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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Municipal Law.
When?
Years in Practice Area:
Since 1980
Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1980
Where?
Employer:
Arenz, Molter, Macy & Riffle, S.C.
Size/Sector:
9 Attorneys (6 Full-time equivalents)
City/State:
Waukesha, WI
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Law School:
Marquette University
Undergraduate School/Degree:
Carroll College
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Trying to craft solutions for clients problems which are consistent
with the current law, good public policy and politically acceptable
to the client while staying away from making the policy decisions.
You will meet and work for a great group of people who are for
the most part trying their best to improve their communities.
You must be willing to work nights. You almost always get paid
for the work you do.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
You must be a good listener and very politically astute.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice
Area:
Attend some meetings of your local governing body. Make sure you
have the patience needed to sit through the political rhetoric
while staying attentive to the possible legal problems of the
situation.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
I was lucky- the firm where I was hired represented a small number
of municipalities before I was hired and I just fell into it.
Influences and Mentors:
My father, Leland F Macy, who was on the local school Board for
10 years while I was growing up, Dale Arenz, my mentor and senior
partner who taught me the ropes, and my current partners, Don
Molter and Stan Riffle, who remind me daily what my roll as a
municipal lawyer is.
Job Search Techniques Used in
Finding Your Position(s):
Call around and find out who local counsel are for the surrounding municipalities then call them and see if they are hiring.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
Waukesha County Bar Association: Member 1980 to present; President:
1987-88; Entertainment Chair: 1981-1994; Membership Chair: 1988
to 1998.
American Bar Association: Member 1980 to present; House of Delegates:
1996 to 2002; Section of Urban, State and Local Government Law;
Section of General Practice Solo and Small Firm Lawyers: Secretary
2003-2004; Secretary- Elect 2002-2003, Board Member 1999 to present,
Director 2002 to 2003; GPSolo Editorial Board: 1993 to present;
Programs Committee: 2000 to 2003, Chair: 2000 to 2003; Long-range
Planning Committee: 1999 to present; Long-range Planning Task
Force: 2000 to 2002, Chair: 2000 to 2002; Chair-Elect Planning
Committee: 1999 to 2002; Chair of Administrative and Government
Law Committee: 1989-1991; Chair of Urban, State and Local Government
Law Committee: 1991-1994; Section of Law Office Management; Government
& Public Sector Lawyers Division; Gavel Committee: 1989 to
1998, 1999 to 2001, 2002 to 2004.
State Bar of Wisconsin: Member 1980 to present; Board of Governors:
1992-1996 and 2003 to present, Chair: 1995-1996, Executive Committee:
1994-1996; Section of Administrative and Local Government Law,
Board Member: 1994 to 2000, Chair: 1997 to 1998, Secretary: 1996
to 1997; Section of Office Management; Government Lawyer Division;
Videotape Committee, Member: 1989 to 2000, Chair: 1996 to 1998;
Staff-Client Education Committee: 2000 to present; Programs Committee:
1994 to 1998, Chair: 1996 to 1998; Personnel Study Committee:
1994 to 1998; Government Lawyers Task Force, Chair: 1994 to 1998;
Convention and Entertainment Committee: 1996 to present; CLE Committee:
1995-1996, 2000 to 2001, Chair: 2000 to 2001; Commission on Judiciary
as a Coequal Branch of Government: 1995 to 1998; Public Affairs
Advisory Committee: 1996 to 1998; Local Bar Relations Committee:
1997 to 1998, Chair: 1997 to 1998; Finance Committee: 1996 to
2001, Chair: 1997 to 2000; Strategic Planning Committee: 1999
to 2001; American Bar Association Delegate: 1996 to 2002; Gender
Equity Committee: 2002 to present; High School Mock Trial Tournament
Judge; Gavel Awards Judge.
THE FELLOWS of the Wisconsin Law Foundation: Nomination accepted
2001.
Recent Professional Presentations:
WISCONSIN TOWNS ASSOCIATION, Assessor's Workshop, LaCrosse: October
15, 2002, Board of Review Training.
WAUKESHA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, Waukesha, WI: January 23,
2003, Open Meeting and Open Records Law Seminar.
BOARD OF REVIEW TRAINING SESSION, Metropolitan Clerk's Association,
Oconomowoc: April 11, 2003
CLERK-TREASURERS INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EXTENSION,
Green Bay: July 21, 2003, Alcohol Beverage Licensing.
THE ROLE OF THE PLAN , COMMISSION SEMINAR, Town of Vernon, Waukesha,
WI: September 29, 2003.
BOARD OF REVIEW TRAINING SESSION, City of Pewaukee, Pewaukee,
WI : September 30, 2003.
WAUKESHA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, Waukesha, WI: October 7, 2003,
Open Meeting Law Seminar.
WAUKESHA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, Waukesha, WI: January 29,
2004, Open Meeting Law Seminar.
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