This spring, I had the privilege of being present as the Wisconsin Supreme Court welcomed a new cohort of lawyers into the State Bar of Wisconsin. It was a celebration: I watched as family members in the steep gallery seats waved at their loved ones on the floor, as they got ready to take their oath. There was a current of joy in the room – a recognition of those who have worked hard, persevered, and now step forward to serve clients, communities, and our justice system. Their admission to our Bar is the beginning of a professional life grounded in responsibility, judgment, service, and trust.

To our newest members: welcome! You enter the profession at a time of profound change, but also at a time of extraordinary opportunity. The law remains the essential way our society moves toward fairness – with order, liberty, and accountability. Your voice, your integrity, and your commitment will help shape what justice looks like in Wisconsin for years to come.

That same sense of connection was on full display at our recent Annual Meeting & Conference. In La Crosse, lawyers, judges, and legal professionals from across Wisconsin and beyond gathered to learn, reconnect, exchange ideas, and celebrate the work we do together. The energy of the conference was a powerful reminder that we are at our best when we recognize that we are a part of something larger.

That is the beauty of being a unified Bar. The State Bar of Wisconsin brings together lawyers from varied geographies, practice settings, political viewpoints, generations, and lived experiences. We do not always agree. In fact, our profession requires us all to test ideas and challenge assumptions. Our differences, however, do not diminish what we share. They make our shared commitment more important.

At the center of that commitment is the rule of law. Whatever our practice areas or perspectives, Wisconsin lawyers are bound by the belief that law matters, that institutions matter, that process matters, and that no person is above the law. A unified Bar gives us a place to affirm those principles together – not as abstractions, but as a shared system of values.

This is why welcoming new admittees is not only a celebration of them but also a renewal for all of us. Each new lawyer reminds us of the promise we made when we joined this profession, and each gathering of the Bar reminds us that we keep that promise together.

Together, we welcome our newest colleagues. Together, we strengthen the Bar. Together, we uphold the rule of law.

We are at our best when we recognize that we are a part of something larger.