By Teresa Killeen
Washtenaw County Bar Association
Washtenaw County Bar Association
Amy Reiser has dedicated her career to public service. She has been a prosecutor for more than 25 years. She started her career at the Women’s Justice Center in Detroit and then began a life-long career as a prosecutor, first at the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office and then the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, where she worked for more than 22 years. Reiser recently retired from the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office as the head of the Special Victims Unit, where she oversaw sexual assault and child abuse cases. Reiser now serves as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Where did you get your law degree? University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
What jobs did you have before you became an attorney? In high school, I worked at McDonald’s and was a lifeguard in the summer. During undergrad, I worked in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. And during law school, I waited tables and worked in the Law Library.
What inspired you to pursue a career in law? I always had a strong desire to help others, and I knew that I wanted to go into a career in public service. For me, becoming a lawyer and spending my career as a prosecutor representing some of the most vulnerable victims in our community was a natural choice.
Any words of wisdom to pass on to new lawyers? Get as much experience as you can in the area you are interested in. Be nice to everyone along the way. And, work hard.
Favorite part of your job? I take a lot of pride in helping victims navigate the criminal justice system and I really appreciate the opportunity to serve and protect the most vulnerable in our community. A lot of my work involves connecting with survivors of sexual assault and children who have been abused, so there is a lot of trauma associated with their experiences, and I have the ability to always remain empathetic. This is probably the most rewarding part of my work.
How do you achieve a work-life balance, especially considering the demanding nature of your profession? Work-life balance has always been difficult, but my family is the top priority. I meet my work obligations the best I can and never miss a school event. I also always try to sit down for dinner together with my family at least one time per week (with no electronics).
Tell us a little about your family. One husband. Two dogs. Two cats. Two kids. Pretty chaotic.
What is your favorite movie? Top three: “Wizard of Oz,” “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (with Gene Wilder), and “The Princess Bride.”
What do you like to do in your spare time? I always enjoy spending time with friends and colleagues whether over coffee or dinner but most of my spare time is spent going between the hockey rink, the softball and baseball fields, and various cross-country and track-and-field locations.
What’s the greatest gift we can give ourselves? Time to appreciate what we have and who we love.
What’s one thing you can’t live without? Coffee with cream and raw sugar.
Why do you choose to be a member of the WCBA? I moved to Washtenaw County in 2002 and the WCBA and WLAM were instrumental in helping me network with the legal community. I have enjoyed the membership over the years because of the relationships I developed and the work the WCBA does in all areas of law within the community.
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Reprinted with permission from the Washtenaw County Bar Association newsletter Res Ipsa Loquitur.
Where did you get your law degree? University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
What jobs did you have before you became an attorney? In high school, I worked at McDonald’s and was a lifeguard in the summer. During undergrad, I worked in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. And during law school, I waited tables and worked in the Law Library.
What inspired you to pursue a career in law? I always had a strong desire to help others, and I knew that I wanted to go into a career in public service. For me, becoming a lawyer and spending my career as a prosecutor representing some of the most vulnerable victims in our community was a natural choice.
Any words of wisdom to pass on to new lawyers? Get as much experience as you can in the area you are interested in. Be nice to everyone along the way. And, work hard.
Favorite part of your job? I take a lot of pride in helping victims navigate the criminal justice system and I really appreciate the opportunity to serve and protect the most vulnerable in our community. A lot of my work involves connecting with survivors of sexual assault and children who have been abused, so there is a lot of trauma associated with their experiences, and I have the ability to always remain empathetic. This is probably the most rewarding part of my work.
How do you achieve a work-life balance, especially considering the demanding nature of your profession? Work-life balance has always been difficult, but my family is the top priority. I meet my work obligations the best I can and never miss a school event. I also always try to sit down for dinner together with my family at least one time per week (with no electronics).
Tell us a little about your family. One husband. Two dogs. Two cats. Two kids. Pretty chaotic.
What is your favorite movie? Top three: “Wizard of Oz,” “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (with Gene Wilder), and “The Princess Bride.”
What do you like to do in your spare time? I always enjoy spending time with friends and colleagues whether over coffee or dinner but most of my spare time is spent going between the hockey rink, the softball and baseball fields, and various cross-country and track-and-field locations.
What’s the greatest gift we can give ourselves? Time to appreciate what we have and who we love.
What’s one thing you can’t live without? Coffee with cream and raw sugar.
Why do you choose to be a member of the WCBA? I moved to Washtenaw County in 2002 and the WCBA and WLAM were instrumental in helping me network with the legal community. I have enjoyed the membership over the years because of the relationships I developed and the work the WCBA does in all areas of law within the community.
—————
Reprinted with permission from the Washtenaw County Bar Association newsletter Res Ipsa Loquitur.
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