UND School of Law Students Tour Fargo
impact of technology in law, the importance of building supportive networks, and maintaining courtesy with peers even on opposite sides of legal issues. Next, at SW & L Attorneys, students shared their individual journeys to law school and had the opportunity to ask attorneys about practicing in North Dakota.
The students then enjoyed a lunch sponsored by the State Bar Association of North Dakota( SBAND), where SBAND Executive Director Tony Weiler and several Fargo-area attorneys joined them. Over the meal, conversation flowed easily as attorneys shared insights about practicing in Fargo while students discussed their career goals and aspirations.
After lunch, the group visited the Aaland Law Firm, meeting with attorneys from the criminal law and civil litigation divisions.“ We covered everything from how we got to where we are to mental health and wellbeing,” said attorney Robert Vallie, who specializes in eminent domain law.“ The job is stressful and can take a toll. It’ s important for students to know they don ' t have to be afraid to ask for help.”
Vallie also stressed the importance of reaching out to colleagues who may be struggling.
The UND School of Law tour group at the Cass County Courthouse in Fargo.
By Kimberlee Hegvik and Nicholas Samuelson
On Oct. 10, several University of North Dakota( UND) School of Law students boarded a Fargo-bound charter bus with a mission: to discover whether the city’ s legal community could become their professional home after graduation.
“ I knew we could plan something that would give students a sense of the strong legal community we have in Fargo,” said Cass County State’ s Attorney Kimberlee Hegvik.“ If our efforts attract even just a few to put down roots here, it will be worth it. We are fortunate to have a local bar of dedicated legal professionals who are welcoming and able to convey enthusiasm for why the Fargo area is a great place to live and practice.”
The tour was the brainchild of Hegvik and SW & L Attorneys co-founder Nathan Severson, both concerned with North Dakota’ s lawyer shortage and the trend of UND law students leaving the state after graduation.“ I left North Dakota after law school to practice in Las Vegas but thankfully found my way back,” Severson said.“ My hope is my life experience will show students why North Dakota is a great place to practice. When Kim pitched this idea to me, I was fully on board.”
Hegvik and Severson pitched the concept to Jennifer Braun from the Aaland Law Firm and Scott Brand from Nilson Brand Law, who quickly agreed to split the bus cost with SW & L.
The day began at Nilson Brand Law, where students enjoyed Sandy’ s Donuts while meeting the firm’ s attorneys and staff. They toured the office and discussed different practice areas, the
The next stop was the Cass County Courthouse, where students heard from a panel of judges and staff from the East Central Judicial District, along with attorneys from the Public Defender’ s Office and the Cass County State ' s Attorney’ s Office. The panel discussed what attracted them to practicing law and why they chose to practice in Fargo. At the end of the discussion, Judge Stephannie Stiel gave all of the students magnetic people figurines as a reminder that we are all connected and to be kind humans.
The tour group met with judges, court staff, and attorneys.
Before heading back to UND, the bus made a final stop at Brewhalla for a social hour sponsored by the Cass County Bar Association. Several SBAND members attended to mingle with the students, offering an informal opportunity to continue conversations and build connections with the local legal community.
The organizers hope the tour will become an annual tradition, helping to bridge the gap between law school and practice while showcasing the opportunities and community that await new attorneys in the Fargo area.
Kimberlee Hegvik is the Cass County State’ s Attorney and Nicholas Samuelson is an assistant state’ s attorney for Cass County.
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