Cain strikes a balance

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Janet Cain considers herself a worker bee — saying she is “just one of the many making their way through the legal profession every day.”

Although she goes about her daily duties quietly, her influence is significant.

Cain is a trial lawyer who specializes in civil litigation and insurance disputes, overseeing most cases from start to finish. With 29 years at her firm – Peterson, Johnson & Murray – she serves as a mentor to the younger staff.

More broadly, she serves as an example to women in the law.

With three children to raise, Cain said her greatest accomplishment has been caring for her family while pursuing her career.

“It’s a touchy subject, and it’s a really different decision for all women, but I was able to find a balance… that I think allowed me to do justice to both my family and my career,” Cain said. “If you’re able to find what makes you happy, and makes your family happy, and makes your employer happy, then I think you have found something great.”

Jim Murray is also a shareholder at Peterson, Johnson & Murray and has known Cain for 30 years. In addition to her impeccable ethics and the confidence she gives her clients, Murray acknowledges her achievements as a female trial lawyer.

“For a long time, there weren’t women in the law at all and there was still a hurdle of being a trial lawyer,” Murray said. “She’s part of that first wave that broke that glass ceiling,” adding that Cain has taken more than 75 jury trials to verdict.

Because Cain often represents the defense, she enjoys providing reassurance to her clients. She has received an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which indicates that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.

She is also regarded for her civic engagement. For the past 15 years, Cain has facilitated the collection of gifts, clothing and meals at the firm for the Sojourner Family Peace Center’s Adopt-a-Family program.

Cain said she may have learned this kindness from her father, who passed away in December.

“I think that what he taught me is that just being a good person and the little things you do every day do matter to people,” she said. “I guess (that’s) my philosophy of how I want my work life, and my home life and my relationship with the world to be.”