Tom Mulligan was presented with the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Pro Bono award by Washburn County Judge Eugene Harrington after fulfilling the requirements of the award during the past year. Attorneys are eligible for certification if they are in good standing with the State Bar of Wisconsin and have performed at least 50 hours of qualifying pro bono legal services during the past calendar year. Mulligan, a graduate of Spooner High School in 2002, graduated from University of WisconsinMadison in 2006 with degrees in English and philosophy and attended law school at Hamline University, graduating in 2011. After working and living in downtown Minneapolis for one year at a large corporate law firm, he missed the outdoor lifestyle, he said, and wanted to pursue a career as a solo practitioner. “I am 32 years old, am licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, and I have done pro bono work in a variety of areas including Family Law, Disability, Unemployment, and Criminal Law,” he said. “I am proud to accept the award,” Mulligan said, “and appreciate the recognition for the work that I have done at the pro bono level. My father had a long history of being there to help the members of our community that needed it most and has passed on that tradition to me. “He has done a lot of good in his career, and I wanted to be able to look back and feel the same way when I was reaching the end of mine. I came into the practice of law and back to my community with a genuine interest in not only pursuing a career as a solo practitioner but also to make a difference in the community I live in. “Also, electing to engage in pro bono legal services provides the opportunity to gain experience in new areas of law while simultaneously assisting community members who are of limited resources but have a serious need for legal help. I have enjoyed the work as well as the people I have met while practicing in Spooner. I would like to say thank you to my family for all of their support,” Mulligan said, “and the Washburn county judicial system for taking the time to provide recognition by presenting this award to me.”
Posted: August 1, 2016