Unsung Heroes – Legal Secretary

Listen to this article

Legal Secretary

Becky McClure
Legal Secretary, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. “Becky is incredibly warm and committed to her job. She has excellent skills as an assistant and keeps the practices of her attorneys humming along beautifully. She is a real asset to the firm,” writes Laura F. Straus, Associate, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
“Becky provides consistent excellent service in scheduling meetings. Her response time is great — even when very busy. She is a real find,” writes Rose Spano Iannelli, Spano Pratt.

Becky McClure’s work has related to the legal field in one capacity or another throughout her career. Prior to coming to Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. as a legal secretary, she worked in a company’s legal department. For four years before that, she worked at Children’s Court where she was the secretary in the Legal Aid Society’s guardian ad litem office.

McClure’s interest in the legal realm began when she initially took a job as a legal receptionist at a law firm.

“One day I got some overflow work from a legal secretary who needed some help and I realized I liked it,” she said.

She spent a year studying to be a paralegal, but she explained, “I just liked being a secretary. I liked kind of being behind the scenes — being the right hand, but being unnoticeable.”

Now she works for Sherilyn R. Whitmoyer and Martin J. McLaughlin in the firm’s corporate practice area. Despite her desire to remain behind the scenes, she has been noticed by clients and business acquaintances, who praised her pleasant personality, dedication to work and competence.

Diane Brown
Legal Secretary, Melli, Walker, Pease & Ruhly, S.C.

“In addition to being a detail-oriented, efficient and downright pleasant legal secretary, Diane handles the training for all our new legal secretaries.… Diane does all the typing for two very busy partners in our firm.… In addition to all this, Diane takes care of ordering all our supplies.… I’d love for her to know that even though her praises are sometimes ‘unsung,’ we truly appreciate all she is and all she does,” writes Tracey Reams, Office Administrator, Melli, Walker, Pease & Ruhly, S.C.

Cathy M. Daeda
Legal Secretary/Work Coordinator, Quarles & Brady LLP

“Cathy has consistently received the highest ratings on her annual performance reviews from the attorneys that she has supported over the years.… Cathy’s high level of emotional maturity enables her to handle all of her responsibilities calmly. She is unfailingly pleasant and cheerful.… Her co-workers know that she is always available to listen to their concerns and frequently turn to her for advice on work-related matters,” writes Ann Murphy, Milwaukee Office Managing Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP.

Karen Decker
Legal Assistant/Office Manager, Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.

“Karen was instrumental in opening the Waukesha office in 1992.… She is a consummate professional. Her work product and work ethic is unparalleled.… I am responsible for handling the Habush Habush & Rottier Charitable Funds. We receive literally hundreds of requests per year. Karen assists in responding to each and every request and in following through on those requests which we fund,” writes Michael J Jassak, Managing Attorney of Waukesha Office, Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.

Susan M.W. Duval
Legal Secretary, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C.

“Over the past six years, Susan has been an extremely proficient legal secretary in our estate planning practice group and she is currently training to fulfill a role as an estate planning paralegal. Susan has very good technical skills with great attention to detail, but her greatest asset by far is her warm, professional demeanor,” write Patricia A. Van Antwerpen, Director of Administration, and Carl D. Holborn, Attorney, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C.

Shelly Eady
Legal Secretary, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

“I believe Shelly should receive special recognition for her great efforts in keeping excellent attendance for the past six years (2001-06), not to mention her excellent work ethic and attitude. She is someone who gets the job done and someone you can depend on,” writes Kathleen D. Mintner, Corporate Paralegal, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

Tina Michels Nelson
Legal Secretary/Floater, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

“Over the years, I have found Tina to be a selfless, honest, hard-working individual. She has demonstrated a high degree of loyalty to the firm and more importantly, to her co-workers. If assistance is required, Tina is quick to volunteer (even if it requires working weekends, late into the night, or travel to another office).… Tina is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and she will do it with a smile,” writes Pamela McCreary, Project Center Manager, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

Joann Nicholls
Legal Assistant, Lathrop & Clark LLP

“Joann has worked as a legal secretary with this firm and its predecessor for more than 40 years. During that time, she has accumulated vast knowledge about our attorneys, our support staff, our policies and procedures, our forms, our files, and our entire firm culture. She is tireless as she applies and shares this knowledge without reservation with all members of the firm day after day and year after year,” writes Jerry E. McAdow, Managing Partner, Lathrop & Clark LLP.

Pamela A. Panich
Legal Secretary, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C.

“She is unbelievably fast as a secretary, in terms of her typing skills. But much more than that, she is very pleasant and personable, takes extreme pride in the quality of her work, has a tremendous working knowledge of our computer software programs, and is always willing to do whatever is needed.… Without a doubt, Ms. Panich is the best secretary I have had in my 24 years as an attorney,” writes Dean P. Laing, Attorney, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C.

Denise Richardson
Office Administrator, Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.

“Denise is that rarest of combinations: talented, versatile, industrious, and exacting only begin to describe her work and her approach to it. She serves as an administrator, a secretary, a paralegal, and a coordinator of legal services, and will do anything from answering the phone to researching legal issues for our clients. Yet remarkably, the quality of her work is uncompromised by her versatility,” writes Kirk D. Strang, Managing Shareholder Madison Office, Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.

Christine M. Tofte
Legal Secretary, Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C.

“Chris has started a foundation to raise money for school children in Cambodia. She has provided these school children with running water, bathrooms, school supplies and hot meals. All things that they did not have before Chris started the foundation. The foundation’s name is Cambodia Countryside Foundation Inc.… Chris’ large heart and dedication to the school children in Cambodia definitely makes her an unsung hero,” writes Stephanie Erickson, Attorney, Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C.

Kerri Voelz
Legal Secretary, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

“I cannot think of a legal secretary more deserving of this award than Kerri. She consistently goes ‘above and beyond’ her day-to-day job requirements to serve our firm’s clients. For example, recently she reviewed a document produced by the client for completeness without being asked to do so and discovered some omissions that may have created significant exposure for the client. She frequently anticipates client needs before others do and responds immediately,” writes Heather Fields, Attorney, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

Kelly M. Wachniak
Legal Secretary, Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.

“Kelly is the point person for our firm’s estate planning forms database and drafting system. She handles all administrative questions from both attorneys and staff, assists me in keeping our forms current and trains our staff on using the system. Kelly demonstrates a very high level of skill and professionalism in dealing with my clients and referral sources, which instills confidence in our firm,” writes Catherine M. Priebe Hertzberg, Attorney, Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.

Paulette Wymbs
Legal Assistant, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Inc.

“Paulette Wymbs is a lovely, gracious, and warm-hearted legal assistant. Her dedication to the work product, consideration of colleagues and clients, and commitment to our mission of equal justice for the poor is unwavering. Paulette performs her tasks with such kindness and quiet modesty, however, that she could easily be overlooked in a world that rewards self-promotion. Topping her many fine qualities is an easy sense of humor that shows her priorities are in the right place,” writes Thomas G. Cannon, Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Inc.

Darlene Zepczyk
Legal Secretary, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

“When electronic case filings were first instituted in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Darlene attended the beginning training courses offered by the court and created filing instructions for Godfrey & Kahn. These instructions were included in the court manual. In addition to her normal workload, Darlene has also created Godfrey & Kahn reference manuals for ECF filing, Litigation Resource Directory, and Litigation Training Manual.”