Breaking the Ice: Pursuit of fairness fueled nontraditional path

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Standing up for fairness has propelled Lilie McRoberts on her nontraditional path to the law and now as a family law attorney based in Rochester.

McRoberts’ family got by on public assistance as she grew up. She did too, after the daughter she had at 16 later needed major surgery.

Leaving college early to get a job with health insurance, McRoberts doubted she’d ever return. She finally did, though, enrolling at North  Dakota State University after signing her new son up for the school’s day care program, as an alternative to more expensive day care.

McRoberts earned a political science degree and, with prompting from her adviser, decided on law school. That aligned with her “not on my watch” philosophy toward injustice, stemming in part from experiences growing up in poverty in a small town.

“The reason why I picked political science, and then later the reason why I went to law school was because I’m not OK with life not being fair,” McRoberts said. “I’m going to do everything that I can, within the boundaries of what I’m capable of and very much picking my battles, to make life as fair as possible for everyone.”

McRoberts opened her practice in 2024, after working as a prosecutor and a government attorney, and is focusing on doing family law mediation. She also hopes to write a novel, saying her personal and legal experience “give me good insight into the human story.”

Name: Lilie McRoberts

Title: Managing attorney, McRoberts Law

Education: B.S., political science, North Dakota State University; J.D., University of North Dakota School of Law

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: Get me talking about my kids. I won’t probably shut up anytime soon.

Q: What are you reading?

A: I just finished “Project Hail Mary” and I’m starting “Artemis.”

Q: Pet peeve?

A: Prejudging people.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: Helping people get through this transition, seeing that it’s not a bad thing. A divorce doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Helping them get through it with dignity and grace.

Q: Most challenging?

A: Reading the court’s mind. I think that that will resonate with the lawyers. It’s like daddy issues with the judge. Doesn’t matter if it’s a male or a female, I’m always trying to please them, and I never can.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: I love anything to do with nature, although I’m not a hunter. I’m vegan. I grew up fishing, but I don’t do that anymore. So, being at a lake in Minnesota or out in the woods camping is fantastic. I also love gaming. “Pathfinder” is the new “Dungeons and Dragons,” and I have a biweekly game. I do board games — “Frosthaven,” “Gloomhaven.”

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A: In Park Rapids, I’d probably take them to Heartland Park or to the point to go swimming.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: Without a doubt, it’s RBG [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]. I always wear these earrings, and they’re actually her descent collar. I got to see her live, and she was radiant. She embodies everything that I aspire to do. It’s incredible that I lived at the same time that she did, and extraordinary that I got to see her live. I was devastated when she passed away.

Q: Misconception about your work?

A: I’m working on transitioning into mediation. I’m also working on providing unbundled services for clients. The misconception that I encounter is it’s going to cost you $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 to get a divorce. The vast majority of divorces are uncontested. There are resources out there and you can do a lot of it yourself, and then find an attorney to help you with the paperwork. That’s one of the other things that I’m trying to do. You don’t have to pay everything. They don’t have to be as painful.

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

A: I love the story of “Legally Blonde.” “To Kill a Mockingbird” encapsulates how law can be really transformative.