UNSUNG HERO – Mayra Briseño — Arellano & Phebus

Listen to this article

Mayra Briseño has always had an interest in helping others. It’s part of what motivated her to pursue a career in the legal field, she said.

Briseño is a paralegal with Arellano & Phebus in Middleton. Briseño joined the law firm in August 2018 shortly after receiving her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Briseño started as a bilingual receptionist and legal assistant, assisting in areas such as litigation, personal injury, workers’ compensation, immigration and the criminal department. After around two years on the job, she began managing the firm’s immigration and criminal departments.

Some of her duties in the immigration department include performing research, filing immigration petitions with the immigration department, as well as drafting affidavits, applications and motions for the Federal Immigration Court. She also does research for the criminal department, in addition to drafting motions and jury trial preparation.

“We deal with serious and sensitive issues in people’s lives, such as deportation and criminal cases, so I strive to be a proactive and a critical thinker in my work because clients are putting their lives and trust in our hands,” Briseño said.

Olivia Ruckstuhl, bilingual senior litigation paralegal and office manager at Arellano and Phebus, said that Briseño has been instrumental in the growth and continued development of the firm’s immigration practice.

“She is highly organized, diligent, has established excellent rapport and trust with the firm, its clients and the legal profession,” Ruckstuhl said. “Mrs. Briseño’s performance has not only been noticed by the law firm, but by lawyers, judges, clerks with whom she deals on a daily basis.”

Briseño credits the positive work environment and support from her colleagues for helping her advance in her career.

“Because of all of this, I am dedicated and passionate about my job, and I make sure that my work and service to clients portrays that.”