SBAND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SBAND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SUPPORTING ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND OUR MEMBERS AT SBAND
TONY J. WEILER SBAND Executive Director
Your board of governors and the team at SBAND are committed to doing more for those who struggle to afford legal services. Access to justice is something that we don’ t just talk about but are committed to. We are just over one year into our two-year strategic plan that focuses on two strategic goals.
Strategic goal number one is to partner with Legal Services of North Dakota( LSND) to expand efforts to reduce the access to justice gap. Part of that goal is to advance and expand direct SBAND access to justice programs with an enhanced commitment to meet modest means demand via pro bono and low bono by investing in our partnership with LSND.
SBAND’ s board has committed more than $ 100,000 in 2025 to help create a Pro Bono and Bar Engagement Director employed by LSND. This investment is coupled with a $ 350,000 grant to LSND by SBAND’ s IOLTA Commission. The funds generated by our IOLTA accounts in the last several years have made this kind of commitment possible. Further, the funds from IOLTA accounts are specifically meant to be used for access to justice and in funding legal services providers. The five person IOLTA Commission are totally supportive of this effort and will look for ways to continue to support the pro bono work being done in North Dakota.
I’ m happy to report LSND has hired attorney Zachary Tomsczik as the new director of Pro Bono and Bar Engagement. We look forward to continuing our partnership with LSND to provide those in North Dakota with legal services they would not otherwise be able to afford. While this was intended to be a two-year grant project, SBAND and LSND are committed to making this work long term. If you can help by taking a case pro bono that makes a great difference, too.
Strategic goal number two is to promote the mental health and well-being of SBAND members. This goal includes providing accessible support services to our members in need, destigmatizing help-seeking, and building a legal culture where lawyers can best thrive. While SBAND has been committed to the health and well-being of our members for years, we know there are ways we can always do more for those who need it most.
In 2025, the North Dakota Supreme Court modified our Lawyer Assistance Program to the Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program( JLAP). While judges have always been able to access the program, there wasn’ t a clear understanding of that. The rule modification added a district court judge to the membership of the six-person JLAP committee.
In early 2026, SBAND contracted with Lindsay Porten as our new JLAP director. She brings a wealth of knowledge in counseling and mental health. While we have had a director in the past, the position was open for most of 2025 as we looked for the right fit. Director Porten will spend approximately 20 hours per month assisting the committee and members of the bar. If you want to reach out to her, her email is lindsay @ sband. org. Some of the ways we are making the program more responsive is by educating our members on how to reach out if they need help, or if they know of a lawyer who is struggling and could use help. It’ s a confidential program, and no information regarding who is in the program or what the lawyer is struggling with is shared with anyone or any entity. If a lawyer is in the program through diversion from discipline, then information may be shared with disciplinary counsel or an inquiry committee.
Also keep in mind our Member Assistance Program( MAP). This program provides any attorney or their direct family members with eight free counseling sessions per year. The service is through CHI and is helpful in many different situations. If you want information on either JLAP or MAP, please see our website, www. sband. org, or reach out to me with any questions.
Finally, we know Artificial Intelligence( AI) in the law is not just coming, it’ s here. We have partnered with the New York State Bar on seminars that are free to our members. You can find the link to that information on our website. We have also been given permission from the Texas State Bar to share the link to that bar’ s AI Toolkit. You can find that information at www. texasbarpractice. com / artificialintelligence-toolkit /.
As always, please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns about what is happening at SBAND.
SPRING 2026 5