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Joseph A. Melli Mentorship Program

Attorneys in their first 5 years of practice qualify to participate as mentees.

Practicing attorneys with more than 10 years of practice qualify to participate as mentors.

In 2006, the late Joe Melli, then-Chair of the Senior Lawyers Section, and Josh Kindkeppel, then Chair of the New Lawyers Section, joined forces to create the Dane County Mentorship Program. The Mentorship Program launched a pilot program in the fall of 2007 matching 10 mentees with 10 mentors. The Program was a success and was expanded in subsequent years. The concept of the Program is simple: match new attorneys with seasoned veterans based on an area of practice/interest. The Program strives to establish meaningful relationships between mentors and mentees and to encourage a greater appreciation for the law and the importance of civility in everyday legal practice.

Attorneys in their first 5 years of practice qualify to participate as mentees. Practicing attorneys with more than 10 years of practice qualify to participate as mentors. Mentees provide the Program with their area(s) of practice/interest and the Program seeks out and matches them with mentors with the same areas of practice/interest.

The program year runs from September through June, and a minimum of one meeting a month between mentors and mentees is required. It is suggested that mentors invite the mentee to depositions, hearings, bar meetings and trials to enhance the opportunity of the mentee to observe the reality of the practice of law in Dane County. Additionally, the Program hosts an orientation and social hour at the start of the program year and three luncheons throughout the rest of the program year for all the mentees and mentors. The luncheons feature a speaker on a topic of interest for CLE credit, and lunch is provided by the DCBA.

Among the matters to be discussed between mentors and mentees are ethics, professionalism, legal etiquette, civility, relationships with clients and other attorneys, the judiciary and the public, professional work habits, organizational skills and practice management, economics of practicing law, and responsibility and opportunities for pro bono work, bar activities, and community service.

The mentoring relationship is to foster the development of the mentee's practical skills, increase his or her knowledge of legal customs and create a sense of pride and integrity. The mentoring relationship should improve legal ability and professional judgment and should impart the use of best practices and highest ideals in the practice of law.

A successful relationship of any kind requires both parties to want the relationship to work. This is especially true in a mentoring situation where mentor and mentee can develop a satisfactory association where both are committed to meeting their responsibilities. By allowing each other the freedom to openly discuss and work on professional issues, without censure and on a regular basis, the mentee and mentor are well on their way to an enjoyable, stimulating and rewarding experience.

Orientation Materials

  • Ideas for Mentoring
  • Ethical Issues

Interested in joining the Joseph A. Melli Mentorship Program Section?

Join Now!

Tyler Manley

Axley Brynelson LLP

  • Phone: 12629949637
  • Email: tmanley@axley.com

Jack Idlas

State Public Defender

  • Phone: 8475023667
  • Email: idlasj@opd.wi.gov

Erica Gittings

Wisconsin Divorce Solutions LLC

  • Phone: 6089990463
  • Email: erica@wisconsindivorcesolutions.com

Mr. Tim Kiefer

Kiefer Law Office, LLC

  • Phone: (608) 204-5822
  • Email: timkiefer@kieferlawoffice.com

Joseph Rolling

von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

  • Phone: (608) 661-3974
  • Email: jrolling@vonbriesen.com

Francis Sullivan

Retired

  • Phone: (608) 267-2222
  • Email: xav13@hotmail.com

Mr. Joe Malone

Fuhrman & Dodge, S.C.

  • Phone: 608.327.4213
  • Email: jmalone@fuhrmandodge.com

Brittany Wilson

  • Phone: 608-266-4511
  • Email: bwilson@cityofmadison.com

Matthew Primozic

  • Phone: 9209800242
  • Email: cprimozic@hotmail.com

Mason Higgins

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

  • Phone: 608-220-7341
  • Email: mahiggins@michaelbest.com

Alyson Rish

  • Phone: 920-819-9933
  • Email: asrish@asu.edu

Lisa Lietz-Ray

Laffey, Sebranek, Auby & Ristau, S.C.

  • Phone: (608)478-4823
  • Email: llietzray@els-law.com

Michael Remington

Senior Consultant

  • Phone: 215 609 0135
  • Email: remingmj@aol.com

Elizabeth Pierson

Law Forward, Inc.

