PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Thomas Solberg
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250-6025
(608) 630-0432 (cell)
(800) 444-9404 ext. 6025
tsolberg@wisbar.org
Sheboygan County attorney recognized for contributions to the
legal profession
October 6, 2011 — A Sheboygan County attorney will be recognized
by her peers with an award for her leadership and dedication to the
success of small Wisconsin law firms.
The State Bar of Wisconsin's Solo, Small Firm and General Practice
Section will present its 2011 John Lederer Service Award to Attorney
Roberta Ann Heckes at the group's annual conference in the Wisconsin
Dells on October 28.
"Because the vast majority of law firms in Wisconsin operate as
small businesses with three or fewer attorneys who provide a wide range
of legal services to their communities, effective lawyers have to master
both the management skills needed to run any small business and the
professional insights required to meet the varied needs of their
clients," explains former section chair Paul Angel. "We have
responded to that need with direct support from State Bar staff and
training opportunities like our annual conference, but often the most
useful help comes from peer-to-peer advice from more experienced
attorneys. Roberta Ann Heckes epitomizes this essential but
under-appreciated aspect of the legal profession. She routinely helps
other members as they seek to improve their practice and mentors new
lawyers in criminal law work, especially those living outside the
Milwaukee and Madison areas."
As one peer supporting her nomination noted, "Roberta talks with
younger attorneys about their courtroom experience in order that they
might better their courtroom representation. Equally important, she
talks with them about how the practice of law can fit into their lives,
so that they might achieve a healthy balance between work and
life."
Heckes, a 1999 Marquette University Law School graduate, has become a
leading member of the private bar in accepting state public defender
cases. A solo practitioner who works throughout Eastern Wisconsin, her
practice includes trial and appellate cases. Heckes has served as a
member of the State Bar's Appellate Practice Section Board and as
one of the few solo attorneys serving on its Bench & Bar
Committee.
In addition to her legal training and experience, Heckes credits her
twenty-plus years as a truck driver and dispatcher as a source of
insights on how to manage a small business. "Driving a truck is a
lot like running a law office," she observes. "You know where
you want to go and why it's important to get there, but to get the
job done efficiently you have to manage lots of variables, keep careful
records and you have to be able to work with people from many
backgrounds."
Today, truckers are a significant part of her law practice and her
determination to meet their legal needs draws from the same dedication
she routinely demonstrates as she helps her attorney peers achieve their
full potential. "My goal is to help truckers solve problems they
can't handle themselves so they can stay focused on what they do
best – keeping American businesses moving."
Named in memory of Attorney John Lederer, this award is presented
annually to an individual, group or organization exemplifying the
leadership, spirit and dedication of John Lederer, who saw it as his
mission to help solo and small firm lawyers master the skills and
technology needed to build their practices.
The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional
association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who
hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 24,000 members, the State
Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides
continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their
expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community
service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the
value of lawyers. For more information, visit www.wisbar.org.
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