Mark L. Thomsen's path to law is unlike any other story. In this episode of the Bottom Up podcast, host Emil Obviagele dives deep with Mark, a veteran Milwaukee-based litigator and partner at Gingras Thomsen & Wachs LLP. The episode explores Mark's unique upbringing in Nigeria, his return to America, and the cultural shocks he experienced. They discuss his journey into law, activism, and the importance of fighting for justice. The conversation delves into the role of lawyers in society, the impact of AI on the legal profession, and the significance of civic engagement in maintaining democracy. Mark emphasizes the need for creativity in law and the responsibility of lawyers to advocate for truth and justice in a changing world.

Mark is a veteran trial lawyer in the areas of personal injury, civil rights (section 1983 claims), medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and legal malpractice claims. Raised in Nigeria until age 12, Mark dropped out of high school at age 17 and worked as a steelworker and union representative before his East Chicago plant closed down in 1984. Three years later, Mark began his legal career. Don't miss the details of Mark's inspiring and unique journey, and the path ahead.

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In this episode of the Bottom Up Podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, host Kristen Hardy talks with former Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Ellen Brostrom, now a mediator at Resolute Systems LLC, and Wauwatosa Municipal Court Judge Krista LaFave, also a personal injury attorney at Warshafsky Law.

Both explore their unique career paths, motivations for public service, and the differences between circuit and municipal courts. They discuss the importance of courtroom presentation, the challenges with pro se litigants, and the balance between judicial duties and private practice.

The conversation highlights the collegiality within the Wisconsin legal community and the significance of professional organizations, including the vital role of mentorship and networking for young lawyers, particularly women in the legal profession. Hardy and her guests highlight the evolving needs of legal organizations, the transition from judicial roles to mediation, and the significant impact of AI on the legal landscape. The speakers share insights on how young lawyers can navigate their careers, emphasizing the importance of deep preparation, professionalism, and maintaining connections within the legal community.

Exciting News! Starting in 2025, two new podcasts will join Bottom Up in a rotation of podcasts produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Bottom Up, co-hosted by Emil Ovbiagele and Kristen Hardy, will continue to explore topics of interest to lawyers in the early stages of their careers. They'll be back in March 2025.

Two new podcasts – Listening to Lawyers and Practice Pulse – will expand the State Bar's family of WisLawNOW podcasts, giving lawyers more access to discussions that explore life as a lawyer, including law practice management, technology, and lawyer wellbeing.

In this episode of Bottom Up, we talk to the hosts of the new podcasts. Both provide insight on the topics they plan to explore in 2025.

Listening to Lawyers is hosted by Amber Ault, who manages the State Bar's Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP). The special project provides the Wisconsin legal community with opportunities to hear personal stories from Wisconsin lawyers about adversity, perseverance, resilience, transformation, and hope. Look for the first episode in January 2025.

Practice Pulse, hosted by State Bar Practice Management Advisor Brent Hoeft (Practice 411), will focus on practice management and technology. Brent will invite experts to discuss how lawyers can leverage existing technology and explore new tools to keep their law firms healthy and efficient. Topics like marketing, business operations, and generative artificial intelligence, will also be discussed. Look for the first episode in February 2025.

In this episode of the Bottom Up Podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, co-hosts Emil Ovbiagele and Sam Huddleston Baker talk with Mike Sneathern, chief legal officer for the Milwaukee Bucks. Mike has worked 20-plus years for the 2021 NBA champs.

The conversation explores Mike's journey from his native California to Wisconsin, his experiences in the Marquette University Sports Law Program, and the unique challenges faced by sports lawyers today, including the impact of sports betting and music rights.

The discussion also highlights the importance of networking and being a team player in the legal profession, especially for young lawyers aspiring to enter the field of sports law.

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Will AI replace lawyers? That's one of the questions explored in the latest episode of Bottom Up, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin. Co-hosts Emil Ovbiagele and Kristen Hardy welcome Hiriam Bradley, an attorney specializing in privacy and technology law.

The conversation explores Hiriam's career path, the evolution of privacy law, and the intersection of artificial intelligence and privacy. They discuss the challenges legal professionals face in navigating developing laws, the importance of consumer awareness, and the regulatory landscape in financial services. Hiriam emphasizes the need for lawyers to adapt to emerging technologies and the philosophical implications of data privacy. The episode concludes with a call to view privacy as a fundamental human right and the importance of being diligent about data protection.

When Anthony Procaccio graduated from law school in 2013, he was one of 46,776 U.S. law students to do so (the most of any year on record, and 36% more than 2023). The economy was beginning to recover from the 2007-08 financial crisis, but job seekers were still struggling.

Procaccio, now the president of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Young Lawyers Division, was among many law school graduates who faced various economic challenges post-2008, including student loan debt. On top of that, he wasn't sure he wanted to practice law at all.

Post-law school, Procaccio took law adjacent positions that did not require a law degree. Then it hit him: he didn't want to lose the opportunity to use his law license. It was time for Procaccio to get in the game to find work as a practicing lawyer and to find his niche.

In this episode of the Bottom Up podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, Procaccio and Communications Director Joe Forward discuss the challenges young lawyers can face in finding desired employment and navigating the early years of practice.

Procaccio shares his own winding path to his current role as an attorney in Milwaukee and offers advice for new graduates and younger lawyers. The conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, the stress of the job, and the need for self-care.

He notes that the Young Lawyers Division is a resource for young attorneys to network, gain leadership experience, and find support. And Procaccio reiterates a common theme among all guests of the Bottom Up Podcast: there is no right or wrong path - there is only your path.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:46 Challenges of Finding Employment

10:36 The Importance of Mentorship

25:17 Managing Stress and Self-Care

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00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
06:13 The Value of Law Clerkships
11:10 What Employers Look for in a Good Clerk
13:28 The Importance of Mentorship in Law Clerkships
16:18 Doing Impactful Work as a Law Clerk
27:07 Seeking Opportunities and Making Connections as a Law Clerk
29:54 Owning Mistakes and Learning
32:42 The Importance of Soft Skills
37:54 The Impact of Technology on Job Security
45:18 The Role of Lawyers in Regulating AI
51:38 Advice for New Lawyers

Takeaways

Law clerks should be teachable, have a strong work ethic, and be willing to learn and grow.
Employers look for candidates who are curious, coachable, and have a likable personality.
Law clerks should seek out opportunities to do impactful work and make connections with their employers.
It is important for law clerks to ask for feedback and constructive criticism to improve their skills.
Law students and young lawyers should be open to exploring different areas of law and figuring out what they enjoy and excel at. Owning mistakes and learning from them is crucial in the legal profession.
Employers should show grace and provide opportunities for new lawyers to fail and learn.
Soft skills, such as punctuality and attention to detail, are important for success in the legal profession.
Advice for new lawyers includes being themselves, embracing new learning opportunities, asking questions, getting involved, and being resilient.