Kersker says she found a home when she went to Brouse McDowell. She was the firm’s first female litigation practice chair.
"I happened to come to the right law firm where I’ve had support throughout my career," Kersker says. "I haven’t had the same struggle that many women have. My timing was really excellent in graduating from a top-name law school and because of the women who’d gone before me."
Kersker sees herself as a problem-solver. Her specialty is dispute resolution and business litigation.
"My role is resolving business disputes," she says. "The last e-mail I sent was a settlement agreement. I negotiated a resolution. That’s really what I do."
Those problem-solving skills spill over into community involvement as well. She is a member of the Akron Public School Board and the Salvation Army Board. Spending between 200 and 400 hours per year serving these boards, Kersker is involved in various projects, from ringing the Salvation Army bell outside a grocery store with her grandson to heading the search committee to find a superintendent for the school system.
"It’s important to teach younger people and to remember that no matter where we are in the timeline of our practice to draw the lines and enrich our lives. That balance is so important.
"I think it’s more difficult now. We have less and less discretionary time and everything’s accelerated. I could be here all night communicating with clients (via e-mail) and it makes it very hard to draw limits. I would guess that you would probably connect better with the clients whom you represent if you’re a whole person instead of just a workaholic‚ a machine.
"It’s the right thing to do for individuals, but it’s probably just the way the world ought to be." How to reach: Brouse McDowell, (330) 535-5711
D.R. Powers is a free-lance writer for SBN.
