LaVigne sharpens ‘faculties’ at UW Law School

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Michele LaVigne has served clients and students from all backgrounds for four decades.

She began her legal career as a public defender in the 1970s and spent a decade at the State Public Defender’s Office before she joined the law school faculty at University of Wisconsin, where she is now a distinguished clinical professor.

During her time at the college, she has taught classes in everything from criminal law to professional responsibility and trial advocacy. She now works as the director of the law school’s Public Defender Project, where she helps supervise and teach student interns working in public-defender offices throughout Wisconsin.

During her time at the university, LaVigne has also been involved in litigation supporting the right of deaf defendants, allowing her to become a national expert on the role that language plays in ensuring criminal defendants are treated justly.

“One of the greatest privileges in my professional life has been to sit next to clients and let them know, ‘I’ve got your back,’” LaVigne said. “The other great privilege has been to pass that on to law students and new lawyers. I’ve been very lucky indeed. I am very honored to receive this award, but I need to share it with the hundreds of public defenders and appointed counsel who lead by example every day.”

Outside teaching, LaVigne is a member of the National Criminal Defense College and the Wisconsin Public Defender Trial Skills Academy and has regularly taken part in the Ask a Lawyer prison program, started by a university alumnus. She also regularly gives her time to offer resources to practicing attorneys.

“Michele’s strong sense of duty and passion for her work, along with her determination to fight the injustices her clients face, has never wavered over her 40-year career,” said Margaret Raymond, dean of the University of Wisconsin Law School. “Michele has the profound respect not only of our students, alumni and faculty, but also of legal authorities across the state and the nation. She is a true leader in our profession, and I am proud to call her a colleague.”