The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is for State Bar members under 36 years old or in their first five years of practice. The YLD provides leadership training and networking opportunities. It also encourages its members to be active in the State Bar, local and specialty bar associations, and communities. YLD presents the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award and Outstanding Mentor Award.
The
Outstanding Young Lawyer Award pays tribute to a young lawyer who has made an impact in his or her practice area, in service to the State Bar of Wisconsin, and in service to the community.
Attorney
Kevin M. Smith is this year's recipient. Kevin graduated from UW Law School in 2019 and is an attorney with the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office in the Janesville and Beloit area. He began his practice just two months before the start of the pandemic, and has since worked tirelessly to achieve the best possible result for his clients. His first two years as a public defender were so successful that he is already helping train young lawyers and has been entrusted with multiple homicide cases. He is described by those who work with him as “the true believer that every public defender should be."
Attorney Smith volunteers with the State Bar Mock Trial Competitions and the UW Law School Moot Court Competition. Additionally, he serves on a community criminal justice workgroup that oversees and implements new programs to divert low and medium risk defendants out of the criminal justice system.
YLD president-elect Jose Castro says, “Kevin shows a passion for helping those underserved and often left behind by our legal system. He has gone above and beyond, by taking on mentorship roles, training young lawyers in his office, and mentoring several interns from the UW Law School." Faun M. Moses, Regional Attorney Manager at the State Public Defender's Office adds: “His dedication to indigent defense is remarkable."
Watch the presentation of the Young Lawyers Division Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
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