Overview
Kathy Nusslock’s career reflects a simple but powerful truth: lasting success is built on curiosity, sustained by commitment, and defined by a deep sense of responsibility to others. From the beginning, Kathy’s career as a trial attorney offered her continuous exposure to learning, a path for meaningful involvement, and opportunities to serve her community.
Now a 2026 Marquette University Law School Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Kathy’s decades-long career offers enduring lessons for anyone aspiring to make a meaningful impact within and beyond their profession.
Curiosity Keeps Career Interesting
What Kathy loves most about the practice of law and trial work is the way it lends to constant learning. Each case centers on a new question and can open the door to learning about a new field, ranging from renewable energy to product engineering to maritime law. Continuous exploration keeps work fresh.
In recent years, that same curiosity led Kathy to expand her practice into mediation. While still drawing on the ability to understand facts and develop strategy, mediation requires the ability to understand what motivates parties with competing interests.
Service and Involvement Help You Grow
Throughout her career, Kathy has taken advantage of numerous opportunities to grow through connection, often benefitting her community and profession in the process. She has been in leadership positions of bar associations, served on faculties, and mentored junior attorneys.
Kathy not only embodies this belief through her mentorship and community support, it is also the advice she gives to young professional. “Get involved,” she encourages. “Get involved in the community, in a bar association, in an organization that piques your interest.” After all, professional growth happens when connections are made.
Excellence Comes From Giving Your Best
If Kathy had to name a formula for success, it would be straightforward: strive to perform each task, whatever it may be, to the best of your ability. In a profession that demands precision and detail, hard work, and a belief in the rule of law, it is a trait she has admired in others and one that has contributed to her success.
Meaningful impact comes from consistently showing up, putting in the effort, committing to continuous learning, and supporting others along the way.
