Family Law Section
GET TO KNOW YOUR BOARD MEMBER
Jennifer Albaugh
SBAND Board Member
What is your current position ? I am currently an associate attorney at Severson , Wogsland & Liebl , P . C . I practice exclusively in the area of family law .
What is your hometown , college attended , and law school attended ? I am originally from Beulah . I attended college at the University of North Dakota
( UND ), where I received a bachelor of science in criminal justice and a minor in sociology , as well as a bachelor of arts in English and a minor in American Sign Language . After graduating , I attended the UND School of Law .
What professional work did you do before law school ? I didn ’ t really do any professional work before law school . While I was completing my undergraduate degrees , I worked as the Home Theater Supervisor at the Best Buy in Grand Forks . It was a great place to work , but now I am the one stuck programming televisions and remotes and hooking up surround sounds .
What led you to a career in law ? I blame my career in law on a personality / career test I took in the second grade . The results of the personality / career test indicated
I should be an attorney , and I never considered another career path .
What other involvement have you had with SBAND prior to being on the Board ? Prior to being on the board of governors , I was the president-elect and later the president of the Young Lawyer ’ s Section .
What is your favorite quote ? “ You can ’ t calm the storm , so stop trying . What you can do is calm yourself . The storm will pass .” -Timber Hawkeyel
What is the last book you read ( good or bad )? My dad and I started reading the Michael Connelly series together a couple of years ago and recently finished his latest book , “ The Wrong Side of Goodbye .” I thought it was a good book !
SECTION HIGHLIGHT
Family Law Section
While SBAND ’ s Family Law Section has been around for decades , its resurgence began in the 1980s as the courts began to take a closer look at the importance and impacts of Family Law . “ At this time , the Family Law Section became more of its own voice ,” says Sherry Mills Moore . “ We did a lot of work on rule changes and statutory changes to help the system function better in relation to family law .”
A Family Law Task Force was also formed to bring together the Section and the court system , legislators , and others to focus on problems and solutions related to family law . Moore says the work of the Family Law Section made significant impacts in creating changes to the North Dakota Rules of the Court , which included changes to the interim order process , modification of custody , and the development of tools for the court system regarding parenting investigators and guardians ad litem . “ We really worked to become a more formalized group and to work with others involved in family law ,” says Moore .
Today , the Family Law Section continues to monitor and address topics that impact family law , including working with the family mediation and parenting coordinator programs . “ During legislative years , we keep an eye out for any family law bills that may affect us . We get input from our members to see how it will affect lawyers and family law ,” says Tasha Gahner , Section chair .
The Family Law Section also holds a conference each year , rotating locations between Bismarck and Fargo . “ We focus on topics that impact family law attorneys and the practice of family law ,” says Gahner . “ The CLE opportunities are great to come together and make sure we are up-to-date on family law changes and issues .”
Gahner encourages others working or interested in family law to join the Section . “ It ’ s a great networking opportunity ,” she notes . “ There are family law lawyers from all across the state that come together .”
FAMILY LAW SECTION OFFICERS
Tasha Gahner – Chair Jason McLean – Outgoing Chair Shannon Parvey – Vice-Chair Jackie Stebbins – Secretary / Treasurer
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