LEADER IN THE LAW – Jessica Liebau — Wessels & Liebau LLC

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Jessica Liebau tackles the complexities of elder law and special needs planning that clients are admittedly embarrassed to talk about.

“My father has dementia and we can’t afford it,” or “Our disabled daughter is getting older and we haven’t made plans,” are issues Liebau’s clients face, issues she finds solutions for.

As a Marquette law student, Liebau caught the eye of elder law attorney Carol Wessels during a guest speaking opportunity. The feeling was mutual. Liebau joined Wessels in practice as an associate in 2016. In 2019, she became a shareholder and was named a partner at Wessels & Liebau.

Liebau finds synchronicity between the organizations to which she volunteers her time and the causes most important to her. She is on the board of directors for the Mequon Nature Preserve and Balance Inc. The pair of organizations overlap, working together to provide programming and volunteer opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

After 12 years of practice, Liebau encourages young lawyers to take challenging cases or public defender appointments in stride by understanding that winning, while important, is not the only way to make a positive impact.

“Knowing that you have a tough case and are unlikely to win gives you a lot of freedom to think of new strategies and push some boundaries,” said Liebau. “And sometimes, you’ll unexpectedly win the case that literally no one else was willing to take, and that’s how you know you’re doing something important.”

As the current president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, she continues to advocate for students to consider a career in the specialty. The organization, she said, is crucial for attorneys “who want to get beyond the stage of ‘I know enough about elder law to be dangerous.’”

“Jessica is passionate about her work and brings that passion to others who then decide to engage and get involved,” said Wessels. “She is a true leader.”