Law career brings personal fulfillment to Lavin

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Like father like daughter?

Sort of, but not exactly.

In 1995 Molly Lavin graduated from Marquette University Law School just like her father. And she went into insurance defense work, just like her father.

In time she found her own path, which led her across the aisle to become a personal injury attorney at Habush Habush & Rottier SC.

“As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a lawyer,” Lavin said. “I don’t know if it’s my dad’s influence.”

Her father is John Feldbruegge, who graduated from Marquette 44 years ago and practices at von Briessen & Roper SC.

Having a parent who is a lawyer did help her develop the skills she uses as a litigator today.

“When you grow up with a lawyer, you always have to be on your toes,” Lavin said. “They are always one step ahead of you. You have to think logically, make rational arguments and have rational discussions.”

As an undergraduate, Lavin studied social work and psychology at the University of Dayton in Ohio. She returned home and went to law school, and then spent five years working for an insurance defense firm. Although she found the work intellectually fulfilling, it was not personally fulfilling.

Lavin realized that personal injury work fit her personality better. She likes the daily personal interaction with clients, something missing in her earlier career.

There were other differences as well.

“There are lots of little and big ways that we help our clients on a daily basis,” Lavin said.

It might be giving them piece of mind about how things are progressing, or it might be helping them get their medical bills paid.

“There are a million ways that you help people,” she said.

Lavin made the move to Habush and said she has been happy there for the past 12 years. She said her father was not as surprised by her move as one might think. He recognized personal injury was a better fit for her.

“He knows this firm is highly respected and I think if I was going to switch sides, this is the kind of place where he’d want to see me,” she said.

Lavin recently took some time to participate in this week’s Asked & Answered.

Wisconsin Law Journal: What is the best part of being a lawyer?
Molly Lavin: There’s never a dull moment. Every day is different.

WLJ: What is the best thing you can do to prepare for court?
Lavin: Know your stuff , know your arguments, know your case, know the law.

WLJ: What is one thing attorneys should know that they won’t learn in law school?
Lavin: I think one thing you don’t appreciate in law school is the difference between the battle and the war. There are some things you have to concede in order to ultimately win the war. Good lawyers know the difference between fighting over every little thing and fighting about the important stuff.

WLJ: What can you spend hours doing that’s not law-related?
Lavin: Where do I start? Spending time with my kids, my family, doing yoga and coaching soccer.

WLJ: What is your greatest extravagance?
Lavin: Probably my wardrobe.

WLJ: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Lavin: Spending enough time with everyone in my life who needs me.

WLJ: What is your favorite book?
Lavin: I don’t know that I have a favorite book. I enjoy reading murder mysteries. I like John Grisham, Nora Roberts and Michael Crichton. I find myself reading a lot of crime drama or legal drama-type books.

WLJ: Which living person do you most admire?
Lavin: My dad and my mom. They are very different, but I admire both of them.

WLJ: What do you miss most about your childhood?
Lavin: The lack of deadlines and restrictions, the free time to just be and have fun, and the lack of pressure.

WLJ: What song is on heavy rotation on your iPod?
Lavin: “Who Says” by John Mayer.

WLJ: What is your motto?
Lavin: Don’t sweat the small stuff.