Montana Lawyer June/July 2024

You Might Be Secretly Lonely if... MERI ALTHAUSER PRACTICING WELL

About a year ago I made the deci sion to leave law practice and join Montana’s law school as professional staff. For me, law school was a place where I really felt like I belonged, and I felt like my professors really cared about me. Even 10 years after I left these doors, some of my professors

never had before. I read the itemized and illustrative list of bad things dad had done to mom, then the itemized and even more vibrant list of complaints from dad about mom. From my perspective, I could see how many of these items were misunder standings read through the veil of mistrust old grudges. But what I realized in that

still checked up on me or offered me opportunities in practice. So, for sev eral years I toyed with the idea of returning to the school in some capacity and applied for the job of Director of Admissions. When I was offered a position, I was still truly on the fence about whether to wind down the practice

moment was not how sad this family’s situa tion was, but how alone I felt in being the only one trying to solve the Rubik’s cube of their issues with one another. For probably well over 100 families, the pressure was all on me to try to de-escalate the drama, set aside emotions, find

After over a decade of practicing family law and mediation in Missoula, Meri Althauser stepped into the role of Admissions Director with the Alexander Blewett III School of Law in June 2023. Her approach to law focuses on collabora tion and solution-finding for her clients and their families, and now for mentoring stu dents. She also offers consulting services in workplace well ness, with a certification as a Workplace Wellness Specialist through the National Wellness Institute and as a Resilience and Thriving Facilitator through Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems.

I worked so hard to create. Business was going well, I was proud of my reputation, I felt like I was making a difference for people, and I had total control over my schedule. This was a lot to give up! I took a day to decide and went back to business-as usual preparing for a parenting plan settlement conference that was set for the next day. As I started to read the materials given to me, the stories of this broken family started to sink in and the tears started to roll as they

the middle ground, brainstorm solutions, predict pitfalls, and puzzle things out. So, when I was faced with the option to join a team, where I wouldn’t be all alone, the reality of my lonely solo practice was illu minated. I never even realized how lonely I felt until alone was not the only option. How could I not know I was lonely? Well, I don’t really know actually. I even had daily meetups with friends in my building, talked to many attorneys to vent or ask questions, genuinely liked all of my clients, worked with a team at times, and

James Reavis is available for attorney referrals for appeals to the Montana Supreme Court to handle your client’s criminal or civil case. Reavis has resolved over 130 appeals. He is a respected and well-known advocate before the Court. Reavis is available to attorneys for consultation, brief writing assistance, or taking a lead role in your client’s appellate strategy. Attorneys are invited to call 406-433-5511 or email james@nkbattorneys.com . APPELLATE ADVOCACY

301 N. 27TH STREET, #100, BILLINGS, MT 59101 • 406-433-5511

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