Vocal state bar critic Steve Levine dies at age 71

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Colleagues of Steve Levine are remembering the Madison attorney’s life and passions. Levine died on Saturday at age 71, according to the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Levine graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. in 1973 and then returned to Wisconsin to practice law. He was a vocal critic of the mandatory State Bar and attempted to make admission voluntary a number of times. Despite his criticism, he served as president of the organization from 2006-07.

“Steve Levine was a vocal and active participant within the State Bar of Wisconsin,” current State Bar President Jill Kastner said in a statement. “He advocated on many issues over the course of many years. Steve voiced a diversity of thought and opinion that has made the State Bar stronger in its mission to serve the members and the public.”

Levine worked as assistant chief counsel for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for 36 years. In a statement, the PSC said the organization was fortunate to have him as long as it did.

“Steve’s impact on Wisconsin’s legal and regulatory landscape will be felt for years to come. He had an extraordinary legal mind coupled with great wit and humor. He held himself and others to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. He will be truly missed,” the organization said in the statement.

After his retirement in 2011, he developed and taught a course on administrative law at UW Law School as an adjunct professor.

“He was a popular and enthusiastic teacher, generously and skillfully imparting his knowledge and talents to his students,” said Kevin Kelly, associate dean for student and academic affairs at UW Law, in a statement. “Steve truly loved teaching at the Law School: indeed, he related this to me in an e-mail message the very day before he passed away. He will be greatly missed by the Law School community.”

Read more about Levine and his work:

• Vocal state bar critic Steve Levine dies at age 71
• 14 Wisconsin attorneys want voluntary bar — through a rule change
• Lawyers mount challenge to Wisconsin’s mandatory bar dues
• Madison attorney wants high court to change how bar spends dues — again
• State Bar governor criticizes money spent defending rule change
• Levine becomes 51st president