Anthony Lise ’09 is an attorney, mediator, and owner of a law practice specializing in family law and residential real estate, serving clients in NYC, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley.
On how you start your day
I wake up around 7/7:30 a.m. every day without an alarm (one of the great benefits of working out of my home is the absence of a commute). First thing I do is check my phone to be sure the world hasn’t ended. I try to set aside some quiet time for myself in the morning to wake up and organize my priorities for the day. I sneak downstairs, turn on CNN, do some stretches, pour a cup of coffee, and start up my computer. I empty the dishwasher, tidy up, and check my email to get a sense of what my day is going to look like. I spend about 15-20 minutes responding to anything pressing or just to get a head start on anything I know I will want to resolve that day. By then, the whole house is stirring! Then, I make the bed, shower, and head into my office for the day.
On what holding internships as a 2L taught you about balancing competing priorities
I did not fully appreciate the importance of this while it was happening, but given that being an attorney often means working on multiple projects at once, this really helped me hone those skills. I have a tendency to want to work on and complete a single project at a time before moving on. That is still my preference, but getting real-life law office experience while in school really did help me manage my time and create systems of organizing information, so that, at a glance, I can pick up where I left off on any ongoing project.
On how graduating a year after a recession affected the choices you made
I graduated in 2009 in the midst of a recession. It was a difficult time, and many, if not most, of my classmates did not have positions lined up post-graduation. I had interned at the Civil Rights Bureau of the NYS Attorney General’s Office the summer after my second year of law school and then, early in my third year, was offered a three-year fellowship at the AG’s office, contingent on funding for the program that year. After thinking I was all set with a job post-graduation, I headed into my third year in a great place. But, later I learned funding had dried up, and there would be no fellowship. It was a huge blow. I had lost valuable time to look for another position and graduated without a job. In hindsight, it was a blessing.
That summer, I focused on studying for the bar exam and also on my new relationship (I met my now-husband about a month before graduating from law school). After the bar exam, I moved back to my parents and worked in retail in an outlet mall. That part was pretty soul-crushing. But then, Professor Julie Goldscheid introduced me to Carol Buell who hired me — first as a legal assistant and then eventually as an associate. Although the areas of practice were not originally what I thought I wanted, the firm’s focus on serving LGBTQ+ clients made it a good fit. The rest is history! I worked for Carol for about 10 years in the areas of family law and residential real estate, before moving onto a larger firm for a couple of years, and then onto opening my own practice.
On how the network you developed at CUNY Law helped you stay connected to your cause and mission
This is really important. CUNY’s catchphrase, “law in the service of human needs,” drew me to coming to CUNY and has resonated with me since. It guides my practice and reminds me of the human component of every legal matter. The relationships I made with faculty and classmates reinforced this all for me, and it has been heartening to turn to former professors for guidance and to former classmates for inspiration. CUNY lawyers do good!
On the bar exam- tell us how you actually feel about it! Did you have a good experience? How did you prepare? Should this be a mandatory exercise for all aspiring lawyers-to-be?
You know, this may be a strange answer, but I actually enjoyed my time studying for the bar exam. Law school was the right fit for me academically. I really enjoyed the process of distilling abstract legal concepts into facts, issues, and rules derived from holdings. I attended Pieper Bar Prep which was amazing. John Pieper left a lasting impression on me. Within a few months, he helped me distill so much of what we learned in law school into topical outlines for bar prep.
The other thing that really helped was that I met my now-husband, Kevin, right before graduation, so while studying for the bar, I was also building a new relationship. I studied hard, but during business hours. At night, I would put it behind me and spend time with Kevin. Finding that balance really helped and allowed me to go into the bar exam rested and fully prepared, and I passed the first time. A lot of people I knew were a wreck, studied 12-16 hours a day, and barely slept. I think this put them at a disadvantage heading into the exam. This was pretty much my approach during law school as well. I definitely worked longer than 9-5, Monday-Friday in law school, but would always cut off at some point in the evening. The all-nighters I pulled in law school can be counted on one hand.
On the moment you decided you wanted to pursue running your own solo outfit/practice- what was the deciding factor and what were your first few steps? Flash forward to today- how’s it going at Lise Law & Mediation PLLC?
Like my path from law school to practicing in the areas of family law and residential real estate, the path to opening my own firm was not straightforward. After spending almost 10 years at a small firm, I had considered opening my own practice. Ultimately, I decided that I wanted some larger firm experience My plan was to spend three to five years at a larger firm and then, after gaining some experience in that environment, move onto opening my own firm. After my first year and not entirely enjoying the large firm experience, I had decided opening my own practice was likely part of a three-year plan. Then COVID hit. Over half of the firm, myself included, was laid off en masse in March 2020. It was a setback. But, I had already begun laying the groundwork for opening my own practice.
