C. in New Berlin, and Daniel will practice insurance defense with Siesennop & Sullivan, LLP in Mequon.

Soon-to-be new Wisconsin lawyer Julie Barnett (right) poses for a selfie with her father, Jeff, and mother, Laurie, at the Capital in Madison on May 22, 2023, following a ceremony before the Supreme Court.

Carolyn Eboni Dy'Men Carson attended law school to be a voice for those who feel like they didn't have one. In school, she said, "I had to be the first to do it because I didn't know anybody in my field. I started to get comfortable with not only that I was the only one in my field but also the only one that looked like me in my field." She will stay in Milwaukee "to help people that look like me, to be an inspiration implicitly to let them know I did it. I want them to know that their dreams are possible."

New lawyers Theresa Correa McMichen and Nicholas McMichen married in September 2022. "We love Wisconsin and love Milwaukee," Theresa said. Nicholas heads to DeWitt LLP in Brookfield to practice employee benefits law. Theresa joins the litigation team at Godfrey and Kahn in Milwaukee.

Noelle-Nadia Ansary Filali had always thought about law school while in high school and college. "I saw how the law can help people and change people's lives every day," she said. "I don't have attorneys in my family – making the whole process intimidating. I am excited to be the first lawyer in my family." Noelle-Nadia will practice in-house at U.S. Bank in Milwaukee on their regulatory administration team.

Sarah L'Hommedieu said finally becoming a lawyer – the achievement of years of work – feels "surreal." She was happy to have shared the moment with friends and family who supported her along the way: both parents are lawyers, and her mother, Mary L'Hommedieu, was her movant, and practices in health law in Cleveland, Ohio, while her father, Kevin, practices in Canton, Ohio. "Our class has been through so much together through the pandemic," she said of the Class of 2023. Sarah played soccer in college and chose Marquette for the sports law program. She is headed to Indianapolis to work for the NCAA in administrative compliance law.

Celebrating with her family and friends, Sarah L'Hommedieu (center) poses in front of the list of names of new Wisconsin lawyers.

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