Attorney M. Joanne Wolf (Respondent) was suspended from the practice of law for non-payment of bar dues, effective November 2, 1992, and has remained under suspension since that date. On October 2, 1992, Respondent signed a receipt for a certified letter from the State Bar of Wisconsin warning her that she would be suspended as of November 2 if she did not pay her dues. Thereafter, Respondent paid no dues. Respondent did not claim a subsequent certified letter from the State Bar informing her that she had been suspended.

Respondent continued to practice law during her suspension. For example, on May 28, 1997, she appeared in Crawford County circuit court on behalf of a juvenile. In addition, State Public Defender records show that Respondent performed services on more than 30 public defender cases after November 2, 1992.

In May, 1998, the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility (Board) was notified by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that there had been an allegation that Respondent had appeared in the 1997 juvenile matter while suspended. Respondent thereafter failed to respond to two letters from Board staff requesting that Respondent submit a written response to that allegation.

The Board concluded that in providing legal services to clients while she was under suspension for non-payment of dues, Respondent violated SCR 20:5.5(a), which proscribes engaging in the practice of law in a jurisdiction where doing so violates the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction. The Board further concluded that in failing to respond to two requests from Board staff that she submit a written response to the grievance filed against her, Respondent failed to cooperate with a Board investigation, contrary to SCR 21.03(4) and SCR 22.07(1).

In concluding that Respondent's misconduct warrants a public reprimand, the Board noted that because Respondent has been under a dues suspension for more than three years, should she wish to return to the practice of law, she will be obliged to file a petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court seeking reinstatement of her law license. State Bar By-Laws, Article I, Sec. 3. At that time, Respondent will be required to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that she is fit to resume the practice law in this state. SCR 22.28(6).

In accordance with SCR 21.09(2), the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility does hereby publicly reprimand Attorney M. Joanne Wolf, of Prairie du Chien.