May 20, 2026 – How can a new lawyer make a meaningful impact early in their practice?
For Miranda Tichareva, the State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Division’s 2026 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year, the answers begin with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to step forward before everything feels certain.
Building an Immigration Practice Where the Need Is Great
Tichareva, an attorney with Nash Law Group in Wisconsin Rapids, focuses her practice on immigration, criminal defense, and family law.
Peter Kraemer is Digital Communications Coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email or by phone at (608) 250-6139.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2024, she founded and expanded an immigration law practice in northern Wisconsin, responding to a significant need for representation in rural and central parts of the state.
Her nominators described her as a young lawyer who built a practice “from the ground up” by developing a plan, finding clients, and mastering complex areas of immigration law through disciplined study and advocacy.
In her own words, Tichareva’s commitment to immigration law is deeply personal.
“I would say immigration is the one that's mostly dear to my heart because I'm not from here and I really love to advocate for immigrant justice and making sure that people make a life away from home,” she said.
Originally from Zimbabwe and Botswana, Tichareva said her own experiences helped shape her desire to serve immigrant communities.
“I had a fair share of my own immigration issues while I was in school. I told myself I want to be an agent of positive change in this community. Immigration is my way of giving back to the community that embraces me and really keeps me going as an attorney.”
Compassion Across Practice Areas
That sense of service also carries into her work in family law and criminal defense.
Serving families at the “lowest moments of their lives and just extending that compassion … really keeps us going in this practice,” she said.
In criminal defense, she focuses on the importance of strong representation.
“Just making sure that everybody has excellent and good quality representation to the best of my abilities. That's what that looks like.”
Learning to Believe She Belonged
Tichareva’s path to law began early. As a child, she watched courtroom shows with her grandmother and imagined becoming a judge. Later, as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she studied nonprofit work and psychology and became interested in family law, especially after seeing people in her life treated unfairly in child support matters.
In law school, she was introduced to criminal defense through the Legal Assistance to Incarcerated People Project, where students worked on sentencing adjustments and parole applications.
But for Tichareva, becoming a lawyer was not just about choosing a practice area. It was also about learning to believe she belonged in the profession.
She credits Professor Kate Finley, who taught in the Legal Assistance to Incarcerated People Project, with helping her recognize that she could succeed.
“She instilled in me the whole idea of Miranda, you can do it. Set your mind to it and you can do it.”
That lesson became central to Tichareva’s message for other young lawyers. Early practice can be intimidating, especially when newer attorneys find themselves across the courtroom or negotiating table from lawyers with decades of experience. Tichareva said one of her biggest challenges has been imposter syndrome.
“I walk into spaces with attorneys who have achieved so much and I would oftentimes feel quite inferior.”
She has learned to manage that feeling by focusing on positive affirmations and celebrating small wins. Whether it’s a client simply feeling better about an outcome, a family being reunited, or someone receiving a visa to remain in the United States, “No outcome is too small as long as it's making that change,” she said.
Earning a Seat at the Table
Tichareva also said young lawyers may face skepticism from clients or others who assume more years in practice automatically mean better representation. Her response is to prepare carefully, take on matters responsibly, and remember that new attorneys have earned their place in the profession.
“One thing I always say is we all have a State Bar number. We have earned a seat at this table. We'll make this work for our clients.”
Her advice to newer attorneys is practical: ask questions, use the resources around you, learn from colleagues at every level, take CLEs, and embrace curiosity. She regularly reaches out to professors, partners, and even newer lawyers who may know things she does not.
“As a young attorney, to have success, you need to have zero shame and curiosity.”
That mindset has also shaped how she approaches continuing legal education.
“Never be too shy to ask questions. Immerse yourself in continued legal education as much as you can and make use of the mentors around you,” she said.
Looking Ahead: Mentorship and Service
Looking ahead, Tichareva hopes to mentor other young lawyers and continue expanding access to legal help for vulnerable communities. She said she would like to develop a formal clinic to help women with Violence Against Women Act petitions, immigrants seeking asylum, and refugees arriving in the United States.
The Young Lawyer of the Year honor, she said, is both humbling and motivating. It underscores that new lawyers do not need decades of experience before they can contribute meaningfully.
“It just affirms that being [a young] attorney doesn't mean you're not making a difference in the community,” she said.
For law students and young lawyers still trying to find their footing, Tichareva’s message is simple.
“You can do it. Look at me. You can do it.”
Join Us at the Annual Meeting & Conference in June in Green Bay
Want to celebrate a friend, family member, or colleague being honored at the Member Recognition Celebration? Join us for this free event from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, in La Crosse.
The celebration takes place at the State Bar Annual Meeting & Conference, June 11-12, 2026. Register now to choose from CLE sessions covering top trends, hot topics, and enduring advice for today’s lawyers.
In addition, featured plenary speakers, the Legal Expo, networking luncheons, and the Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony will help you connect, learn, and relax.
Reserve your spot today!
