When Joseph O’Koren was attending high school at Lanesboro Public School, he had the opportunity to spend a day shadowing a profession of his choice. “Attorney came to mind,” O’Koren said. He was matched with local attorney Thomas Manion and was able to attend court with him and meet with him in his office. During O’Koren’s senior year of high school, he participated in a work experience class which gave him the opportunity to leave school for two hours each day to spend time working in Manion’s law office. Despite his history with Manion, O’Koren didn’t realize that he would someday be back in Lanesboro practicing law with his mentor.
After graduating high school, O’Koren completed his undergrad in Duluth and then applied to law school in 2015. When he started law school, he came back to Lanesboro to work with Manion as a legal intern during the weekends and summers. In July of 2019, after seven grueling, but rewarding years of school, O’Koren took the bar exam and was sworn in that October as a full-fledged attorney. That same day, he moved back to Lanesboro and began working at Manion Law Firm, which was then changed to Manion O’Koren Law Firm.
O’Koren is happy to be practicing law in his hometown of Lanesboro. “One of the big things for me in law school was coming back to Lanesboro and helping people I know,” O’Koren said. “I have great support from the community.” He’s also enjoyed working with Manion. “Tom’s been great about letting me do what I’m comfortable doing,” he explained. “I wanted a mentor. A lot of places throw you into the fire and tell you to figure it out. I think of it like an apprenticeship.” With Manion’s office just down the hall from O’Koren’s, he can always knock on the door to ask for advice as he learns the ropes and receives on-the-job training.
O’Koren had a pretty good idea of how things at the law office worked due to his internship and job shadowing there, but when the COVID-19 shutdown took place just six months after he started as an attorney, everything changed. His first big court case ended up being postponed, and a lot of business has been conducted via Zoom instead of in-person. “It’s been challenging to do things remotely,” he said. Regardless, he and Manion have made the best of the situation and work hard to ensure that their clients are well taken care of.
Practicing law is not just about the courtroom, but also about the people, something which O’Koren has found especially true in the rural community of Lanesboro. “I’ve learned lots from Tom’s leadership and role in the community,” he said. “You’ve got to put yourself out there.” He feels that growing up in Lanesboro has given him a leg up as well. O’Koren’s father, also named Joseph O’Koren, worked as the shop teacher at Lanesboro Public School for four years and has been his biggest role model. “He would walk down the halls and say hi to everyone. Not just the cool kids, but everyone, including janitors, lunch ladies, etc.,” he explained. “You treat everyone the same way, things are going to work out for you.”
O’Koren plans to stay at Manion O’Koren Law Office, LLC for the foreseeable future and looks forward to working with Manion in the years to come. “It would be satisfying to continue his legacy,” he said.
You can find the Manion O’Koren Law Firm at 204 Parkway Ave N, Lanesboro, or call (507) 467-2317.