About Us
Welcome to Crooks Law, a team of dedicated lawyers serving the legal needs of Wausau and North Central Wisconsin for over 80 years.
Our goal is to provide quality and effective representation while maintaining the professionalism our clients have come to expect from our firm.
Overview
Crooks Law, is a general practice law firm established in 1931. The firm’s offices have been located at 531 Washington Street in Wausau, Wisconsin, since 1953, in a building originally constructed for use as a hotel in 1881. The current members of the firm impart many years of representation, counseling and trial experience to their clients.
We provide a wide range of legal services to individuals and business entities. Our long-standing policy has been to deliver effective, high-quality legal services in an efficient manner. We pride ourselves on using a no-nonsense approach to obtaining the best results possible for each of our clients.
Most of the matters we handle are in Marathon County and the surrounding counties of Lincoln, Langlade, Shawano, Portage, Wood, Clark and Taylor. However, our attorneys have represented clients in courts from Superior to Milwaukee, from LaCrosse to Crandon and in most counties in between. Our attorneys have also handled cases in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Wisconsin Supreme Court, Federal District Court and Federal Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.
We recognize that our attorneys have responsibilities to the bar and the community and encourage active participation in professional and civic organizations as well as charitable, political and educational organizations. All members of the firm are members of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Marathon County Bar Association. Four members of the firm have served as president of the Marathon County Bar Association. Firm members have also been active in the American Bar Association, the Wisconsin Association for Justice, and the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Over the years, we have provided legal counsel to financial institutions, municipalities, real estate, construction and engineering firms, and both small and large businesses in Central Wisconsin. But we are especially proud of our extensive trial practice in personal injury, family and criminal law and of our record of representing ordinary citizens on those occasions when they have had to face the often daunting complexities of the legal process.
Our Founder and Legacy
The founder of the firm, Clayton J. Crooks, served as a Wausau Police Judge and Marathon County District Attorney prior to establishing the firm in 1931. He practiced law until 1992.
Patrick L. Crooks practiced law in Marathon County in a career that spanned 56 years. Early in his career he served as Marathon County District Attorney for three years. He also served part time as a U.S. Magistrate for 14 years. He joined his father, Clayton J. Crooks, at Crooks Law Firm until he retired in 2014. His practice areas were personal injury litigation, condemnation law, real estate and probate law.
James E. Low was with Crooks Law Firm his entire career, from 1965 until he retired in 2020. Jim’s practice areas were incredibly diverse, with experience in personal injury, workers compensation, criminal, family, estate planning, business, commercial matters and a broad background in all forms of civil litigation.
James B. Connell was also a lawyer with Crooks Law Firm his entire career, from 1974 until he retired in 2014. Jim was a dedicated criminal defense lawyer, and handled numerous high profile criminal defense cases throughout his career.
Kevin P. Crooks followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps when he joined the firm upon graduation from law school in 1981 until he retired in 2022.
Kevin’s primary area of practice was family law, including divorce, paternity, minor guardianship, and adoption cases. He handled many complex child custody, child support, property division and maintenance cases in his career. He also has prior experience in the areas of criminal and traffic defense and general civil litigation.
Other former members of the firm include the late Judge Leo D. Crooks, who served as Marathon County Circuit Judge, and Anthony Earl, who served as a Wisconsin Legislator, Attorney General and DNR Secretary, prior to serving as Wisconsin Governor from 1983 to 1987.
Present and former members of the firm have served as board members of private corporations and as members of numerous public and private commissions and foundations over the years.
