It’s not like Omaha attorney Bruce Brodkey had to put a lot of energy into looking for a career.

“I came upon it naturally,” he said. “My parents were both lawyers, and my father was a judge on the Nebraska Supreme Court. I knew from a very early age that my passion was for law.”

The Omaha native and Central High School graduate has been in the practice of law for 48 years.

Not all of that time was spent in the Cornhusker State. Brodkey traveled west after high school to study at the University of California, Berkeley, and he continued his studies at the Boalt Law School – now known as Berkeley Law.

“Upon graduation, I determined that I did not want to stay in the Bay Area and desired to return to Omaha,” Brodkey said.  

Today he is a partner in Brodkey, Cuddigan, Peebles, Belmont & Line, LLP. The boutique law firm at 108th Street and Old Mill Road is a general civil practice operation with an emphasis on business and succession planning, business transactional work, estate planning, elder law, civil litigation, divorce, Social Security disability and veteran benefits.

The firm does the majority of its work in and around Omaha. The firm’s eight lawyers all practice in different specialty areas, and their legal work is supported by about 15 other firm employees.

Brodkey maintains a focus on estate planning, asset and real estate purchase agreements, general transactional practice and estate tax planning, he said.

Upon his return from Berkeley in 1971, Brodkey launched his career in the legal profession with the firm of Fitzgerald Brown Leahy McGill and Strom. From there, he moved on to his own practice in 1979. He and Tim Cuddigan formed the law firm of Brodkey & Cuddigan in 1994.

After 25 years in business, the firm has grown and is among the established practices in Omaha.

Law has not been the sole long-term commitment for Brodkey. He’s been married to his wife, Marcia Hoffman, for 38 years.

Hoffman is a faculty member and assistant director of occupational health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The couple took that foundation and built on it with a business acquisition: a floor covering store.

Brodkey’s one-time fondness for playing golf may have faded over time – he doesn’t spend a lot of time on the links anymore – but the couple enjoys traveling.

“We especially enjoy our place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,” he said, adding they hope to spend more time there in the future.

But that won’t be anytime too soon. Brodkey maintains a busy legal schedule, starting at 6 a.m. and lasting for 11 to 12 hours. – putting in whatever the job takes.

“There’s always something new,” Brodkey said. “You just deal with it.”

Despite the hard work needed, Brodkey encourages others to join the profession that he loves.

“Have a passion for the law,” he said. “Don’t attend (law school) just for the purpose of getting a degree. Be civil in all your dealings. Try to find compromise for the benefit of your clients but know when to dig in your heels.”

Success will be found by those who never stop learning, work hard and dig deeply into an area of specialization until they are an expert in their chosen area.

“Remember that success is generally 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration,” he said, quoting Thomas Edison. “Whether you are in public, corporate or private practice – or even if you don’t stay in the practice and enter into another endeavor – the education and training will serve you well.”

Those foundational ideas have served him well and helped Brodkey to endure in the profession for nearly a half century. Looking back, much is not as it once was in the practice of law.

“Things have changed a lot since I started practicing in 1971,” Brodkey acknowledged.

While technology has evolved, and the number of lawyers has increased, the legal disputes and confrontations remain the same.

Brodkey said he has no plans for retirement, as he enjoys spending time doing legal work.

“I really don’t want to give that up any time soon,” Brodkey said. “I love it.”