New lawyer Hannah Fontaine (center) celebrates with her parents immediately after she became a Wisconsin lawyer. See more photos of the event on the State Bar of Wisconsin Facebook page for the noon and 2:30 p.m.​ ceremonies.

June 3, 2024 – They are new attorneys ready to start their careers – 200 recent graduates of the U.W. Law School, now sworn in as new Wisconsin lawyers.

Welcomed in two separate ceremonies by Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler and members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, 200 U.W. Law School graduates took the Attorney's Oath and signed the Attorney's Roll book, becoming new lawyers on May 29, 2024.

“Today is one of those turning moments in life,” said Justice Brian Hagedorn, who spoke during the ceremony, “and is a time of celebration and reflection.”

Your accomplishments are worth celebrating, he said to the soon-to-be new lawyers. But it is also useful to imagine looking back on your career after 50 years. “What do you want to see?”

“It’s not what you know or even who you know that matters, but what you are,” Justice Hagedorn said.

“Be patient with yourself,” Chief Justice Ziegler said. Getting settled into your practice takes a while. “It doesn’t happen overnight. But if you have perseverance and truly love the law, you will do well.”

The admissions ceremony was held before members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the Assembly Chamber in the State Capitol building.

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Kennedy Allison’s movant was Madison attorney and soon-to-be American Bar Association President Michelle Behnke, who spoke of the long line of lawyers in their family. “Education is just so important, and seeing Kennedy complete her degree is really exciting,” Behnke said.

This day, Kennedy said, “it means a lot to be able to stand here. It also is the end of my schooling and the beginning of my career, and the ability to start exploring my passion for the law in my own direction.”

Kennedy joins her brother Damon Etawlyah at the Madison firm Small Axe Cooperative, doing a variety of law. “I’m hoping to start our Native American law practice,” she said.

Kennedy Allison (standing left) is moved in by Madison attorney Michelle Behnke (standing at microphone), former State Bar president and incoming ABA president.

Thomas Alexander Dee represents the fifth generation of lawyers in his family. He was moved in by his father, Judge Thomas Christopher Dee of Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Caitlin Hunt isn’t done studying yet. She will be taking the Pennsylvania bar exam in July and is headed there to work in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. That she can now practice law, after years of study and effort, is “weird” but “exciting,” she said.

Caitlin Hunt signs the Attorney’s Roll book in the Supreme Court Hearing Room.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is also where Edward Dance is headed. This moment of becoming an attorney feels “wild,” he said. “As an attorney, I will take the oath very seriously,” he said. Edward is eager to take his first steps in “accomplishing my goal of serving the community and the people. I’m very excited about what the future holds.”

After years of effort, the great payoff of this day is seeing both herself and her friends finally becoming lawyers, said Toni Houston, who was president of the U.W. Black Law Students Association. It was one “eye-opening” class during her undergraduate years – criminal justice – that turned her on the path of law. “I felt like this is something I have to do,” she said.

Her parents, Thomas and Patti Houston, both attended U.W.-Madison, and now Toni is a “double Badger.” “We are so proud,” said Patti. She knew her daughter had “that fight” in her to become a lawyer. Toni is from Georgia, and wants to work in a big city. She is headed to Chicago and the Cook County Public Defender’s Office – after she passes the Illinois bar exam.

With family members, Michael Williams (center) points to his name on the State Bar's name wall after becoming a Wisconsin lawyer.

The act of signing the Attorney’s Roll book and taking the oath is a big moment, the culmination of a lot of work, said Michael Williams. He said he will “really live up to” the oath he just took. He decided on law after meeting with attorneys while he was in college, including U.W. Law Professor Richard Monette. “They inspired me to want to learn more and keep pursuing it.”

As a member of the Oneida Nation, Michael is headed to work as a codification attorney with a group in Washington, D.C. – working remotely from his home in Wisconsin. “I'll work online with tribal nations and governments across the United States.”

U.W. Law School graduates take the Attorney’s Oath in the Assembly Chamber at the State Capitol in Madison on May 29, 2024.

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