Potter finds inspiration in family farm

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Attorney Jared Potter’s experience on his family’s cranberry farm taught him that it takes more than a strong back and green thumb to keep such an operation going through five generations.

“We all worked in the marsh and witnessed firsthand the kind of tax planning, family planning and business succession that you also need to see businesses continue to grow,” said Potter, a senior associate at Stafford Rosenbaum LLP. “That I can do that for other people is important to me.

“It’s why I chose the law.”

Potter, a 2007 graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law, has a practice focused on probate law, estate planning, family law and business law. It is a broad field that, for instance, allowed him to use a writ of mandamus to help clients provide proper gravestones for Civil War veterans.

He also spends time every year at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance centers.

But the day-to-day family law work

directed toward “getting people through

some of the worst times in their lives” is

the most rewarding aspect of his practice, Potter said.

“The legal recognition is great,” he said, “but getting clients moving in the right direction and having them come back to me and say ‘thanks’ is better.”

What is the best part of your job?

Working at Stafford. The other attorneys and staff are all excellent co-workers to have. Everyone is willing to help, happy to help and interested in giving the best experience for the client possible.

The firm has been unbelievable in supporting what I want to do with my practice, and it is crucial to have that support when working in the emotionally difficult and taxing practice area like family law and probate.

If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what would you have done?

I would probably be a cranberry farmer.

What is the hardest part of your job?

The most difficult part of my practice is separating the emotional side of the difficult positions that my clients are in from the legal perspective and application.

What is your favorite thing to do in Wisconsin?

Going to Summerfest

Which living person do you most admire?

My wife. She started her own wedding consultant business, she cares for our 3-month-old daughter and, up to recently, was working full time. I thought one full-time job was tough enough. She had three and is amazing at it.