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INSIDE ARCHIVE


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UW-Green Bay, CL 815
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E-mail: matzken@uwgb.edu

Rev. May 13, 2008

 

Young attorney has a big presence

Greg Babcock '03
General practice lawyer
Antigo, Wis.
UW-Green Bay Majors: Public Administration, Political Science
Law School: Marquette University '06

At 6-foot, 11-inches, Greg Babcock was an imposing figure when he was on the court as a center for the Phoenix men’s basketball team.
      At 6-foot, 11-inches, Greg Babcock is an imposing figure when he is in court as a lawyer for the team of Sommer, Olk, Schroeder & Payant LLP.
      “What it does in the courtroom is it gives you more of a presence,” Babcock said of the height advantage he has over most everyone else. “People do comment on that. People should take to that and listen to what you’re saying, which I think happens, but I can’t say for sure. You never know what a jury is thinking about what you’re saying.”
      In his basketball days, Babcock was an all-Horizon League academic honoree and was named the Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete Award Winner by a national publication. His GPA (in the 3.5 range as a double major) rivaled his shooting percentage (at .587, the second best in school history).
      Now married, he moved to the Northwoods two years ago after earning his law degree. He finds the work rewarding.
      “A lot of times, when clients come to you, they have major, serious problems in their lives,” Babcock said. “Some are very emotional and can’t handle problems on their own. I enjoy helping them through that.”
      He thinks his sports background has been a plus.
      “You have to be competitive when practicing law, like you do on the basketball court or for any other sport,” he said. “You need a competitive attitude. You’re asserting your clients’ rights and representing your clients assertively.”
      On being a lawyer: “You’re dealing with someone else’s life. A lot of times, there is a lot on the line. When you lose, you feel really bad, but you tell your client, ‘That’s what the facts were, we did our best and sometimes you can’t avoid it.’ You have to move on and do the best for them in the future.”
      Proudest moment as an attorney: Babcock won his first-ever jury trial last October. He represented a contractor in a civil case over payment for services rendered.
      Time at UW-Green Bay: “The best thing? I thought all my professors were very good. They taught well and did a lot to prepare me. (Professors) Scott Furlong and Denise Scheberle, they taught a lot of classes I took with respect to law. Their type of teaching and motivation helped me pursue a legal career.”


Click here to download a PDF file of the entire May 2008 issue of Inside magazine.