Michael Thurmond, who served three terms as Georgia's labor commissioner, has joined the Atlanta law firm of Butler, Wooten and Fryhofer.

In making the announcement on Tuesday, the firm said Thurmond will focus on personal injury cases, product liability, class actions and whistleblower claims.

Thurmond ran for the U.S. Senate last year rather than seek re-election as labor commissioner. He won the Democratic nomination but lost in the general election to incumbent Republican Johnny Isakson.

Before becoming labor commissioner, Thurmond served in the Georgia Legislature, representing a district in Athens, and practiced law there.

At least 135 attorneys with criminal convictions continue to practice law in Wisconsin, including some who were able to keep licenses while serving time and others who got them back before their probation ended.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday that some lawyers practicing now in the state have felony or misdemeanor convictions for fraud, theft, battery and repeat drunken driving. One child-sex offender got probation for his crime but never lost his license, while a politician convicted in a check-kiting scheme was reprimanded but kept his license.

The newspaper reviewed the licenses of nearly 24,000 Wisconsin lawyers against state and federal court records, and found that lawyers convicted of crimes are then subjected to a slow-moving disciplinary process that operates largely behind closed doors.

Another 70 lawyers were charged with crimes but were able to get the charges reduced or convictions avoided by completing a deferred prosecution plan. All 70 got the green light to practice law again.

The review showed Wisconsin's standards to be comparatively lenient for dealing with lawyers who break the law. Many other states immediately suspend the licenses of lawyers if they are convicted of serious crimes, but Wisconsin in some cases has allowed convicted criminals to keep their law licenses even while behind bars.

The Law Firm of Nathaniel D. Johnson L.L.C. represents both private and public sector employees across the United States. The law firm’s representations range from negotiating severance and settlement agreements to litigation on behalf of employees in a variety of forums that include the following:

- Appellate actions.
- Group and class actions.
--State and federal court jurisdictions.
- Administrative actions (e.g., U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, U.S. EEOC).

Experience

Civil Rights Attorney for the Michigan House of Representative Judiciary Committee.

• Drafted statewide civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation.
• Advised State of Michigan elected officials on the political and policy implications of proposed legislation.
• Served as a liaison to special interests and community groups inviting their participation in the formation of public policy.

Bar Admissions

• Maryland
• U.S. District Court District of Maryland
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit

Education

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan J.D.
• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan LL.M. (pending)
• Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland B.S.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday that he accepted a position in an international law firm with close ties to his old administration and campaigns.

Doyle, a Democrat, said he will specialize in health care and energy policy issues for Foley & Lardner LLP, which has nearly 1,000 attorneys spread across 21 offices around the world.

"It's a great opportunity for me," Doyle said.

A former state attorney general who holds a law degree from Harvard, Doyle served two terms as Wisconsin's governor. But his approval ratings fell as the recession wore on and he chose not to seek re-election this past November. Republican Scott Walker went on to defeat Democrat Tom Barrett for the job.

Doyle has an extensive background in health care and energy issues. During his stint as governor, he expanded health care coverage to 98 percent of state residents, including all children.