SBAND PRESIDENT
SBAND PRESIDENT
BUILDING THE PIPELINE:
ENCOURAGING THE NEXT GENERATION OF NORTH DAKOTA LAWYERS
DEBRA HOFFARTH SBAND President
“ The one great principle of the English law is to make business for itself.”
– Charles Dickens, Bleak House
Across our state, lawyers know the importance of building the next generation of attorneys. SBAND has nearly 3,000 licensed attorneys who serve a largely rural population of roughly 796,000 people. Too many North Dakota communities depend on only a few lawyers, and six counties have no resident attorney. These numbers highlight a pressing need, but the solution doesn’ t require sweeping reforms. Small, meaningful actions can encourage the next generation of lawyers to step forward.
Show Up in Schools. Career fairs, classroom visits, job shadowing, and internships are easy ways to introduce students to the legal profession. You can also volunteer your time with college pre-law or trial clubs. Many students can’ t name a lawyer in their community, or their image of lawyers might be The Lincoln Lawyer. A short conversation with a practicing attorney or a morning watching court can make a lasting impression. You may not see results grow right away, but these moments add up.
Support Mock Trial. Coaching a mock trial team is one of the best ways to give students hands-on experience in a courtroom. It’ s fun, fast-paced, and builds confidence in public speaking and critical thinking. If you don’ t have time to coach, consider serving as a judge at SBAND’ s Mock Trial Competition on March 28, 2026, in Bismarck. You will be amazed at the talent on display.
Celebrate Law Day. May 1, 2026, is Law Day, which is dedicated to public education about the role of law in society. Volunteer to speak, lead a discussion, or even host a field trip to the courthouse. This could open doors for students who have never considered being a lawyer.
Mentor Students. North Dakota lawyers can pride themselves on being approachable. A quick email or call to a high school or college student considering law school, or a coffee meeting with someone preparing for the LSAT, can make all the difference. Mentor law school students through clerkships, law review, mock trial, or moot court. Many of us remember the one lawyer who told us,“ You can do this.” Be that lawyer for someone else.
Connect to the Community. Teach young people the law is not just about books and briefs, it’ s about people. Whether helping a farmer resolve a land dispute, advising a local company, helping an injured person, or advocating in a courtroom, lawyers are problem-solvers who make a real impact in their communities. When students see that, they can understand the law is not a career, it’ s a calling.
Encourage the LSAT. The LSAT is the gateway to law school. In 2024-2025, 154
North Dakotans took the LSAT. Help demystify the process by sharing study strategies and pointing them to prep resources. This small gesture could remove a barrier for a future lawyer.
Support Rural Practice. Once students graduate, we can also encourage them to build their careers where they’ re needed most- North Dakota. North Dakota’ s Rural Attorney Recruitment and Retention Program offers financial incentives to attorneys who commit to practicing in rural areas. This program helps fill critical service gaps in rural communities while providing new lawyers with hands-on experience and an opportunity to make a difference close to home. Remind law students and new graduates that opportunity doesn’ t always mean big city, sometimes it’ s Main Street.
To truly strengthen the lawyer pipeline, we must look beyond admissions and consider how we inspire and support future lawyers throughout their development. The legal profession in North Dakota is a privilege. We are caretakers of the rule of law, and part of that duty is ensuring the profession is strong, diverse, and ready for the future. One student at a time may not solve the rural lawyer shortage overnight, but it keeps the profession alive.
If you would like to learn more about getting involved, please reach out to me, past-president Ted Sandberg, or Pam Shea at the University of North Dakota School of Law. Dickens might have been poking fun at the law’ s self-perpetuating nature, but the law only continues when we, as lawyers, open the door and invite others in.
4 THE GAVEL