Trial attorney likes to leave ’em laughing

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Attorney Tim O’Brien likes performing in front of a crowd.

For the most part, that means showcasing his legal skills in a courtroom to judges and jurors.

But on occasion, O’Brien, 50, takes on a more relaxed stage.

Three years ago, he enrolled in a local stand-up comedy class and has since performed at local venues on several occasions.

One of those shows was for the Eau Claire Bar Association, which was a tough audience, O’Brien said.

The trial lawyer said stand-up comedy is more difficult than standing in front of a jury, at least the first few times.

For that reason, O’Brien said, he has no plans to abandon his 20-year career at Bakke Norman SC, New Richmond, for the comedy club circuit.

He is content tackling more serious issues in criminal, business and personal injury law.

Outside of his practice, O’Brien also lends his time as chair of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin and serves on the board of the New Richmond Community Foundation.

O’Brien injected his brand of humor in this week’s Asked & Answered.

Wisconsin Law Journal: If you could develop one CLE course for credit, what would it be about?

Tim O’Brien: Wisconsin Geography and the Dangers of Provincialism. Driving past the Dells is not “Up North.” New Richmond is not “up there by Rhinelander.” Most lawyers and judges have actually chosen to live “up here” and a lot of us are very good at what we do. Bring your big city biases at your peril.

WLJ: What was your least favorite course in law school and why?
O’Brien: Any class that started before 11:00 a.m. I bartended nights at a blues bar – the Nar Bar. Sadly, now long gone – to pay my way through law school. Morning classes and I did not get along.

WLJ: What do you consider your biggest achievement to date and why?
O’Brien: The only time I’ve spent in jail has been visiting clients. But seriously, personally, together with my wife Stacey, it’s been raising two great kids. Professionally, together with my partners, it’s been building a law firm recognized for quality service to its clients and leadership in its communities.

WLJ: What is the one luxury item you cannot live without?
O’Brien: Given the cost of concerts these days, I guess live music qualifies as a luxury item.

WLJ: What is one thing attorneys should know that they won’t learn in law school?
O’Brien: Unfortunately, law and justice are not always synonymous.

WLJ: What is the first concert you went to?
O’Brien: Jethro Tull at the old St. Paul Civic Center. Tickets cost $6.50. We weren’t old enough to drive, so my friend’s sister had to chauffeur us from Eau Claire.

WLJ: If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?
O’Brien: The defendant at sentencing on a serious felony case. No matter how one tries to prepare the client for what is about to happen, until you’ve sat in the defendant’s chair, you’ll never know the feelings he or she is experiencing.

WLJ: What is your motto?
O’Brien: ‘Power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring.’ Sir Francis Bacon. It was on my resume when I graduated law school. Either that, or ‘Sometimes the lights are all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me, what a long strange trip it’s been.’ Hunter, Garcia, Lesh, Weir. An apt description of being a trial lawyer.

WLJ: What is your favorite movie about lawyers or the law and why?
O’Brien: ‘My Cousin Vinny.’ It actually has many good examples of how to present a case at trial, and it’s damn funny to boot.

WLJ: If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what career would you have chosen?
O’Brien: I wanted to be a rock star, but I couldn’t sing, dance or play an instrument. Having a wicked ‘Thank yoooooouuuuuu!!!’ wasn’t good enough, so off to law school I went.