Columbia Falls has its first ever full-time city attorney. Jeanne Lisowski was sworn in and greeted by City Council on Aug. 3.

Lisowski, who arrived in Columbia Falls by way of Columbia, South Carolina, has been practicing law for 32 years, primarily as in-house counsel for both private and public organizations.

She’s worked as an environmental attorney for Exxon, counsel for the city of Columbia, the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, and most recently counsel for Blanchard Machinery, a Caterpillar Dealer in South Carolina.

Lisowski is no stranger to cold, however. She grew up in Minnesota. Lisowski and her husband came to Whitefish in February 2020 to visit and considered the area a good place to eventually retire to, as she enjoys skiing.

She just happened to be searching for jobs on Indeed recently, when she saw the opening in Columbia Falls, she said.

She was on the job last week but can’t practice law, such as prosecuting municipal court cases, until her waiver for the State Bar of Montana is approved.

The Columbia Falls position includes municipal court prosecutions, advising the city on all legal matters, such as planning and zoning and other issues before City Council, as well as writing ordinances and enforcing existing codes.

It’s a diverse job. Lisowski’s husband, Joe, is twice retired, she said; once from the Navy and once from the Virginia Beach Police Department.

They have four grown children.

Council decided to bring its counsel in house after Justin and Stephanie Breck announced their retirement. They had been the city’s contract attorneys for years.

Chad Cannon has purchased the Breck Law Firm and will work under contract to prosecute municipal court cases until Lisowski is licensed to practice in Montana.

Cannon was born in Riverside, California and is also licensed to practice law in Texas, according to a video on the firm’s website.

Lisowski can be reached by email at: [email protected].