  • Phone: 4147089632
  • Email: elizabeth.m.pierson@gmail.com

Mai Chao Thao

  • Phone: 6086633891
  • Email: mcthao@uwalumni.com

Joshua Kindkeppel

Pines Bach LLP

  • Phone: (608) 251-0101
  • Email: jkindkeppel@pinesbach.com

Olivia Mote

Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C.

  • Phone: (608) 259-2317
  • Email: omote@bmrlawyers.com

Leah Moon

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

  • Phone: 6082832249
  • Email: lnmoon@michaelbest.com

LISA MAYVILLE

  • Phone: 05408484564
  • Email: lisamayville@comcast.net

Diana Eisenberg

Stroud, Willink & Howard, LLC

  • Phone: 6082572281
  • Email: deisenberg@stroudlaw.com

Amber McReynolds

Office of the City Attorney - Madison

  • Phone: (608) 2664511
  • Email: amcreynolds@cityofmadison.com

Harvey Wendel

Murphy Desmond

  • Phone: (608) 257-7181
  • Email: hwendel@murphydesmond.com

Ms. Linda Clifford

Linda Clifford Law Office, LLC

  • Phone: (608) 255-1115
  • Email: linda@lindacliffordlaw.com

Emilia Janisch

Axley Brynelson, LLP

  • Phone: 16082343289
  • Email: ejanisch@axley.com

Mr. John Starkweather

Boardman & Clark LLP

  • Phone: (608) 257-9521
  • Email: jstarkweather@boardmanclark.com

Nicole Swails

Swails Law, LLC

  • Phone: 6083701644
  • Email: swails.nicole@gmail.com

Sam Wayne

Neider & Boucher, S.C.

  • Phone: 6084412523
  • Email: swayne@neiderboucher.com

Amy Devine

Haskins Short & Brindley LLC

  • Phone: 608-237-6673
  • Email: amy@hsbelderlaw.com

Ms. Laura Lyons

SECURA Insurance

  • Phone: 920.224.7186
  • Email: llyons@secura.net

Jack Sweeney

DOJ

  • Phone: N/A
  • Email: sweeneyjack72@gmail.com

Jacob Harris

Husch Blackwell LLP

  • Phone: (608) 255-4440
  • Email: jacob.harris@huschblackwell.com

Mr. Thomas Hoffner

Certus Legal Group, Ltd.

  • Phone: (608) 729-7330
  • Email: thoffner@certuslegalgroup.com

Gail Groy

GROY Law Firm, SC

  • Phone: 2623441548
  • Email: gail@groylaw.com

Shannon Conlin

Dean Health Plan, Inc.

  • Phone: 6088287591
  • Email: shannon.conlin@deancare.com

Jacob Gardner

  • Phone: 9203186640
  • Email: gardner5@wisc.edu

Robert Stroud

Stroud, Willink & Howard

  • Phone: (608) 257-2281
  • Email: rstroud@stroudlaw.com

Ms. Meghan Roed

OneEnergy Renewables

  • Phone: N/A
  • Email: roed.meghan@gmail.com

JoAnne Kloppenburg

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV

  • Phone: (608) 267-3100
  • Email: joanne.kloppenburg@wicourts.gov

Dan Gartzke

Boardman & Clark LLP

  • Phone: 608-283-1755
  • Email: dgartzke@boardmanclark.com

Christopher Dodge

Fuhrman & Dodge, SC

  • Phone: (608) 327-4202
  • Email: cdodge@fuhrmandodge.com

Megan Phillips

Richter & Phillips LLP

  • Phone: 608-390-3556
  • Email: phillips@richter-phillips.com

Paul Kinne

Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs

  • Phone: (608) 833-2632
  • Email: kinne@gtwlawyers.com

Meg Sternitzky

  • Phone: N/A
  • Email: msternitzky@wisc.edu

Jonathon Davies

Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.

  • Phone: 16085713131
  • Email: jdavies@legalaction.org

Pauline Shoemaker

Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources

  • Phone: 855-409-9410
  • Email: polly.shoemaker@gwaar.org

Committees / Sections

  • Case Mediation
  • Courthouse
  • Delivery of Legal Services
  • Finance
  • History and Memorials
  • Law for the Public
  • Long Range Planning
  • Membership & Special Events
  • Program
  • Communications
  • New Lawyers
  • Senior Lawyers
  • Criminal Law
  • In-House Counsel & Government Lawyers
  • Joseph A. Melli Mentorship Program

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    Post Office Box 44008
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