Profile: Mathew D. Laskowski, Senior Paralegal, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., Morristown, NJ

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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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