Sept. 21, 2017 – Yu Zhuang has traveled a long way to become a Wisconsin lawyer.

Originally from China, she worked for more than 10 years as a computer engineer in the U.S. It was after her daughter was born that she began a new path for herself - in law.

She graduated from Vermont Law School in 2014 and relocated with her husband to Wisconsin. Zhuang has now passed two separate bar exams: Wisconsin’s and the exam for New York and New Jersey. “This is my third swearing-in,” she said.

On Sept. 19, 56 new Wisconsin lawyers took the oath to become members of the State Bar. They include 47 who passed the bar exam – about 69 percent of those who took it in July passed, said Jacquelynn Rothstein, director of the Board of Bar Examiners. They are also lawyers who have practiced more than five years in states other than Wisconsin, and graduates of the U.W. and Marquette University law schools.

They were welcomed to the State Bar of Wisconsin by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Pat Roggensack and given advice by Justice Michael Gableman, who urged them to become involved in their communities. “You will meet people who will enrich your lives,” he said.

Justice Gableman also told them to find ways to innovate – to start new programs or improve existing ones. “If you can do that, you will make yourself invaluable,” he said.

A ‘Higher Calling’

“Give your time to those who need it,” said State Bar President Paul Swanson, speaking to the admittees at the ceremony. “You have a higher calling.”

The group includes Holly Ryan and Ashley Ryan of Middleton, sisters and best friends. They are graduates of St. Thomas Law School in Minneapolis, and both began and ended law school together. “We got to be around each other during finals when no one else wanted to be around us,” Ashley said. “It was helpful to be able to study together.”

Holly is doing criminal defense, with Ashley headed into business and corporate law. Together, they are the first lawyers in their family. Holly, the younger sister, decided to become a lawyer before Ashley did. “I got her to take some legal classes with me, and she loved them too,” Holly said.

Talita Bornholdt, originally from Brazil, came to Wisconsin with her husband when he was transferred to Janesville for his work. An attorney in Brazil, she looked for ways to become an attorney in Wisconsin and discovered the LLM program at UW-Madison. “It is the best thing that I’ve done since I’ve arrived here,” Bornholdt said.

The bar exam is tough, she said – considering that only 14 percent of those born outside the U.S. passed the exam last year. While she has a strong background in English, learning U.S. legal terms was a challenge.

She is looking for a position in business or immigration law. “I’m very excited to see what the future has for me,” she said.

Sylvan Jaspen wanted to be a lawyer “for as long as we can remember,” says her sister, Casey Jaspen-Tappy. From Iron Mountain, Michigan, Jaspen attended Cardozo School of Law in New York City and will practice in Milwaukee as a public defender. Their father is also an attorney – and growing up, conversations at home did not shy away from political topics. “That’s what we’ve been raised to know,” Casey said.

Maura Cook will practice in trusts and estates with Husch Blackwell in Milwaukee and is a graduate of the University of Iowa law school. She chose the career of law – following in the footsteps of her father, Jeff Cook, an attorney in Davenport, Iowa. A statement from her father helped her decide.

“He said, as an attorney, you spend your whole life solving other people’s problems,” Maura said, “which I think is a great way to spend your career.”

Welcome to these New Wisconsin Lawyers

Griselda Aldrete, Milwaukee Shawn James Anderson, Minneapolis Joshua Michael Andreasen, Reedsburg Mark David Austin, Eau Claire Andrew John Bloomberg, Madison Talita Bornholdt, Janesville Abby Scott Busler, Green Bay Alexander Stephen Colwell, Mt. Vernon, Illinois Maura E. Cook, Milwaukee Brett Lee Copeland, Kenosha Julie A. Dadoun, Blue River Jakob E. Feltham, Madison Jon Finch, Milwaukee Taylor Fritsch, Madison Sean Garrigan, Madison Stevin Sunny George, Dallas Rikaela Greane, Madison Eric Hagen, Shorewood Nathan J. Heim, Green Bay Hayley Hetherington, Fitchburg William Hotchkiss, Beloit Ami Hutchinson, Madison Sylvan Jaspen, Milwaukee Timothy M. Joyce, Minneapolis Matthew Kaplan, Milwaukee Ezra Kramer, Denver Paloma Kennedy, Fitchburg Shannon Lins, Madison

Kristin McGaver, Milwaukee Lynne McMullen, River Falls Austin J. Milks, Janesville Dallas Montano, Menomonee Falls Alexandria Neal, Milwaukee Benjamin J. Nicolet, Minneapolis Miranda M. Nolan, Wausau Fred Richardson III, Chicago Deborah M. Richter, Park Falls Melissa A. Ridgway, West Allis Ryan Riebe, De Pere Sarah E. Rieger, Milwaukee Amanda Christine Risch, Brookfield Andrew John Rosenberg, Racine Adam Roundy, Green Bay Mark T. Rudy, Milwaukee Ashley A. Ryan, Madison Holly M. Ryan, Madison Madeline Schlederer, Milwaukee Aaron J. Sidman, De Pere Benjamin E. Streckert, Wausau Colleen A. Taylor, Madison Susan Czarnecki VenRooy, Altoona Edward D. Wallace, Milwaukee Aaron D. Wegner, Madison Justine Belytschko Wegner, Madison Benjamin Harold Wright, Milwaukee Yu Zhuang, Madison