Julie is a Madison native, and has practiced in the area of Estate Planning & Elder Law throughout her legal career. She spent her first 14 years of practice with a small general practice firm in Fort Atkinson, and joined Cullen Weston Pines & Bach as an associate in 2007.
Julie’s passion is to help individuals and families make informed choices and plan ahead by using estate planning and benefits tools. She has extensive experience working with both younger and older clients and their families, as well as with disabled adults and families with disabled children. She applies a depth of knowledge in many fields of law including governmental benefits, wills, trusts, probate, marital property, and taxation, to preserve families’ precious resources and avoid unintended consequences that can result in complex situations.
Professional Activities and Memberships
National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG)
Elder Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin
American Bar Association, including the ABA Real Property Probate and
Trust Section
Public Service
Julie feels that every attorney has an obligation to provide free legal
services for the benefit of the community in which that attorney serves.
Julie currently provides pro bono (without compensation) legal services
to the Rock River Free Medical Clinic of Jefferson County. She incorporated
the medical clinic as well as prepared the application for the Federal
exemption number, so the organization would be qualified as a 501(C)(3),
a non-profit tax-exempt organization. She is also currently assisting
(pro bono) local medical and social service organizations concerned
with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia generally, to establish
a Memory Clinic in Jefferson County. Julie has also provided pro bono
representation to the Friends of Lorrine Niedecker and the Dwight Foster
Public Library in incorporating and applying for a Federal exemption
for non-profit tax-exempt status. Julie provides volunteer legal services
through the Wisconsin State Bar Volunteer Lawyer’s Project, as
well.
Julie also gives back to younger lawyers and law students. She is a Wisconsin State Bar mentor to new attorneys practicing law in solo and small firms. She has been a lecturer for the Real Estate Transactions Section of the General Practice Course at the University of Wisconsin Law School for the past eight years, and also assisted in that course with a session aimed at improving law students’ negotiation and speaking skills. She has also been a guest lecturer on Estate Planning and Medical Assistance issues for the Madison Area Technical College at the Fort Atkinson Campus.
