By: dmc-admin//August 16, 2010//
Attorneys in Wisconsin might wonder if there is more than one Dean Dietrich practicing law in the state.
There are in fact two, but it seems like more because Dean R. Dietrich of Ruder Ware is seemingly everywhere.
In addition to his labor and employment practice, the partner at the Wausau firm chairs the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Professional Ethics Committee, represents attorneys in disciplinary proceedings before the Office of Lawyer Regulation and serves as President of the Wisconsin Law Foundation.
One of the premier legal ethics experts in the state, Dietrich regularly lectures on everything from social networking policies and employee liability to the open meetings law.
A golf enthusiast, Dietrich took a few moments to tee off on this week’s version of Asked & Answered.
WLJ: What do you value most about being an attorney?
Attorney Dean R. Dietrich: Working with clients to resolve their problems is certainly the most fulfilling part of being a lawyer.
WLJ: What is the most underrated skill attorneys should utilize in a courtroom?
Dietrich: Being aware of everything that is going on throughout the courtroom is a valuable skill that is often ignored; knowing what the reaction is by the jurors or the judge, while at the same time sensing the reaction from opposing counsel, is an important part of a lawyer’s skills for keeping control of everything that is occurring in the courtroom.
WLJ: What is your favorite website and why?
Dietrich: I have two favorite websites: wislawjournal.com and wisbar.org. I check both of them daily to see what’s going on in the legal community.
WLJ: If you could change one thing about Wisconsin’s legal system, what would it be?
Dietrich: I would like to see some mechanism that would allow participants to have the services of a lawyer available to them. I am not sure there is any way to accomplish this because lawyers deserve to be fairly compensated for the services they provide, but so many people choose not to be represented by an attorney, whether because of mistrust of lawyers or lack of funds.
WLJ: What is one thing attorneys should know that they won’t learn in law school?
Dietrich: Lawyers need to know how to listen to others, whether it be a client or an opposing party.
WLJ: What is the first concert you went to?
Dietrich: It has been so long ago that I really can’t recall. I am sure it was a rock band concert at the Milwaukee lakefront in the 60’s.
WLJ: If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?
Dietrich: I would trade places with Tom Watson or Steve Stricker because I have a great love for the game of golf. I wouldn’t trade places with some of the more popular golfers because of the media intrusions, but I sure would love to play competitive golf for at least one day.
WLJ: What is on your desk that you would most like to get rid of?
Dietrich: For me, I see cases where lawyers are being investigated for alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct when I know from talking to the lawyer that they were simply doing the best they could to represent their client.
WLJ: What is your most embarrassing moment as an attorney?
Dietrich: Perhaps my most embarrassing moment, not as a lawyer, is falling off the back of a golf cart while wearing a kilt and not much else.
WLJ: Where and when are you most happy?
Dietrich: This is a toss-up. I am most happy on any golf course and sitting on the deck in the evening with my wife. I don’t do either one of those enough.
Jack Zemlicka can be reached at [email protected].