June 1, 2017 – It’s not every day that the president of the State Bar of Wisconsin vouches for your character and fitness in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

But that’s just what President Fran Deisinger did for UW Law School graduate Evan Gorelick – a close childhood friend of Deisinger’s son John, living near each other in the Milwaukee area – at the admissions ceremony May 31 in Madison.

“He’s probably spent more time in my home than any other non-family member,” Deisinger said of Gorelick, whose first memory of the Deisingers and John was eating brownies at their house at about age 10.

Deisinger is “definitely” an influence on Gorelick – not on his decision to attend law school, but on what it means to be a lawyer. “Fran has always been incredibly gracious and is an unbelievably warm person. He exudes professionalism and ethics. I want to be this type of lawyer.”

Gorelick, along with 81 other UW graduates, took the Attorney’s Oath before the Supreme Court and signed the Supreme Court Roll book to become Wisconsin lawyers.

New Wisconsin lawyer Evan Goerlick, left, with Nate Deisinger, son of State Bar President Fran Deisinger.

Hopes and Goals

Among the new lawyers who took the oath in three separate ceremonies in the Supreme Court Hearing Room was Ellaf Mohsin, a native of Oman.

Mohsin was living in Saudi Arabia in 2011 when she witnessed the uprisings and protests across the Middle East known as the “Arab Spring.” Lawyers, she saw, were helping defend activists who were imprisoned. She was inspired to pursue law to help those who don’t have a voice. She will work for Operation Welcome Home, helping the homeless in Madison.

Ben Slatkey is not only the first college graduate in his family, but the first lawyer. He’s worked as a paralegal, and is headed into business and bankruptcy law.

Whitney Ederer is headed into health law – in addition to earning her J.D., she has recently graduated with a master’s degree in public health. To help put Whitney through law school and her siblings through college, her parents farmed 51 dairy cows every day for the past several years.

Whitney Ederer gives a thumbs-up to family members before the start of the 9 a.m. ceremony.

New lawyer Connor Griffiths is aiming for a career in criminal law, says his mother, Jennifer Griffiths. Connor decided to become a lawyer after his first-hand experience in the divorce of his parents while he was in middle school, which, Jennifer says, was rough. “He wants to show that the system can work better than it did for us,” she said.

For Bethany Wilson, whose uncle, Illinois and Washington D.C. lawyer Garth Wilson, vouched for her character and fitness, her uncle was an inspiration. He flew in to Madison for the ceremony. “He mentored me the entire way,” she said.

Kelly Freeman, who had her third child just 10 weeks ago, has accepted a partner position at a law firm in Beloit.

Originally from Texas, William Martin intends to begin working at a firm in Milwaukee. Jack Huerter will law clerk for a federal district court in Minnesota, and Kathryn Fifield will work as a law clerk for the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Wisdom and Advice

The admittees heard wisdom and advice from speakers during the ceremony, including Justice Annette Ziegler. “Being a lawyer is a privilege and responsibility,” she said. “Rise to the challenge. Be honorable – you have only one reputation.”

Justice Annette Ziegler, second from left, talks to admittees during the 10 a.m. ceremony about the portraits on the wall of the Supreme Court Hearing Room, which depict significant moments in the history of the rule of law.

Learn from failure, and be involved. “Law is not a spectator sport,” Justice Ziegler said.

“Forget injuries from other lawyers that occur in a tense moment,” advised Chief Justice Patience Roggensack. “It’s all about developing the habit of having grace under fire.”

Welcome to these New Wisconsin Lawyers