BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAWYERS
Legal Services of North Dakota( LSND) enjoys working with law students eager to see what access to justice looks like in practice and dreams of creating its own Law Student Incubator Program someday. The students quickly learn that civil legal aid is more than casework. It is innovation, community, and service working together to make the justice system more accessible for everyone.
This year, eight students from three law schools joined LSND for the summer. University of North Dakota law students included Sean Brady 3L( this was Brady’ s second summer with LSND), Elise Christy 3L, Sydnee Spivey 2L, Katie Maxwell 2L, Lydia Berquist 2L, and Ben Saewert 2L. We also welcomed Allison Hernandez, 2L at the University of South Dakota, and Cary Smith, 2L at Northwestern. Each student brought a different background and perspective, and together they made significant contributions to LSND’ s mission.
The 2025 cohort worked on projects that strengthened access to justice across North Dakota, while gaining experience in the real-world practice of law. Their work included developing a plainlanguage toolkit to help tenants navigate the eviction process, building a comprehensive database of disaster and emergency contacts for all 53 counties, and creating materials for a Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive workshop kit to assist community partners in helping clients complete vital documents. Students also conducted courtroom observations of eviction proceedings to identify trends in representation, outcomes, and barriers to participation.
For LSND, the benefits of the student program extend beyond the summer months. The students’ enthusiasm and curiosity helped accelerate projects that directly impact clients and communities. Their research, writing, and analysis supported statewide initiatives that would otherwise take months to complete. At the same time, their energy and new ideas brought fresh perspective to longstanding challenges in delivering civil legal services in a rural state.
For the students, the experience provided an inside look at the complex realities of access to justice work. Many expressed surprise at how much legal aid attorneys handle in a single day and how much creativity is required to solve problems within limited resources. By the end of the summer, each had seen firsthand the power of law practiced in service to people, not just cases.
LSND’ s law student program continues to evolve into a structured, cohort-based model that connects students from across the country to meaningful legal aid work in North Dakota. Future summers will include a combination of in-office, hybrid, and remote opportunities.
The 2025 law student group demonstrated that when given the opportunity, future lawyers are eager to contribute to the work of building stronger, fairer communities. LSND is proud to play a part in shaping that future and grateful to the North Dakota legal community for supporting the next generation of lawyers.
Two students focused heavily on improving client intake for bankruptcy, streamlining how applications are processed, and identifying the points where clients most often stop before completing their paperwork. Their work directly improved LSND’ s efficiency and helped create a more client-friendly intake experience.
Beyond their project work, the students engaged in substantive legal matters in the areas of domestic violence, family law, housing, and bankruptcy. They assisted with legal research, drafted documents, and participated in case discussions that mirrored the day-to-day challenges faced by LSND attorneys. This exposure gave them a grounded understanding of what it means to provide high-quality civil legal services to vulnerable populations.
Professional development was also an important part of the summer experience. Several students attended SBAND’ s annual meeting and conference alongside LSND staff, participating in continuing legal education sessions and networking with members of the bar. Internally, LSND hosted a series of training sessions designed to help students recognize legal issues that often surface in client conversations, understand the basics of bankruptcy law, and learn about the regulations and compliance requirements that govern federally funded legal aid organizations. These trainings not only deepened their legal knowledge but also helped them appreciate the ethical and procedural safeguards that shape legal aid practice.
FALL 2025 29