The family of new Wisconsin lawyer Erica Young (second from right) point to her name on the list of new lawyers, graduates of U.W. Law School, on June 1. With Erica are her husband, Marquis Young Sr. (left), Amaya Young (age 12), and Marquis Young Jr. ​​(age 7).

Visit the State Bar’s Facebook page for more photos of this event, or click here.

June 3, 2022 – The six ceremonies were a return to the Wisconsin Supreme Court Hearing Room, after COVID-19 pandemic required a two-year hiatus. In all, 170 recent graduates of the University of Wisconsin Law School were sworn in as new Wisconsin lawyers.

“This is one of our favorite proceedings, because everyone is happy,” said Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler.

The graduates received words of wisdom as well. “Fifty or sixty years from now, when you look back on your life and your career, what will you see?” asked Justice Brian Hagedorn, speaking to the soon-to-be new lawyers. “More to the point, what do you want to see?”

And what really matters is what you did with your life, when you look back on it, he said. “Use your gifts – your considerable gifts – to the fullest. Fight for justice. Treat your enemies with dignity and respect. Seek wisdom from others. Love people, because people are valuable. Be faithful, courageous, take risks. And cultivate your inner life.”

Here is more about some of the new Wisconsin lawyers:

Movants for new lawyer Elise Ashley (second from right) are her aunt, attorney Carol Ashley (left); her cousin Judge Kori Ashley (second from left); and her father, Judge Carl Ashley (right).

Elise Ashley’s movants were two judges and a lawyer – all members of her family. Her father is Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Carl Ashley and her cousin is Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Kori Ashley. Her aunt is Carol Ashley, with the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago.

“I’m extraordinarily proud of my daughter,” Judge Carl Ashley said. “She’s brilliant, and I expect big things from her.”

“I have no doubt she’s going to be a wonderful addition to the profession,” said Judge Kori Ashley. “I’m excited to watch her journey. It’s going to be fantastic.”

“She doesn’t need advice from any of us,” said Carol Ashley. “She’s her own person.”

Elise is headed to practice in commercial litigation in Milwaukee. “I’m ecstatic to be surrounded today by my family. These have been my role models my entire life.”

For Crystal Stonewall, the idea of law school came about from the adage, “be the change you want to see.” Stonewall’s strength and determination came from her family and from growing up on Chicago’s south side. “I realized that just surviving the turmoil in my community was not for me, so I set a course to be successful and to make an impact in my community.”

“After witnessing groups of people excluded from societal infrastructures, including economic development and political representation, I realized at an early age that inclusion and service to my community is (at least partially) the cure for injustice and inequity,” she said.

Stonewall will practice in higher education law – wanting a career path that combined her interests of education and law.

During the 9 a.m. ceremony in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Hearing Room, James Clark, age 20 months and held by his mother, Taylor Clark, looks at the camera while behind him, his father, Kyle Clark, is sworn in as a new Wisconsin lawyer.

Mehak Qureshi witnessed her parents, immigrants from Pakistan, navigate the various barriers they faced in the legal system. “I saw their perseverance in the face of so many adversities,” she said.

At the end of her college years, she realized that being a lawyer can mean “deciphering the inner workings of a system that has the potential to be so incredibly demanding and challenging, and using that ability to help others. Law school felt like finding the missing puzzle piece.” Qureshi will practice in health law in Madison.

Meghan Villalpando discovered law while working as a grant writer after college. “While I really enjoyed the work, I wanted to have an even greater influence on the world around me,” she said. Focusing on research, writing, and advocacy, she found law. During her 3L year, she kept a sticky note on her desk: “Just try my best.” Reflecting on her law school experience, Villalpando said, “I wish I had written that sticky note sooner.” She is headed to practice in the commercial litigation group at Husch Blackwell in Milwaukee.

Taking the oath in the Supreme Court Hearing Room in Madison was a return for Megan Christopher, who gained a love for law while competing in High School Mock Trial for Xavier High School in Appleton. Megan competed in the Hearing Room with her team in the state final round two years in a row – in 2011 and in 2012. Megan is headed to practice in corporate tax law in Milwaukee.

