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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

 


Erin K. Russell '01
Environmental, product liability and transportation law
Atlanta
Hometown: De Pere
UW-Green Bay Majors: Political Science, Public Administration
Law School: DePaul University '04

Erin K. Russell ’01 is an associate with the firm of Hawkins & Parnell, LLP, in Atlanta. She is also a “Super Lawyers’ Rising Star” based on nomination by her peers.
      “At the time (2006) I was involved in a class action suit relating to toxic mold and I have a feeling that one of my opponents nominated me,” Russell says.
      Russell began her career in Atlanta after law school in Chicago thanks to a connection that originated in Green Bay. “Ironically it was my part-time work with Schneider National that helped me land a job with a firm in Atlanta. They were looking to hire someone that understood trucking and transportation.”
      Today, she says, “I work a 100 percent litigation practice, so in addition to court, much of what I do is brief writing, conducting litigation, taking depositions, etc.” The work can be not only challenging, but deeply affecting.
      “Another time, I was defending an apartment complex on a toxic mold case, with a large number of women and their children living in Section 8 (federally subsidized, low income) housing,” she recalls. “You see stuff that you don’t see in day-to-day life… even as the defense attorney, you want a humane outcome, too. We ended up settling those cases and those women received a great deal of money that you hope will better their lives.”
      The greatest thing about being a lawyer, the “Rising Star” concludes, is addressing problems — “and there are always additional problems so it can be exhausting” — and resolving them.
      “I think of my profession as the application of reason and logic,” says Russell.
      “Usually people I’m involved with are very upset and completely convinced that they are right. Only if they are detached can they look at the concern with reason and logic.”
      Highlight: “When I won my first case! It was a slip-and-fall case in 2005 and I was representing a large hotel and won. When you start out, you do a lot of work for other attorneys. I finally got a case and wrote the motion and argued it by myself and won. That was one of those moments that defines your work.”
      UW-Green Bay connections: “Frances Carleton was wonderful! He was the faculty member who worked with the Law Society on campus. He taught us not be afraid to leave and follow our dream. Also Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges was fantastic and modeled great character; and when I had to take Social Science Statistics, I was like, “Oh no!” but Laurel Phoenix made it fun, and now is a personal friend… The education provided at UW-Green Bay was very solid. To become an attorney, it doesn’t matter what your major is, it’s that solid foundation in reasoning and logic that matters, and the ability to write well that gets you through law school.”


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