YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE
The Young Lawyer Section (YLS) is continuing to host luncheons and happy hours across the state for great social
networking opportunities. If you are interested in hosting, please contact YLS Secretary-Treasurer Conor Smith at
[email protected].
In addition, the YLS Education and Professionalism Committee will continue to host webinars featuring various
legal topics. Young lawyers, as well as other licensed attorneys, are encouraged to participate in these educational
opportunities to earn continuing legal education credits.
YLS is specifically looking for individuals interested in co-chairing and participating in the YLS Community Service
Committee. The YLS Community Service Committee is responsible for organizing and implementing the Annual Spring
Food Drive. If you are interested in participating in either of these committees, please contact Jarrod Steele at
[email protected].
If you would like to recommend young lawyers for future showcases or if you would like to get involved in YLS, please
contact YLS President Sarah Wall at [email protected].
VANESSA LYSTAD
A native of Jamestown, Vanessa
Lystad is a partner and shareholder
at the Vogel Law Firm in its Fargo
office. She practices exclusively
in employment law, and in this
practice, she handles administrative
complaints, provides advice for
North Dakota and Minnesota
employers on employment
compliance issues, drafts and
reviews employment policies, investigates workplace
complaints, and generally represents employers in employment
litigation. Lystad is also an editor of the North Dakota
Employment Law Letter, a monthly newsletter providing
employment law updates to North Dakota employers.
She graduated from the University of North Dakota School
of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif.
While in law school, Lystad participated in moot court, was
managing editor of the North Dakota Law Review, and
completed externships at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
and Northeast Central Judicial District. Prior to law school, she
worked as an intern at the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C.,
and graduated from Minot State University with a degree in
sociology and German.
Outside of work, Lystad serves as a member of the Make-A-
Wish North Dakota Board of Directors, enjoys spending time
with her family and two rambunctious dogs, and likes to train
for triathlons.
24
THE GAVEL
J.R. STEELE
Jarrod (J.R.) Steele is the
Walsh County Assistant State’s
Attorney. He prosecutes
criminal offenses, handles
mental health proceedings,
works on juvenile cases, and
answers legal questions for
the County Commission and
county departments. Steele has
a variety of past experience and
has been with the Walsh County
State’s Attorney’s office since 2017.
Steele grew up in the central Illinois area and graduated
from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield. He
earned a bachelor of science degree in biology and a master
of arts degree in legal studies from the University of Illinois.
Steele attended the University of North Dakota School of
Law. While in law school, he served in various capacities on
the boards of the Energy Law Association, Environmental
Law Society, Student Bar Association, and Delta Theta Phi.
Steele was the School of Law’s first recipient of the Rocky
Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Scholarship.
Steele currently serves as the president-elect for the Young
Lawyers Section and is a member of the Walsh County Bar
Association. He resides in Grafton with his wife, Stephanie,
their three daughters, and their Great Dane. Steele enjoys
spending time with his family and friends, hunting, traveling,
cooking, and spending time outdoors.