April 21, 2021 – On April 2, 2021, Daniel Parks filed a petition to reinstate his Wisconsin law license. The OLR will investigate the eligibility of Parks for reinstatement of his license and assigned OLR Matter No. 2021MA3854 to its investigation.

Parks’ Wisconsin law license was suspended for 14 months, effective, Jan. 24, 2019. While employed by a firm, Parks performed unauthorized legal work on the side and collected for himself fees and in-kind payments and solicited a $5,000 “gift” from a client in exchange for an unauthorized reduction in legal fees. Parks also worked on client files on an unsecured computer and obtained signatures on two releases insulating him from liability in a probate matter without properly explaining his role in the matter. Disciplinary Proc. Against Parks, 2018 WI 100. In January of 2020, Parks filed a petition for reinstatement. After a hearing on the matter, the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied his petition, citing Parks’ failure to make an effort to pay restitution to those harmed by his misconduct.  Disciplinary Proc. Against Parks, 2021 WI 10.

Parks has the burden of demonstrating by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence, that he has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin; that his resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest; that the representations made in his petition are substantiated; and that he has complied fully with the terms of the order of his suspension and with the requirements of SCR 22.26 regarding an attorney’s activities following suspension or revocation.

Interested parties may submit written comments regarding Parks and his petition to the OLR, Attn: Sarah E. Peterson, P.O. Box 1648, Madison, WI 53701-1648. Alternatively, written comments may be submitted via email to sarah.peterson@wicourts.gov. Comments must be submitted by June 1, 2021. All comments will be forwarded to the supreme court. If a referee is assigned to conduct a hearing in this matter, all comments will also be forwarded to the referee. Individuals who submit comments may be contacted by the OLR for more information.

Upon completion of the investigation of Parks’ petition, the OLR will file a response with the supreme court. If the OLR does not oppose reinstatement, the OLR will enter into a stipulation for reinstatement with Parks for direct consideration by the supreme court. If the OLR opposes reinstatement, a referee will be appointed and a reinstatement hearing scheduled.

Notice of any hearing on Parks’ petition will be sent to those requesting such notice. A request for notice of hearing must include the address to which the notice is to be sent, and should be directed to the OLR at either the post office box or email address above.

Information regarding the status of Parks’ petition and any hearing can be obtained from the OLR and is available at www.wicourts.gov/services/public/lawyerreg/statuspetition.htm.

This notice is published pursuant to SCR 22.30(2) and will be the only notice published regarding this matter.