The Wisconsin State Public Defenders (WSPD) announced a partnership with the University of Wisconsin Law School Friday, hoping to “revamp” UW’s Public Defender Project after the university laid off the program’s director in August.
The program, which prepared aspiring defense attorneys at UW Law since 1991, faced uncertainty after professor and project director John Gross lost his job in a wave of layoffs tied to budget cuts mandated by University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.
As the project’s director, Gross’ departure will be a huge loss to students, Tanner Sarauer, co-president of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Students, previously told The Daily Cardinal.
UW Law did not immediately respond to comment on whether Gross’ role will be restored with the program.
The partnership between WSPD and UW Law aims to expand opportunities for experiential learning and offer new leadership insight to the program’s existing foundation.
“The Law School is thrilled to deepen our collaboration with the Wisconsin State Public Defenders by expanding opportunities in our Public Defender Project,” Dean Dan Tokaji said in a press release. “This strengthened partnership will further our commitment to preparing our students to become criminal defense attorneys, while also helping meet a critical need in our state’s legal system.”
The program, which includes a skills class, seminar and summer internship opportunity, will retain its current form through the end of the 2025-26 academic year, with changes being adopted at the start of the 2026-27 academic year. The collaboration will introduce more opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience representing clients and continue its mission of placing law students in summer internships at state public defenders’ offices across Wisconsin.
WSPD attorneys Will Rakestraw and Brianna Zawada will teach the program in spring 2026 as adjunct professors.
Zawada, a 2019 UW Law graduate, said returning to teach in the program that kickstarted her early legal career feels especially meaningful. “During my internship, I was surrounded by extremely talented attorneys and support staff who were dedicated to indigent defense and their clients,” Zawada told The Daily Cardinal. “Their passion was infectious, and I’m excited to step into this role and give future students this same experience.”
Zawada said the program’s strength lies in immersing students directly in public defense work.
Her vision for the project’s future centers on expanding experiential learning.
“To me, the most important part of the Public Defender Project is having students do as much hands-on work as possible — meeting with clients, going to court, writing motions,” Zawada said. “That way, students who want to become public defenders are well-prepared, and those exploring other areas of law still gain valuable experience.”
Alaina Walsh is the associate news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has covered breaking news on city crimes and a variety of state and campus stories, including the 2024 presidential election and the UW-Madison budget.
