Patrick K. McDonald was born in Dodgeville, WI, and grew up on the farm that his family owned and operated for more than 100 years in Lafayette County.  He graduated from Holy Name Seminary High School in Madison, WI.  Four years later he graduated with honors from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.  He attended graduate school at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. where he earned his S.T.B. and J.C.B. degrees.  In 1976, he graduated from St. Louis University School of Law and has been practicing personal injury law in Janesville since that time.  He married in 1978 and has five children.

In 1984, Pat started his own law firm.  In the past, he represented insurance companies as well as injured individuals, but since 1992, he has concentrated his practice on representing injured people.  During his career, Pat has successfully handled numerous appeals with the Court of Appeals and the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  Pat has been chosen by other attorneys in a number of cases to serve as an arbitrator.   He is also licensed to appear in Federal District Court and before the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  He is a Nationally Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney.

• State of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

•  Wisconsin Bar Association
•  Rock County Bar Association
•  American Bar Association
•  National Lawyers Association
•  Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers
•  America Association of Trial Lawyers
•  National Board of Trial Advocacy

• Pat has been chosen to speak at seminars for continuing education programs for attorneys.  These presentations have included lecturing at the annual convention of the Wisconsin Bar Association and at the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Attorneys.  He has also given presentations to non-attorney groups including UW Extension, Milton College, US Small Business Administration, American Association of Medical Assistants, Rock County Dental Hygienists Association, Rock County Adoptive Parents Organization, and numerous other local community groups and schools.

• Blackhawk Technical College Legal Secretary’s Advisory Committee (1979-2001)
• Lawyer Hotline Volunteer
• Rock County Bar Association Probate Advisory Committee
• Volunteer Teacher at Blackhawk Technical College
• Wisconsin Bar Association Standing Committee on Professional Ethics (two terms)
• Wisconsin Bar Foundation – Mock Trial Tournament Judge
• Wisconsin Bar Association Special Committee on Membership
• Office of Lawyer Regulation – District 12 Investigative Committee (member and chairperson)

• Alcohab, Inc. (Board of Directors)
• Serra Club (Member and Officer)
• Big Brothers of Rock County
• Citizens for Decency through Law
• Chairman of Law Day Committee (Rock County Bar Association)
• Religious Education Teacher
• St. John Vianney Parish (involvement in numerous committees and groups)
• Friends of Hedberg Public Library (lifetime member)
• United Way of North Rock County (Division Chairman for Attorneys)
• Pregnancy Helpline, Inc. (Member and Chairman of Board of Directors)
• Blackhawk Technical Institute Program Review Team
• American Heart Association Pacesetters (Chairman)
• Rock County Child Advocacy Council (Member and Chairman of Board of Directors)
• Catholic Social Services Advisory Board
• Diocese of Madison (member of numerous committees and groups)
• ECHO Long Range Planning Committee
• Knights of Columbus (member and officer)
• Boy Scouts of America (youth softball coach, member/leader for more than twenty five years)