Krueger untangles clients’ legal concerns

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Steven Krueger likes to solve problems.

An attorney at Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry SC, Green Bay, Krueger specializes in business law and works with clients on concerns involving creditors’ rights and contract law.

“My job has a lot of variety and I like helping business owners succeed,” he said, “especially if there’s an area where they are struggling and I can help them out. It’s a great feeling when you meet with a client and they have a big problem, but you are able to resolve it in short order.”

One area that Krueger’s clients are having problems is with the Affordable Care Act.

“Employers are really struggling to figure out how to comply with it,” he said. “I help to the best of my ability and luckily we have a guy here on staff who really gets it so we can help them figure out what to do.”

The ACA is just one example of how Krueger works with his clients on taking big issues and making them more manageable.

“We just sit down and take a close look at the issue and figure out how to get past the problem in the most cost-effective way,” he said. “Some topics can get very overwhelming for business owners – they are focused on their business and it’s my job to come in and help them solve whatever their legal issues are.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What was your least-favorite class in law school?
Steven Krueger: I was by no means a top-tier law student, so there is a long list of classes that I didn’t enjoy. Comparative Law was probably my least-favorite class of all, simply because I didn’t understand how it would ever apply to me.

WLJ: What would you have done if you weren’t an attorney?
Krueger: If I hadn’t become an attorney I think I would have been a fireman. I served on a volunteer fire department for a few years before moving to Green Bay. I really loved it. The idea of serving on a career department with the opportunity to do some type of construction work on the side is actually really appealing.

WLJ: What do you see as your biggest accomplishment?
Krueger: My most significant accomplishment was putting myself through college and law school. I am the first member of my family to go to college. Throughout my undergraduate studies I typically worked 30 hours per week to be able to pay for school and my other needs. My parents had always encouraged hard work and I never knew anything else.

WLJ: If you could have drinks with anyone, who would it be?
Krueger: I would love to have a beer with Abraham Lincoln. His life fascinates me and I think it would be remarkable to hear him tell the story himself, as he was known for his storytelling talent.

WLJ: What was the first concert you attended?
Krueger: I think it was a Shania Twain concert at Summerfest in 1998

WLJ: What’s an app you can’t live without?
Krueger: I must admit that I’ve fallen victim to Facebook. I love keeping in touch with old friends and I think I’m probably just a little nosey.

WLJ: What do you miss most from your childhood?
Krueger: My brother, Eric.  I have one brother who is 366 days older than me. We were inseparable growing up even though we fought like crazy. I miss always having Eric by my side. Today, we’re only separated by a drive of a couple hours, but we both have young families and we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like. Regardless of the distance now between us, we both know that we can always rely on each other regardless of the need.

WLJ: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Krueger: I’d love to be a bit more of a ‘free spirit’ as I am typically very reserved.

WLJ: If you could have any super power, what would you choose?
Krueger: I would love the ability to freeze time for the world around me. What lawyer wouldn’t benefit from having more time in a day and from being able to freeze everyone around them so the need to ‘think fast’ was obviated?

WLJ: What’s your favorite thing to do in Wisconsin?
Krueger: I love to hunt. I own hunting land in Central Wisconsin with my brother and cousins. There is nothing more peaceful that being out bow hunting on a crisp fall evening and watching the sun set over trees.