Earlean Laster, attorney at Laster & Associates, founded the firm over 25 years ago. Throughout her career, she has been committed to providing vigorous legal representation in family law and criminal defense matters.
During her time at the University of Wisconsin, Madison Law School, Ms. Laster had the opportunity to intern at the City Attorney’s Office in Milwaukee. In this role, she was responsible for drafting legal documents such as pleadings, affidavits, and briefs for the Circuit Court and Court of Appeals.
In August 1997, Ms. Laster received her license to practice law in the state of Wisconsin. It didn’t take long for her to recognize her talent and passion for advocating on behalf of clients in both criminal and family courts. In September 2000, after gaining valuable experience at two local law firms in Milwaukee, she established Laster & Associates.
Over the past decade, Laster & Associates has solidified its reputation as one of the leading family law firms, thanks to a dedicated team of attorneys. Earlean Laster’s commitment to justice and her clients’ well-being has been a driving force in the success of her firm.
A Leader of Excellence
Within the workplace, Earlean is recognized as a firm but compassionate leader. She sets extremely high expectations, and her team acknowledges that this drive for excellence motivates them to continuously improve and excel.
Outside the workplace, Earlean takes on the roles of a wife and mother, cherishing quality time spent with her family. Her interests include a love for travel, binge-watching the latest courtroom dramas, and savoring the finest local cuisine. These pursuits allow her to find balance and enjoyment beyond her professional life.
Overcoming Adversity
Earlean’s remarkable journey is rooted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, specifically in the 53206 zip code—an area often described as one of the most challenging in the United States. It’s noteworthy that a significant portion of African-American males incarcerated in Wisconsin originate from this area code.
Earlean has a unique perspective in her legal career. Instead of seeing barriers, she identifies opportunities. Initially a solo practitioner, she learned the value of not trying to do everything alone. This realization led her to build a dedicated team of associates and paralegals, helping her refine her vision for the firm and achieve greater success.
Despite the adversity she faced, Earlean set ambitious goals for herself at a young age. At just 14, she made the determination to become an attorney and establish her own legal practice by the age of 30. She pursued her dreams tenaciously.
In 1994, Earlean achieved her bachelor’s degree in criminology and law studies from Marquette University. This was followed by her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison Law School in 1997, and by the age of 25, she realized her goal of becoming an attorney. By the age of 28, she founded her own legal practice after gaining three years of experience working for a small firm.
Earlean also holds the distinction of being the first African-American Court Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee, marking her significant contributions to the legal field. With 26 years of experience in the legal profession, including 23 years in private practice, her journey is an inspiring testament to her resilience, determination, and passion for the law.
The Firm
Laster & Associates is a boutique law firm specializing in criminal defense, family law, and personal injury cases. With the recent addition of a new associate, the firm is expanding its services to include Employment Law.
At Laster & Associates, the firm’s core philosophy revolves around delivering personalized service to its clients. Its motto, “We Listen, Take Action, and Get Results,” reflects the firm’s commitment to actively understanding its clients’ needs, taking decisive steps, and achieving favorable outcomes on their behalf. This client-centered approach is at the heart of the firm’s mission and guides its legal practice.
Earlean reveals that Laster & Associates is embracing the digital age by exploring ways to automate certain aspects of the firm’s current practices, such as digital billing. It is also refining its existing communication channels to make it more efficient for clients to reach them. She expresses her excitement about how these digital enhancements will influence the firm’s overall business model and the services it provides to its clients.
Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
As a legal leader, Earlean sees her law firm as a platform for both her professional growth and her contributions to the community. She recognizes that many individuals may not possess a deep understanding of the law and might struggle to advocate for their best interests. By providing a trusted source with a wealth of experience in handling legal issues, the firm can significantly alter the trajectory of people’s lives and bolster the overall strength of the community.
Earlean finds it gratifying to witness the tangible impact of her work as it positively impacts the lives of those around her. She also believes that today’s emerging leaders in the legal field can harness new technology to better assist their clients while still holding a deep respect for the established procedures and customs that enable an attorney to be effective with nothing more than a notepad and their words. This combination of traditional values and technological innovation allows for even more effective legal representation.
Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion
Earlean believes that businesses would gain significant advantages from having more women in leadership positions. Diverse leadership brings about diverse perspectives, which is highly beneficial. However, she notes that although there appears to be an increasing number of women in the legal profession, the representation of African American women attorneys has stagnated at 2-3% for several decades. Earlean sees a clear need for improvement in this regard.
Balancing Legal Advocacy
As an Attorney and Owner of the company, Earlean’s daily responsibilities revolve around ensuring that all her clients receive the advocacy and attention they rightfully deserve. Many clients come to her in moments of crisis, and she recognizes that, while this is a business, it represents their lives. It’s crucial to keep this perspective in mind while navigating the legal system on their behalf.
One of the most joyful parts of her day is savoring a cup of coffee with her husband in the morning (he’s known for making the best mochas) and dropping her son off at school. These moments provide an opportunity to catch up on her son’s day and help her stay grounded throughout the day, offering a sense of balance amidst her professional responsibilities.
Leading with Resilience and Learning from Challenges
As a woman leader, Earlean acknowledges that she continually faces challenges related to her experience, competency, and empathy. She recognizes that encountering such challenges is part of the journey. Over time, she has learned to adapt, withstand adversity, and use each experience as an opportunity for personal growth and development. This resilience and ability to learn from challenges are integral to her leadership journey.
Redefining Success and Pursuing Vision
For Earlean, success is the alignment of her life with her vision. While some might assume that her role as a former court commissioner and her successful law practice mark the pinnacle of success, she believes there’s more to achieve. Her vision includes making a substantial impact in the community from which she originates, whether through the establishment of a community center or a law practice that offers pro bono services. She emphasizes that her journey is still ongoing, and she has more to accomplish in the pursuit of her vision.
Earlean’s advice to the next generation of legal leaders is simple yet profound: maintain a laser-like focus on your dreams and vision for your life, and never forget the reasons that drove you to choose the legal profession. She emphasizes that her own focus and vision have been instrumental in her success thus far, and she encourages aspiring legal leaders to do the same.
Written by Steve Sanchez.
