Klingele’s children inspire her career

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A desire to help children inadvertently launched Cecelia Klingele’s legal career.

After earning her bachelor’s, Klingele and her husband, Brad, became foster parents in Dane County.

“It was my first exposure to the legal system, and it seemed to me that lawyers were better positioned within the system to affect change,” she said, “particularly with policies related to child welfare.”

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2005, Klingele clerked for Judges Barbara Crabb and Susan Black, as well as Justice John Paul Stevens before returning to her alma mater. She now teaches criminal law as an assistant professor.

Among her numerous research projects, Klingele is perhaps most passionate about her research and work alongside community corrections officers.

“There aren’t a lot of legal scholars who study community corrections,” she said. “And yet, the work of probation and parole agents is so important to public safety and the successful reintegration of people who’ve committed criminal offenses.

“I want to understand it better — and I want lawyers, judges and legislators to understand it better, too, so we can support community corrections and help them to be successful in their work.”

And children still make up a big part of Klingele’s life: She’s mother to seven children and expecting her eighth child in November. Her oldest, 24, is an adopted foster child, while the youngest is 2.

What is the hardest part of your job?

Choosing how to focus my time, because there are so many wonderful opportunities to serve, with teaching and research. There are so many interesting avenues to pursue, and I have so much freedom to choose what I’d like to do that it can be almost a little paralyzing sometimes.

What famous person you would most like to have a drink with?

Pope Francis

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would be more patient. I need to stop expecting the world to run quite as quickly as I do.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I’m addicted to my iPhone. And I absolutely love gourmet cooking. I spend way too much money at the grocery store.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

‘Actually’ and ‘wow.’ I know this because my children say them all the time. My 2-year-old is currently using them every other sentence.

What do you miss most about your childhood?

I’ve sort of replicated it. I loved being part of a big family and being surrounded by siblings.