Siekert seeks to leave things better than she found them

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For Patty Siekert, there’s never been any doubt that her job makes a difference.

Siekert, who has worked for the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office for nearly two decades, knows that every task her office performs is in the service of clients.

“Everything we do here helps somebody,” Siekert said. “Everything we do helps one of our clients with something that’s urgent. Whatever I’m doing is always in support of them.”

Siekert first applied to a job at the public defender’s office after finding a description of the position in her mailbox.

Once in the office, she found a team of attorneys and staff dedicated to representing clients as best they can. Siekert sums up her main goal in simple terms. She follows the campsite rule: Leave the place better than you found it.

That’s a rule that she’s carried to her current role as regional office administrator for the office, overseeing its work in Dane, Juneau, Columbia and Juneau counties. Each day is different and could have her doing everything from bringing clients together with attorneys to dealing with technological difficulties.

In her years of work, she has seen many dedicated attorneys come and go and helped provide service to the clients they work for. She has found the public defender’s office has a knack for attracting people who are dedicated to helping others — and who, in many cases, may be sacrificing a better-paying job to do so.

“I think the primary thing is working with our clients,” Siekert said. “The people we work with are so grateful for the assistance that we provide. It’s also been rewarding to support the attorneys here. I realize they have made some sacrifices to pursue this particular area of law. They make a difference in people’s lives.”