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PROFILE
Profile: Mathew D. Laskowski, Senior Paralegal, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., Morristown, NJ [by Regan Morris] Bankruptcy paralegal Mathew D. Laskowski is a computer whiz, and he uses his skills to bring courtroom displays to life. LawCrossing talks with the senior paralegal about his career.
During college, Mathew D. Laskowski mi-
When he joined Porzio, Laskowski was part
on that. People can throw information at you,
nored in paralegal studies, thinking it would
of the firm’s mass tort team, defending toxic
and you can spit it back at them; but if you
be a good basis for law school. The program,
tort cases nationally by representing a mine
don’t understand it, I don’t think you can be
through Marist College, was approved by the
fighting numerous asbestos cases. While
as helpful.”
American Bar Association, so Mr. Laskowski
defending an asbestos case may seem like
graduated with a B.A. and a paralegal cer-
fighting a losing battle, Laskowski said many
Laskowski said his computer skills—he
tificate.
of the cases were unfounded.
builds his own computers as a hobby—have
A friend of his father’s was looking to hire a
“There were a lot of questionable cases that
is creating slick visual displays for trials.
litigation paralegal, and Laskowski got the
came across my desk,” he said. “I’m not
In the past, he said, the firm tones down
job. Instead of preparing him for law school,
going to say I didn’t see any that looked legiti-
evidence displays to avoid looking like the
the paralegal profession became a beloved
mate, but there were a lot more that didn’t.
“big, bad corporation,” but those days are
career, and Laskowski has excelled.
And that’s the big problem right now that’s
changing.
helped his career significantly. His specialty
clogging up the courts. It isn’t substantiated. He was recently named one of the Top-15
Somebody who smoked three packs a day for
“But nowadays, I think juries want to see neat
Paralegals in America by paralegal author
20 years, and they think it’s the asbestos that
animations. They want to see documents on
Carole Bruno and will be featured in her
they came in contact with for five minutes.”
the screen. With bankruptcy court, there’s no jury. It’s a bench trial,” he said.
upcoming book. Two years ago, the firm stopped representing Laskowski, 28, credits his success to enthusi-
the mine; and Laskowski went to work for the
During a recent bankruptcy trial, Laskowski
asm, hard work, and supportive mentors.
bankruptcy department, which handles com-
said he thinks the high-tech presentation of
mercial cases from both creditor and debtor
evidence impressed the judge.
“I think the best thing is just being adaptable,
sides. Although experienced in litigation,
not saying no, and viewing everything as the
Laskowski knew very little about bankruptcy
“I think she just thought that everything was
next challenge, and being a team player,” he
law when he started.
neat-looking anyway, and we really got her attention, because she didn’t have to fumble
told LawCrossing. “If you attack everything with the same enthusiasm, I think you are
“I basically had to learn bankruptcy and get
through papers. She just had to look up at
bound to do well eventually. It also helps to
up to speed on a trial that had been going on
a big screen,” he said. “We’re dealing with
have the right people around you. I lucked
for years in a matter of months,” he said.
thousands and thousands of documents and all these big binders, and it would have taken
out with my team in my bankruptcy department. They’re all just wonderful attorneys
He enrolled in a continuing education course
forever for her to flip through to figure out
and secretaries, and we all just really support
for bankruptcy law, read all the bankruptcy
what we were talking about, and this just
each other.”
books in the office, and asked a lot of ques-
made it all nice and seamless and kept things
tions.
moving.”
small New Jersey firm and gained experience
“I kept a copy of the code on my desk; and if I
Laskowski said Porzio attorneys appreciate
in medical malpractice, construction, and
saw something I hadn’t seen before, I’d flip to
his tech skills and that the firm is known for
other areas of litigation.
the code just so I could understand what was
its sophisticated paralegals. The managing
going on,” he said. “I’ve always been very big
partner started his career as a paralegal at
Laskowski started his legal career with a
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PROFILE
Porzio, and the firm now tries to maintain a 1:1 ratio of paralegals to attorneys. Laskowski, who is treasurer of the Legal Assistants’ Association of New Jersey and actively involved in national paralegal groups, said it’s important to learn all you can about your job and area of law, but urges paralegals to network outside of the office. He also has been published in various paralegal journals and said it’s as important for paralegals to get their work out on a national level. “There’s this whole other universe outside the office, interacting with other paralegals— networking, getting published, writing articles as you get more experienced,” he said. But Laskowski said he believes it’s also important to have a full life outside of work. “A lot of people get bogged down in their work,” he said. “For me, my outlet is hockey. I’ve been playing since I was three, and it’s a nice stress relief, and I hope other people have similar kinds of things to wind down.”
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