WATERTOWN — The State Bar of Wisconsin has given the Ryan Klesh Outstanding Public Interest Legal Worker Award to Liam Coughlan of Watertown. Coughlan was a paralegal with Legal Action of Wisconsin who passed away in January at 23.
“The award recognizes an individual who captures the essence of the late Ryan Klesh,” says a release from the Bar Association. “Selflessness, work ethic, kindness, intellect, authenticity and humor in working to seek justice for low-income neighbors, family or friends.”
Coughlan graduated from Madison College with a paralegal certification. While he was studying in the program, he began his internship with Legal Action of Wisconsin, and upon completion, he began full-time paralegal work with the firm’s harm-reduction project, working primarily in Milwaukee County.
“He interned with us and was very good with our clients,” said Megan Sprecher, an attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin who oversaw Coughlan when he first started his internship there. “He was always really respectful of our clients — who are quite often treated pretty poorly. He went out of his way to meet with people all over the pace — libraries, fast-food restaurants, anywhere they needed.
“He ended up starting with us as a full-time paralegal with our harm reduction project. It was a new project at the time. Liam and an attorney out of our Milwaukee office [CharlieBowen] created it from scratch and were working with people who are in recovery to reduce their legal issues, so the legal process is not standing in the way of their recovery.”
With a mission to help those in most need, there’s no question that Coughlan internalized and exemplified the traits valued by the Ryan Klesh Award.
For Madison College paralegal program head Jody Cooper, that comes as no surprise. However, the confidence required to meet people where they are is something he developed as he pursued his education.
“He was the ultimate Madison College legal studies example of a success,” Cooper said. “I saw him throughout his moving through the program. He came in kind of a quiet student, but by the time he was graduating and getting into this position at Legal action, he was the consummate student.
I was always happy to work with him. To see him progress like that: unsure at the beginning, but developing into a leader who could fulfill that passion of really helping someone, especially related to the legal system.”
Coughlan’s posthumous honor came after nomination from several, and letters of support from even more who were touched by him in his legal journey.
“They solicit nominations,” Sprecher explained. “I submitted one, Charlie who is the attorney for the harm reduction project submitted one, and I believe someone from one of the methadone clinics submitted a support letter. So they got several nomination letters.”
Coughlan’s legacy will live on.
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