Kawski thrives on challenges of DOJ work

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Think your boss is old, tough or rigid? Well, Clayton Kawski works for the state Constitution.

Kawski, 31, is an associate attorney general for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, a career that for the past three years has found him defending the letter of the state’s supreme law on school mascots, Medicaid regulations, super PACs and more.

“I seek those cases out,” he said, “because I think it’s a good way to challenge myself and learning something new every single time.

“I didn’t know anything about campaign finance when I started at DOJ, and now I know quite a bit.”

The 31-year-old Stevens Point native graduated in 2007 from Northern Illinois University College of Law. He has a business background from undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and his tenure as an associate at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.

In his role at the DOJ since 2010, Kawski said he is pushed to be his best when dealing with the core of state law before “legal heroes” such as 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Justice Frank Easterbrook and Judge Diane Sykes.

“At DOJ, we represent the agencies [that] are experts and we have to, in effect, become an expert in a subject area,” he said. “Attorneys do this all the time, but because these are high-stakes cases, there is more pressure and attention.”

What is the best part of your job?

My colleagues

What is the first concert you went to?

The one I can remember that was more recent, the Tour of Brotherly Love: Oasis, Spacehog and The Black Crowes

Which living person do you most admire?

Chief Justice John Roberts

What is your greatest extravagance?

My acoustic guitar

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

In any event …

What is your most treasured possession?

Digital photos and photo albums

What do you miss most about your childhood?

Time to be creative

What is your greatest fear?

Heights