Awards

2024 Recipient - Attorney Iris Christenson-Retired

 Iris M. Christenson, in her 34-plus year legal career, has served and represented hundreds of clients, many of whom were from underrepresented populations, such as racial minorities, women, LGBT individuals, immigrants, and individuals who are elderly or disabled.

Iris champions clients who need a voice in a society that often marginalizes them. For example, early in her career, Iris advocated for clemency for women who were incarcerated for crimes they committed against their domestic abusers. As another early example, Iris represented a woman in a workplace sexual harassment case on a pro bono basis, which was especially critical given the employer's ability to afford the expense of litigation. In her long-time practice in estate planning and elder law, Iris reached out to populations who might need legal services but might be reluctant to seek them—persons with disabilities, older adults, and LGBT individuals and couples. Through her representation, Iris helped her clients secure their financial well-being and dignity.

Even after retiring from private practice in 2019, Iris continues to volunteer for legal services for ethnic and racial minorities through the immigration and refugee program of the Catholic Multicultural Center in Madison. In this program, Iris helps individuals from different countries, such as Syria, Mexico, and Afghanistan, navigate various legal issues. For these efforts, Iris was recognized in 2020 with two awards—the Distinguished Service Award from the United Way of Dane County and the Community Partner Pro Bono Award from the Dane County Bar Association.

In numerous ways, Iris has modeled an inclusive practice and promoted diversity and inclusion among her peers and the State Bar of Wisconsin. Iris founded the firm that is now Johnson Teigen, LLC, which has always had 50% or more ownership by women​ and currently is woman- and LGBT-owned. Iris has been a welcoming personality for clients who may otherwise be reluctant to engage legal services in traditional, large firms—women, LGBT individuals, racial minorities, and those who are elderly or disabled. Iris's service in the State Bar has also advanced diversity and inclusion through her membership and chairing the Elder Law and Special Needs Section, where she promoted expansive efforts for membership and programming. Currently, she is the liaison between the Section and the State Bar for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, where she promotes the State Bar's goals within the practice areas that defined so much of her career.

Iris's passion for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion extends beyond her professional work to her personal life as well. For example, through her church, she has joined efforts to assist racial and ethnic minorities. Over the past several decades, Iris has participated in programs assisting Hmong families and mission trips to help those effected by natural disaster or poverty in the U.S. and Guatemala. ​