By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Attorney Anna Frushour of Reiser & Frushour in Ann Arbor will become president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) Washtenaw Region on May 19, when the organization holds its annual meeting at the Cottage Inn in downtown Ann Arbor. The region serves Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, and Washtenaw counties
"I know I have big shoes to fill with so many great leaders who preceded me, but I'm excited for the challenge," she says. "Our current president Jen Lawrence started a great tradition of highlighting different service organizations in our community every month. I'd like to continue that tradition and build on that. I hope to add service events or opportunities for our members to give back to the community."
Frushour has belonged to WLAM since her swearing-in ceremony in 2009.
"I met some members at our swearing-in and they were so welcoming, I decided to try it out," she says. "I started attending events and just loved the organization. It's filled with such strong, smart independent women who all wanted to help each other out in whatever way they could professionally and personally. It connected me with so many great women I admire and respect professionally and can now say are my friends. It was such a great way to connect with other women attorneys especially as a new solo practitioner."
Frushour has also been a member of the Washtenaw County Bar Association since 2010.
"I've enjoyed the networking events and getting to know attorneys from all types of legal practices," she says.
Frushour started her career by earning her undergrad degree in political science and communications from the University of Michigan.
"My favorite part was the way the campus felt like a big community," she says.
She then earned a paralegal certification from Oakland Community College.
"I was interested in the law, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be a lawyer," she says. "I honestly didn't think I would be able to help people the way I wanted to."
After deciding that law would be a good fit, she earned her juris doctor from Wayne State University Law School, where she was a member of the Mock Trial Team, Women's Law Caucus and the Public Interest Law Association.
"The best part of going to Wayne Law was that many of the students stayed in Michigan to practice law and many are now my colleagues same goes for the professors," she says.
Frushour calls a four-year internship with the Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office the best decision she ever made.
"It was my first experience working in a legal environment and it's what made me want to go to law school," she says. "I loved the work we did, it was a great deal of legal work but it also had a social work component to it. We often dealt with addiction issues, homelessness and mental illness. Connecting people with resources was often part of the job. I cannot say enough positive things about my experiences there I had the most hardworking and dedicated attorneys teach me hands-on how to handle cases and clients."
In addition to working at various small law firms including Simon & Geherin in Ann Arbor, and Vincent Law Firm in Ypsilanti, Frushour clerked for Judge Christopher Easthope at the 15th District Court.
"It was a great way to learn about how the court works behind the scenes," she says.
She then hung out her shingle as a solo attorney, launching Frushour Law.
"The best part was being able to take cases I was really passionate about," she says. "I also really enjoy the business side of owning my own business."
For the past two years, she has teamed with Patricia Reiser at Reiser & Frushour, PLLC, in a criminal defense practice.
"Since becoming partners with Patricia Reiser on the 15th District Court Defense Contract, I'm not sure I want to go back to being completely solo," she says. "It's been such a great experience having a colleague to bounce ideas off of and work together. I love our little team."
A native of Poland who grew up in New Jersey, Frushour has lived in Ann Arbor for the past two decades. She and her husband Casey have a 5-month-old, Max. The family shares its home with Baxter, a 4-year-old Yorkshire Terrier pup.
Despite a hectic home and work life, and commitments to WLAM and WCBA, Frushour makes time to serve on the board for Jewish Family Services, is a member of the Young Leaders Society for United Way, and previously served for three years on the fundraiser committee for Avalon Housing.
"I really enjoy community service work," she says.
Published: Mon, May 18, 2015
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