Breaking the Ice: Finding humanity, giving voice in criminal defense.

Byline: Todd Nelson

Name: Christina Zauhar

Title: Attorney, Halberg Criminal Defense

Education: B.A., English and sociology, Hamline University; J.D., Hamline University Law School

Christina Zauhar, an attorney at Halberg Criminal Defense, grew up with family conversations about crime and criminal justice.

Such talks, stemming from her mother's work as jail administrator for the Carlton County sheriff and her grandfather's as a Duluth police detective, fueled Zauhar's interest in becoming a lawyer.

A clerkship at Halberg Criminal Defense sealed Zauhar's commitment to a criminal defense practice.

"I really appreciate the humanity of this type of work," Zauhar said. "I work directly with people and not with a corporate entity. I'm not sitting behind a computer all day."

Zauhar also likes working as a team with the nine other attorneys in the state's largest criminal defense firm on cases ranging from DWIs to homicides.

Criminal sexual conduct cases have become a focus for Zauhar. The firm often brings her in on those and other cases that are likely to go to trial, Zauhar said.

Q. What's the best way to start a conversation with you?

A. Introduce yourself. If you have a dog we can strike up a conversation with telling stories about our pups. I love to talk about my dog.

Q. What books are on your bedside table or e-reader?

A. I almost exclusively read fictional crime novels. Apparently I can't get enough of crime stories in my life.

Q. What is a pet peeve of yours?

A. People who don't use a calendar. It makes me very anxious when people don't have anywhere to keep track of dates or important appointments. People who over-apologize, which is hard in Minnesota because there's a lot of people who like to apologize.

Q. What are your favorite aspects of being an attorney?

A. The humanity of my job and helping people through really difficult situations. I get to work with people and I get to be in court often.

Q. Least favorite?

A. The same as my favorite part: Working with people. It can be very draining to constantly interact with people who are in a highly emotional, stressed-out state of mind or situation.

Q. What's a favorite activity outside your job?

A. I like to be active and outdoors. I grew up in the Duluth area. I love going to our family cabin, north of Duluth. I like going on runs, I like hiking, skiing, anything active and outdoors.

Q. If someone visits you in your hometown, what would you take them to see or do?

A. I grew up in Esko, a...