Mary Jo Skojec is a legal assistant for Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski, P.C. in Jackson.
Photo courtesy of Mary Jo Skojec
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Mary Jo Skojec, a legal assistant at Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski, P.C. in Jackson, didn’t set out for a career in the legal world.
A magna cum laude graduate of Lumen Christi High School, she attended Jackson Community College for an associate’s degree in the executive secretarial program—and where she thoroughly disliked studying business law.
But she soon discovered life has a funny way of turning things around.
After graduating and taking the summer off, she started in a temporary position at Motorola, taking service calls—and within a week or so, was offered a position with a local law firm.
“I took it and that’s how it all began,” she says.
With no official training in this field, she gained legal experience on the job, working for attorney Robert D. Flack for close to a decade, then 28 -½ years as a bookkeeper, office manager and legal assistant for Best, Heyns and Schroeder, P.C.; and recently joining Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski, P.C., primarily working on collection cases, real estate litigation, landlord/tenant, and traffic.
“As I get settled in, the plan is to expand to other practice areas, such as estate planning and probate,” she says.
She would encourage others to enter the law field for its wide variety of issues and opportunities to learn new areas of law.
“It’s never boring—every day is different and every case is different,” she says. “Just when you think you heard it all, you realize you have not—makes for interesting days.”
She is a longtime member of the local Chapter of NALS (National Association for Legal Support Professionals), where she previously served on the board.
“I enjoy the support and camaraderie among the members the most. It’s a special group of peers that are there for you always—friends for life,” she says.
Skojec grew up working in a family-owned business, Cavender Nursery & Floral Boutique in Jackson, gaining extensive business and bookkeeping skills—and says she feels privileged for this experience.
“Most days, it was wonderful to work with family, but then there were other days, it wasn’t so easy,” she says. “Growing up in a family-owned business taught me the meaning of hard work and gave me the work ethic I hold to this day. It taught me life lessons I wouldn’t have learned elsewhere. I have so many memories and funny stories surrounding that time with my family and I will cherish those forever.”
Music has always been an important part of Skojec’s life, although she didn’t play an instrument for a couple of years after graduating high school. She didn’t realize how much she missed music until she found out about the Jackson Community Concert Band—and ended up as a founding member. The band performs two formal concerts in the fall and in the spring; and a “Front Porch Pre-4th of July Concert.”
The band rehearses weekly on Tuesdays throughout the year with a summer hiatus.
“While working my temporary job, someone received a letter about this band starting up, so I made a copy and I showed up on the first night way back in the fall of 1987,” she says. “Music is good therapy for the soul. Music is a way to express your feelings and release the stresses of everyday life.”
She also has participated since the early 1990s as a member of the pit orchestra in local community and high school theatre productions. The musicals called for her to learn the Eb clarinet, C clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone and flute—and she taught herself, so she could play multiple instruments in the pit.
“I’ve met so many lifelong friends through music,” she says. “I also used to play in a church ensemble as well, but had to put that to the wayside when my husband and I adopted our son, Todd.”
Born and raised in Jackson, Skojec is passionate about her hometown, where she lives with her husband Tim, son Todd, two dogs and three cats.
“I love living in Jackson because that’s where I’ve lived all my life and my family and friends are here,” she says. “Jackson has a wide variety of entertainment and things to do. I enjoy visiting other places, but it’s always good to get home.”
In her leisure time, she enjoys bowling, movies, music, reading, puzzles, fishing, theatre, outdoors, and swimming.
“I also love relaxing by a lake or the ocean—music for the soul—traveling with my family and making lifelong memories,” she says.
Legal News
Mary Jo Skojec, a legal assistant at Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski, P.C. in Jackson, didn’t set out for a career in the legal world.
A magna cum laude graduate of Lumen Christi High School, she attended Jackson Community College for an associate’s degree in the executive secretarial program—and where she thoroughly disliked studying business law.
But she soon discovered life has a funny way of turning things around.
After graduating and taking the summer off, she started in a temporary position at Motorola, taking service calls—and within a week or so, was offered a position with a local law firm.
“I took it and that’s how it all began,” she says.
With no official training in this field, she gained legal experience on the job, working for attorney Robert D. Flack for close to a decade, then 28 -½ years as a bookkeeper, office manager and legal assistant for Best, Heyns and Schroeder, P.C.; and recently joining Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski, P.C., primarily working on collection cases, real estate litigation, landlord/tenant, and traffic.
“As I get settled in, the plan is to expand to other practice areas, such as estate planning and probate,” she says.
She would encourage others to enter the law field for its wide variety of issues and opportunities to learn new areas of law.
“It’s never boring—every day is different and every case is different,” she says. “Just when you think you heard it all, you realize you have not—makes for interesting days.”
She is a longtime member of the local Chapter of NALS (National Association for Legal Support Professionals), where she previously served on the board.
“I enjoy the support and camaraderie among the members the most. It’s a special group of peers that are there for you always—friends for life,” she says.
Skojec grew up working in a family-owned business, Cavender Nursery & Floral Boutique in Jackson, gaining extensive business and bookkeeping skills—and says she feels privileged for this experience.
“Most days, it was wonderful to work with family, but then there were other days, it wasn’t so easy,” she says. “Growing up in a family-owned business taught me the meaning of hard work and gave me the work ethic I hold to this day. It taught me life lessons I wouldn’t have learned elsewhere. I have so many memories and funny stories surrounding that time with my family and I will cherish those forever.”
Music has always been an important part of Skojec’s life, although she didn’t play an instrument for a couple of years after graduating high school. She didn’t realize how much she missed music until she found out about the Jackson Community Concert Band—and ended up as a founding member. The band performs two formal concerts in the fall and in the spring; and a “Front Porch Pre-4th of July Concert.”
The band rehearses weekly on Tuesdays throughout the year with a summer hiatus.
“While working my temporary job, someone received a letter about this band starting up, so I made a copy and I showed up on the first night way back in the fall of 1987,” she says. “Music is good therapy for the soul. Music is a way to express your feelings and release the stresses of everyday life.”
She also has participated since the early 1990s as a member of the pit orchestra in local community and high school theatre productions. The musicals called for her to learn the Eb clarinet, C clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone and flute—and she taught herself, so she could play multiple instruments in the pit.
“I’ve met so many lifelong friends through music,” she says. “I also used to play in a church ensemble as well, but had to put that to the wayside when my husband and I adopted our son, Todd.”
Born and raised in Jackson, Skojec is passionate about her hometown, where she lives with her husband Tim, son Todd, two dogs and three cats.
“I love living in Jackson because that’s where I’ve lived all my life and my family and friends are here,” she says. “Jackson has a wide variety of entertainment and things to do. I enjoy visiting other places, but it’s always good to get home.”
In her leisure time, she enjoys bowling, movies, music, reading, puzzles, fishing, theatre, outdoors, and swimming.
“I also love relaxing by a lake or the ocean—music for the soul—traveling with my family and making lifelong memories,” she says.
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