In the world of legal professionals, it’s not every day that you come across someone as dedicated, experienced, and personable as Attorney Dera L. Johnsen-Tracy. As a shareholder and co-founder of Horn & Johnsen SC, Dera brings a wealth of knowledge and a personal touch to her practice, specializing in estate planning, probate, and adult guardianship.
A proud 2008 graduate of Marquette University Law School, Dera’s journey into the legal realm began long before she earned her law degree. With 14 years of invaluable experience as a paralegal in both Texas and Wisconsin, Dera developed a solid client-centered foundation that continues to define her legal practice. Her commitment to meeting the needs of her clients in a personal and efficient manner sets her apart in the legal landscape.
Licensed to practice in Wisconsin, Dera is an active member of WealthCounsel, a national consortium of estate planning professionals. Her commitment to community service is evident through her participation in programs like the Wisconsin Wills for Heroes and the Basic Estate Planning Clinic for Seniors and Veterans. Dera’s dedication was acknowledged with the 2015 Individual Attorney Pro Bono Award by the Dane County Bar Association and the 2016 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award by the State Bar of Wisconsin.
Dera’s professional achievements extend to being selected by Super Lawyers to the Wisconsin Rising Stars list in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, an exclusive recognition for no more than 2.5% of attorneys in Wisconsin. Additionally, she became a member of the Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation in 2016, a prestigious honor reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state.
What truly sets Dera apart is her passion for sharing her knowledge. Invited as a special guest on various radio shows, including Ginger Martin of Magic 98 and Hawke’s Radiothon for the Veterans of WJJO, she has also been a featured presenter at conferences both in Wisconsin and nationally. Dera’s diverse speaking engagements range from the Midwest Horse Fair and WealthCounsel and ElderCounsel’s 2018 Symposium in San Diego to conferences for the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) in Las Vegas and Orlando.
Her commitment to education extends beyond conferences, as she has been actively involved in teaching estate planning classes through the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC). Dera’s expertise is not limited to legal circles; she has made presentations tailored to realtors, small business owners, farmers, pet owners, young families, LGBTQ+ families, and families with children who have special needs.
In addition to her public speaking engagements, Dera is a frequent contributor to Your Family Magazine and the national AAII Journal. Her dedication to education also shines through in her role as an instructor for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars for attorneys through PINNACLE and the National Business Institute (NBI).
Dera L. Johnsen-Tracy’s journey in the legal field is marked not only by her professional success but also by her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those she serves. If you’re in need of a compassionate guide in estate planning, look no further than Dera – a legal professional with a heart for her clients and a wealth of expertise to share.
