Grant Shaft : Practicing Law and Public Service
By Kylie Blanchard
Grant Shaft hasn ’ t had a traditional career in law . While he has practiced in Grand Forks since 1986 , he has also held many other positions including a member of the state legislature , member of the State Board of Higher Education , and leadership in sections and committees with the State Bar Association of North Dakota ( SBAND ).
Since 1992 , Shaft has served as the chair of the Real Property , Probate and Trust ( RPPT ) Law Section . He has also served on the Title Standards Committee , which falls under the umbrella of the RPPT Section , and witnessed both the Section and Committee flourish with active members and meaningful impacts on the state ’ s practicing bar .
In 2017 , Shaft will retire as chair of the RPPT Law Section , a time he says is right for a new generation to take over its leadership . “ You do get to a point where you feel it ’ s time for some of the younger lawyers to take over ,” he notes . “ I ’ m confident they are going to do a great job .”
Law Influences
Shaft comes from a family of lawyers , which influenced his decision to pursue a law degree . “ My grandfather and father practiced together in our family firm in Grand Forks ,” he says . “ So I had a lot of exposure to lawyers and that certainly influenced me .”
He received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and his law degree from the University of North Dakota Law School , just like his grandfather , father , an uncle and aunt . He notes his son is also now a second year law student at the University of Notre Dame .
“ I started practicing law in the Grand Forks family firm in the fall of 1986 and have practiced in Grand Forks since that time ,” he says . “ I particularly enjoyed the years I was able to practice with my father . I learned a lot from him and the lawyers of his generation . I admired the way they treated each other with a level of respect and managed to maintain strong professional and personal relationships .”
He soon learned his legal education provided much more than the skills necessary for admission to the bar . “ Law graduates are well prepared for professions in business , education , and politics ,” he notes . “ My law degree aided me in immediately participating in public service and being able to continue that service over many years in elected , appointed , and volunteer positions .”
Public Service
Shaft says he has enjoyed the many roles he has held during his career . He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1986 to 1990 and was also appointed to two terms with the State Board of Higher Education by former Governors Hoeven and Dalrymple . He also served as the North Dakota and Minnesota representative on the Executive Council for the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Section .
He has served SBAND in many capacities , including RPPT Section Chair , member of the Title Standards Committee , member of the Board of Governors , secretary of the SBAND Board , chairman of the Client Protection Fund Committee , member of the Multi-Jurisdiction Task Force , member of the Continuing Legal Education Committee , member of the Legislative Committee , and SBAND registered lobbyist . “ I have enjoyed the years I have served SBAND in a number of roles ,” Shaft says .
SBAND Involvement
Shaft first became involved in SBAND in the late 1980s . “ In 1988 , the North Dakota Title Standards Committee had completed a wholesale revision of the standards and presented them at the annual Section meeting . I was asked to assist in the presentation ,” he says .
His father retired as a member of the Title Standards Committee in 1990 , and he was asked to replace him . “ It was clear a large part of my practice moving forward would concentrate in real estate , and the Title Standards Committee provided great exposure to the leading real estate practitioners ,” says Shaft .
In 1992 , Shaft became chair of the RPPT Section . “ The running joke was I missed a Title Standards Committee meeting and being named chair of the Section was the penalty ,” says Shaft , adding it is a position he has held since that time .
He notes the RPPT Section ’ s annual meeting and seminar has been a great success , at times having reached more than 200 attendees . “ The proceeds from the
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