Prior to attending law school, she worked as an aide to state senator Fred Risser of Madison.
[citation needed] Neubauer was employed from 1988 until 2007 at the Milwaukee law firm Foley and Lardner, specializing in environmental cleanup litigation and rising to the level of partner.
[5] In December 2007, Democratic governor Jim Doyle appointed Neubauer to a seat on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals vacated by retired Judge Neal Nettesheim.
[7] She enjoyed bi-partisan support in her campaign for the position, including the endorsement of Michael Grebe, the former state chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
[13] They have three adult children, including Greta Neubauer, the current Democratic minority leader in the Wisconsin State Assembly.