Breaking the Ice: Helping private, pro bono clients on ‘worst day’

Family law attorney MaryCathleen G. Fenske typically sees clients on “what’s usually their worst day.”

So, in addition to her private practice at Halvorson Legal in Buffalo, she volunteers her services in divorce and custody cases and as a mediator, parenting consultant and custody evaluator.

“The legal process is complicated and the court proceedings are complicated,” Fenske said of her pro bono service. “If I can make at least one piece of it easier for them, I’ve done a small part.”

Fenske learned the importance of community service and helping neighbors from her parents and grandparents. After completing the required 50 hours of public service in law school, she continued volunteering in private practice.

Fenske, who had danced since grade school, continued dancing during a year at Old Dominion University and after transferring to the University of Minnesota. There, she combined concentrations in dance, art and journalism into a unique independent studies program.

Name: MaryCathleen G. Fenske

Title: Associate attorney, Halvorson Legal

Education: B.I.S. in journalism, art and dance, University of Minnesota; J.D., University of St. Thomas School of Law

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: Just come up and say hi. I enjoy hearing about what people are doing or what their kids are up to.

Q: Why law school?

A: I knew I wanted to be an attorney, really young, and I knew that that was the best option for what I enjoyed doing. I wanted to help kids. I wanted to solve problems, and law school allowed me to dive into that and do some different things.

Q: What are you reading?

A: A lot of kids’ books. We have three kids who are 13 and under, so I try to keep up with what either they’re reading in school or they’re interested in.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: Helping people through the very difficult process of family law, especially when I can help kids.

Q: Most challenging?

A: Not being able to help. There’s not always a good answer or an available solution through the court system for what the family is facing, and it’s difficult to explain that and then try to find a way forward for that family.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: We have three kids. If I’m not at work, I’m usually coaching or leading some youth activity. I’m the girls’ director for the St. Michael Albertville youth lacrosse. I’m the head coach for Lego robotics for the St. Michael-Albertville School District. My husband and I team up on that, and we have first-graders through seventh-graders. I also lead Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and help with a boys’ troop and a girls’ troop with Scouting America.

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A: I moved around a lot, but my family base is in Derry, New Hampshire. I share my hometown with Alan Shepard and Robert Frost, so it’s fun to see the different places where they were. See what Robert Frost’s poetry was about. Alan Shepard and I graduated from Pinkerton Academy. We have the Shepard Auditorium, and we’re the Astros. Our symbol is a spaceman, which came out after he went to space. You have to stop at Clam Haven. That’s one of my favorite places. Ice cream, french fries and onion rings at Clam Haven.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: Ruth Bader Ginsburg. To go to law school at the time that she did, the way that you hear her husband and her kids talk about living in a dual-lawyer household and sharing those things, she was amazing.

Q: Misconception about your work?

A: People know at least one person who’s gotten divorced. There’s always the misconception or thought about what’s fair, depending on which side of the divorce you spoke to. But my practice is so kind of public knowledge that there’s not a lot of mystery what happens in a divorce.

Q: Favorite book, movie or TV show about lawyers?

A: “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I have loved it since it was assigned in English class.