Allegra Berry developed a passion for criminal justice during her undergraduate years. The first lawyer in her family, Berry is starting her career in the Public Defender Trial Office this month.

Madeline Freyberg (center) stands with her parents, Frederica Freyberg and attorney Gary Freyberg, moments after Madeline completed the final step to become a Wisconsin lawyer.

Madeline Freyberg’s movant was her father, Gary Freyberg, an administrative law judge for the Wisconsin Social Security Administration in Milwaukee. Some folks may be familiar with her mother, Frederica Freyberg, a television executive producer and anchor with PBS Wisconsin. Madeline admits that at first she wanted to become an economist. “But I wasn’t very good at math,” she said with a laugh. She’ll be clerking for a judge in the Eastern District of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Adriana Fueredi is headed back to school to earn a master's degree in public health at the University of Illinois in Chicago. She is “a proud Wisconsinite,” so plans to return to Wisconsin to practice in health law.

U.W. Law School graduate and new Wisconsin lawyer Crystal Stonewall poses for a photo in her academic attire (photo submitted).

Jesse Castañeda is passionate about criminal justice. He worked in the local district attorney’s office in his native Texas, getting to know prosecutors and defenders. The lawyers, he said, kept advising him to go to law school. “Seems like you have a mind for this,” they said. Now a lawyer, he starts in September at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York.

Madeline McCue became a lawyer to help people, and do more for her community. Her father, Richard McCue, is a criminal defense attorney in Janesville, and her uncle is a lawyer in Arizona. She has learned, through her father, how much of a community the legal profession is, and is proud to join them. Madeline is headed to practice business law and estate planning in Janesville.

Justice Jill Karofsky moved for Kathleen Wood’s admission, and will work as Justice Karoksky’s clerk for the next two years. “I feel very honored,” she said. Wood is interested in employment law.

Megan Ziesmann (right) looks back as her father, attorney Steven Ziesmann (left)​ acts as her movant during the 3 p.m. ceremony in the Supreme Court Hearing Room.

As a kid, Adam Mazin went with his mother during “bring your child to work day” to her job at a law firm. While she isn’t a lawyer, Adam got to know more about the profession that way. Law school “gives you different ways to think about problems,” he said. “Learning to think like a lawyer prepares you for any situation.” Adam is headed to Chicago to practice in real estate law.

Jenna Riddle’s movant was former Chief Justice Patience Roggensack. The one-year appointment will allow Jenna to get to know different types of cases and how the court works. “I am really interested in seeing the inner workings of a court – especially one that has appellate cases.” Jenna, who grew up on an organic dairy farm, worked previously in organic certification, and became interested in law after learning more about agricultural policy and legislation. One of her goals is to help out small farms.

Dressed in their graduate attire following a hooding ceremony in May are three new Wisconsin lawyers, from left: Jenna Riddle, Monica Boctor, and Danielle Sendelbach (photo submitted).

Gina Nerone’s mother is an attorney in California. Gina admits that, as a child, “I was very logical and very bookish,” and preferred the library over going outside for recess. She remembers her mother saying to her: “You’ve always been a lawyer, you just need the degree.” She heads to New York as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. “I’m ready for a new adventure,” she said.

Caitlin Willenbrink’s brother Zachary Willenbrink, a Milwaukee lawyer, was proud to act as her movant. “We are the first lawyers in our family,” Zach said. A Louisville native, Caitlin will clerk for Judge J.P. Stadtmueller of the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin – same as her brother.

Jacob Garman developed an interest in government public service while working on his undergraduate degree in political science. He is the first lawyer in his family, and will be working as an assistant district attorney in Racine County.

Chief Justice Ziegler moved Charles DeCesaris’s admission. “That made the day very special,” he said. He will be clerking for Justice Ziegler over the next year. Interested in litigation, he will use his year to explore various practice areas. “I know I will get a good breadth of exposure here,” he said.

Ganxin Zhang signs the Book of the Attorney's Roll, the final step in becoming a Wisconsin lawyer, following the swearing-in ceremony at the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison.

Welcome to These New Wisconsin Lawyers