Steiner enjoys helping clients through tough times

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It was Roberta Steiner’s first day on the job as a producer at a Minneapolis TV station when she got the push to go into law school.

She was sitting next to the station’s attorney going over an investigative story line-by-line when he turned to her to said, “You’re really interested in this stuff. You should go to law school.”

The comment resonated with Steiner, who eventually left Minneapolis and returned to Milwaukee where she attended Marquette Law School while working at WTMJ Channel 4, a station where she worked as a reporter and producer before making the move to Minneapolis.

“I’ve never regretted the decision,” said Steiner, an attorney with Halling & Cayo SC in Milwaukee. “As an attorney, the days are never the same. It’s always a challenge, but you also have a lot of opportunity to help people at a stressful time in their lives.”

Steiner practices family law, focusing on divorces, custody and placement disputes. She realizes it’s not an easy practice and that her clients are going through extremely stressful situations.

“I enjoy helping them at what is such a difficult time and help guide them through the different choices they have ahead of them,” Steiner said.

Steiner worked for Halling & Cayo for 15 years before branching off and having her own firm for 10 years. She rejoined Halling & Cayo earlier this year.

“We had a very collaborative relationship and my office was in the same building while I had my own firm,” she said. “It felt right coming back.”

An expert litigator, Steiner is sometimes called into cases by other attorneys if a dispute looks to be heading to trial.

“I enjoy making the case on my client’s behalf and help getting their needs met,” she said.

But not every case ends up in a courtroom. Steiner is also involved with collaborative law, where she works with other team members to settle a case.

“We negotiate and come up with a solution without having to go to trial,” she said. “The goal is to come up with a solution that’s in everyone’s best interest.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Roberta Steiner: My work allows me to help clients through some of the most stressful times in their lives. I see people in crisis, both personal and financial, when their lives are often fraught with the chaos of dealing with all aspects of divorce. I meet wonderful people and often have the opportunity to remain connected with them long after their case is done to see them happy and settled again.

WLJ: Who is your hero in the legal field?
Steiner: My heroes in the legal field are several of my law partners who have mentored me over the years and who have guided me and trained me in my practice area. They have also been a great source of knowledge and support in tough trials. It’s wonderful to walk down the hall to talk over issues with very smart people, often to get a new perspective on an issue.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Steiner: I’m an animal lover. My passion is horses and I have been horseback riding for most of my life. I try to ride several times per week. My riding involves jumping, which requires concentration and takes my mind off work temporarily. I also walk my precious dog daily.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Steiner: Many people believe that family law is depressing, but it’s very fulfilling and I meet wonderful people who truly appreciate being guided through a terrible time in their lives. I have also had the opportunity to develop a practice doing Collaborative Divorce, which facilitates resolving cases through a team approach outside of litigation. I also have trained to be a mediator, which is also a wonderful process which allows for resolving cases outside of the courtroom.

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Steiner: My favorite memory from law school is my wonderful study group. We were all older students training for second careers. We were serious about studying, but also had a lot of support and fun times.

WLJ: Is there a certain case that stands out to you?
Steiner: I have had several cases that involved trials that lasted for months, with a few days of trial each month. Those cases involved complex issues that required much trial time. Those cases require the most preparation and organization, but also are the most satisfying once they are completed.