After being laid off, I licked my wounds for a couple of weeks, but then hit the ground running. I was officially up and running in May 2020. I spent the first month or so connecting with colleagues and former clients to let them know about my new venture and ask their advice. I had built a support system of attorneys, much of it through serving on the Foundation Board of the LGBT Bar of NY, who gave me advice on malpractice insurance, law practice management software, email servers, creating a PLLC, etc. I reached out to a great friend who helped me create my logo and website. The support I received from colleagues and friends really got me through in the beginning months. I set a goal for the number of clients I wanted last year and beat it! This year, I am, so far, on track to exceed my new goal. I really enjoy working for myself and working for clients in my own tailored way.
On your work with the LGBT Bar of NY- how you got involved, what they do, and how involvement has helped you shape your path
Early on in my career, I was made aware of the LGBT Bar of NY, commonly referred to as LeGaL, through a number of colleagues. What started out as more of a social network for LGBT attorneys decades ago has become a powerhouse serving the LGBTQ community by directly representing clients—including impact litigation—offering free legal clinics, and providing legislative advocacy. I was encouraged to get involved but wasn’t sure how. So, in 2014, I approached the LeGaL Board about creating the Family & Matrimonial Law Committee. At the time, LeGaL had other committees, but none focused on a specific area of the law. I chaired that Committee for about five years, and it continues on. In 2016, I was appointed to the Foundation Board of LeGaL and have been its Secretary now going into my third year.
On how you recharge and balance the demands of a rigorous practice with having a life outside of lawyering, and on how do you mitigate burn out
It can be difficult, but similar to the approach I took in law school, I am always sure to set boundaries for myself. I try not to set appointments before 9:30 a.m. (I am not a morning person) and try to officially sign off no later than 8:00 p.m. Of course, that is not always possible, but when I am signed off in the evenings and on the weekends, I try to actually be signed off; that is, I do not check my emails and try to put the tasks that face me the following workday out of my mind until then. During the pandemic, my husband and I usually mark the end of the workday with a glass of wine, and the start of “cocktail hour” helps us get into a post-work mindset (even though we are not actually leaving the house). Other than that, virtual spin class and connecting with colleagues and friends keep me from burning out.
On being a part of the LGBTQ2IA+ community he serves and how it informs his ability to lawyer [and if that makes it easier or harder in garnering access and addressing inequity]
I think it has made it easier because I can often personally connect with whatever my clients are going through. To me, that is the most important part of lawyering — being the “counselor at law.” It is also a large reason why the lynchpin of my family law practice is mediation. Mediation allows couples to come into a room, discuss their questions and concerns, and reach agreements for themselves. For same-sex couples and non-traditional families, many times, the law did not, or does not, provide any protection because it was not designed for certain families. Mediation allows couples to decide for themselves what works best for them.
On your solo practice CLE, and on who should consider taking it
I presented on opening a solo practice with some other colleagues, one of whom, Teresa Calabrese, is also a CUNY Law alum. It was a short CLE, but I think it will give anyone interested in opening their own practice the basics to get started.*
*note: the Alumni Office is working to make CLEs like this accessible online to our community this spring.
On your adorable companions Henry and Bea!
It is hard to fit everything I have to say about Henry and Bea here, but, here goes: Henry is a 10- year- old Tibetan Terrier. He is very special. Until we got him about 10 years ago, there weren’t many dogs in our lives. I did not grow up with a dog, and none of my friends or family had any dogs. Henry changed all that! His knowing gaze, independence, and good-naturedness set off an explosion of dogs, and now my entire family and some of our closest friends have them.
Bea is a one-year-old Golden Retriever. She is pure love and really just the best girl. I had always wanted a Golden Retriever, but it didn’t seem fair living in an apartment. Once we moved to the Hudson Valley, it became a real possibility. Then, after my mother-in-law, who has been living with us, passed away, things really fell into place. Actually, on the day she passed, on my way home from the office to meet my husband who had called to say mom had passed, a beautiful Golden Retriever was walking down our road, alone and peacefully. I stopped my car and got out to see what was going on. Over the hill came someone who did not own the dog but said she looked at his collar, he lived nearby, and she was walking him home, although he seemed to know the way. We took it as a sign, and Bea came into our lives. She brings us so much joy.
On your husband Kevin teasing you about singing along to your favorite songs over and over again- what are top three current favorite songs/albums you’re playing on repeat?
Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961) by Judy Garland is one of my all-time favorite albums. It is pretty much always on repeat, and I listen to at least one of the songs from the album a day. Judy is at her best in live recordings! Musically, my taste is pretty eclectic, but I always end up back with Judy at some point in the day, and every Friday night, I celebrate the beginning of the weekend by dancing and shaking up martinis to the beat of an iconic Judy number!
On how students and alums connect with you?
@liselaw
anthony@liselaw.com
Also be sure to check out Anthony’s episode of #CareerConversations with Therese McNulty, Associate Director of Career Planning. Anthony discusses his law school experience and career path, his experience in starting a solo practice, and networking tips.
