30 years ago, attorneys Julia Ketcham Corbett and Silas Danielson stepped through our office doors and never looked back. For three decades, these distinguished professionals and incredible people have learned, grown, and worked at Blethen Gage & Krause (now Blethen Berens).

As a testament to and celebration of their hard work, we’re reflecting on the years of dedication that Julia and Silas have given to this community.

Before closing out 2024 and heading into 2025, let’s look at Julia’s evolution, proudest moments, and fondest memories.

 

Q: How has your law practice changed through the years?

A: Technology is the biggest change in my practice. When I started, we didn’t have email or cell phones and had limited internet. We communicated via mail and telephone, which slowed down communication. We weren’t “on duty” 24/7. From a practice standpoint, the continuing evolvement of employment law as a highly specialized practice area has been the biggest change – employment laws have changed so much in the last 30 years that it’s no longer an area you can dabble in. The intricacies of the laws and the penalties for employers are so significant that you need a level of specialization to represent clients well. Also, the continued expansion of ADR has been another big change.

 

Q: What had the most impact on helping your practice evolve?

A: My strategic partnerships with HR consultants, actively monitoring and communicating employment law changes and speaking to various audiences on employment law topics.

Q: What made your practice more difficult? Easier?

A: In some ways, technology because of the rapid pace it has created and the expectation of rapid response times. At the same time, it is what has made practicing law easier as well!

  

Q: What do you wish you knew then that you know now?

A: That things tend to work out – work hard but enjoy your downtime and don’t stress too much when things slow down – try to enjoy it. It will be busy again before you know it.

 

Q: As you look back on 30 years, is there anything you think or wish you would have done differently?

While some case outcomes didn’t go the way I thought they should, I don’t really have regrets—everything is a learning experience.

 

Q: What do you remember from your first day?

A: Starting the day with Silas by my side and being very nervous and excited to start my career.

 

Q: What is your proudest moment of your career?

A: There are a lot of proud moments –the day I was asked to be a partner is one of them. Seeing the outcomes of my large personal injury settlement in 2003 is another. Seeing the almost doubling of our firm size and growing from one woman attorney to 7 really talented women attorneys is definitely another. Last but not least, my success in balancing a challenging career with my family life and raising three pretty awesome young men while doing it certainly makes me very proud.

 

Q: What is your favorite memory of working with each other?

A: The day we got our bar results. It’s a long story, but it ends with me jumping up and down and hugging my mail delivery person in a random yard in North Mankato. I’m guessing I’m one of that mail delivery person’s most interesting memories of their career, too!

 

Q: If you could say one thing to each other now as a tribute to 30 years, what would you say?

A: I’m so thankful for our working relationship and friendship. I’m proud of the legacy we’ve continued and built on, and I can’t imagine having done this with anyone else!

 

Q: Any final thoughts you’d like to share?

A:  Blethen Gage & Krause, now Blethen Berens, has been a fabulous place to work. I joined a firm with a long, proud legacy, and I hope I‘ve played some small part in contributing to its growth and continued legacy. I could not have had success in my career without support at home, great mentorship (primarily Bailey Blethen, Jim Turk, and David Peterson for my practice areas) and the support of our amazing staff, especially our Office Managers, my legal assistants (LeAnn Sexe and Karen Germscheid) and the paralegals I’ve worked closely with over the years (Kelly Haga, Kris Rykhus, Janet Costello, Kelli Christianson and Dawn Campbell). We really do strive to provide legal excellence and personal commitment – those aren’t just buzzwords - and it is the awesome people at Blethen Berens, both past and present, that allow us to fulfill that promise to our community and clients.

Read Silas’s Story HERE