From Carbon Paper to the Cloud –
50 Years of Change
By David L. Peterson
Editor’s Note: This article is a condensed version of a full article written by
David L. Peterson. A copy of the article in its entirety is available on the
SBAND website at www.sband.org.
As a 1968 graduate of the University of North Dakota (UND)
School of Law who has received my 2018 law license, I cannot help
but marvel at the many changes that have occurred, not only in the
technical aspects of the practice, but also in the many changes I have
observed and experienced over the past 50 years in the various legal
positions in which I have been privileged to serve.
The Class Makeup – 1966 - 1968
THEN – Our class entered UND Law with a few less than 100
candidates and we ended up graduating around 40. There were no
women graduates in our class even though we had three who were
with our class part of the time. One dropped out, one transferred for
her senior year, and one graduated at mid-year the following year.
NOW – It appears the UND Law classes have nearly equal numbers
of men and women.
THEN – The Law School occupied ONLY the top two floors of
what was then the Business School building for classrooms, faculty
offices, and library. We had no computers or internet service.
NOW – The Law School took over the entire building several years
after our class graduated. Thereafter, an addition was added primarily
housing library materials. Then recently, a $14.4 million major
addition to, and renovation of, the existing building was completed.
It is now a state-of-the-art building facility with computers and
internet available throughout.
North Dakota Law Review – Volume 44
THEN – I was editor-in-chief for Volume 44. We had a very small
office, which was located on the top floor and occupied a space
equal to the size of the jury box that is located in the top floor court
room. I had five assistant editors, a business manager, and 12 staff
members. Obviously, we had no computers or internet to use for our
publication.
NOW – The editor-in-chief in 2018 for Volume 93 is Santana Royer.
The office now is a much larger and more functional space. There
now appears to be six assistant editors, 11 associate editors, and 12
staff members. Computers and internet are obviously available for use
in preparing the publication.
The Bar Exam – July 1968
THEN – When we took the bar exam in 1968, it was administered
by three bar examiners (who were all N.D. lawyers in private
practice) who composed the examination questions (all essay). They
then reviewed and graded the examinations and determined who
was eligible for admission and who was not. Obviously, there were
no computers available for use. The exam was administered on a
Monday and Tuesday in July, and on Friday of the same week we, the
applicants, called the clerk of the Supreme Court who would advise
who had passed and who had failed the exam. Those who passed
were then admitted to the bar on Saturday of the same week in July.
NOW – The bar exam is still required and is administered in July and
February, but the results of the exam are not released until months
after the exams are completed. Those who pass are not admitted until
months after the exams are completed. Further, the exam format is
very different as there are now multistate exam questions that are
used by the bar examiners. Computers may be used while taking the
exam.
David L. Peterson joined Larson Latham Huettl Law Firm in 2010 as Of Counsel after retiring from the United
States Attorney’s office where he served as an Assistant United States Attorney and Civil Chief for the District of
North Dakota. Peterson also clerked for the North Dakota Supreme Court, served as an Assistant North Dakota
State Attorney General, and was in private law practice in Bismarck for 20 years.
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THE GAVEL