Women in the Law 2026 – Earlean A. Laster, Laster & Associates, LLC

Earlean A. Laster is an attorney and principal at Laster & Associates, LLC in Milwaukee.

She made history as the first African American woman appointed as a City of Milwaukee Court Commissioner, presiding over traffic, municipal and in-custody matters. Laster has been recognized as one of the Best Women-Led Law Firms in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Law Journal and honored as a “Woman on the Move” by the Ladies of Distinction. In 2025, Laster was named Lawyer of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers.

Laster has returned to her alma mater, University of Wisconsin Law School, to teach in the Lawyering Skills Course, offering students practical insight on managing a small law firm.

Laster has mentored newly licensed lawyers and high school interns, providing hands-on courtroom experience to cultivate diversity in the legal field. She sponsored “The Gathering,” an annual event supporting African American vendors, for four years, and the “DIVAS Brunch” for three years, an event drawing more than 500 women annually to foster mentorship and professional networking. Her community work has focused particularly on the 53206 zip code in Milwaukee, where she grew up.