Is sure isn’t anything like "L.A. Law." When Richard Martin goes to work, he’s not defending Hollywood stars going through their "nth" divorce. And his clients don’t usually dress in Italian shirts and hand-tailored suits. Switch channels to "Hill Street Blues" reruns and you’ll see a truer picture of Martin’s clients in his work as a Wisconsin appellate public defender.
From early on in life, Martin knew he wanted to go into law. Fired by his deep interest in politics (he hails from the Washington DC area), the legal path seemed logical to him. And after you meet Martin, you’re not surprised he chose that career field either. A big man with a quick wit and an even quicker tongue, he has both the presence of mind and the intelligence to face off with a prosecutor.
He’s needed that quickness in the classroom as well as the courtroom. After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Martin felt led by God to continue his commitment to his Madison church. As part of a New Testament-style "covenant community," he decided to place fellowship relationships above law school considerations. So he applied only to the UW law school.
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