YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE
The Young Lawyer Section ( YLS ) welcomed its new board in June . Trent Barkus has taken over the role of president for 2021 – 2022 , Erica A . Skogen Hovey has been elected president-elect , and Patricia R . Castro is the new secretary / treasurer . Brady Pelton is the association ’ s Board of Governors representative , and Zach Eiken is the American Bar Association representative . Please watch for their YLS showcases throughout the year in the The Gavel .
YLS will continue to host luncheons and happy hours across the state for great social networking opportunities , which will be held either in person or virtually . If you are interested in hosting , please contact the YLS Board at younglawyersnd @ gmail . com . Young lawyers and other licensed attorneys are encouraged to participate in these invaluable opportunities .
If you would like to recommend young lawyers for future showcases or if you would like to get involved , please contact the YLS Board .
ERICA A . SKOGEN HOVEY
Erica A . Skogen Hovey joined the Vogel Law Firm in August as an associate attorney with the criminal defense practice group in Fargo and Grand Forks .
Hovey graduated from Century High
School in Bismarck . She graduated cum laude from North Dakota State University ( NDSU ) with a degree in political science and philosophy and earned her juris doctor from the University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law in 2020 .
During law school , Hovey participated in several advocacy competitions including the Phi Alpha Delta national trial competition , the Texas Young Lawyers Association national trial competition , the Carrigan Cup trial competition , and moot court . Throughout these competitions , she received multiple awards recognizing her oral advocacy skills . She also served as president and treasurer of the Student Trial Lawyers Association , interned at the Grand Forks County State ’ s Attorney ’ s Office , and externed at the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota in Bismarck .
After graduation , Hovey was a judicial law clerk to Chief Justice Jon J . Jensen at the North Dakota Supreme Court . She was recently elected to serve as president-elect of SBAND ’ s Young Lawyers Section . Hovey lives in Grand Forks with her husband , Alex . While she remains an avid NDSU Bison fan , she is slowly growing to appreciate UND hockey . She enjoys spending her free time with family and friends , traveling , and taking long walks with her English Cocker Spaniel , Theodore .
DUSTIN RICHARD
Dustin Richard is a native of West Fargo . After graduating from West Fargo High School , he attended North Dakota
State University for his undergraduate studies , where he earned a bachelor of science degree in political science and a minor in comprehensive emergency management . Richard then attended the University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law , where he participated in Moot Court and played on the UND Law intramural hockey team . He also served as a member on the boards of several student organizations , including the Energy Law Association and the International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi . From the end of his 1L year to the end of his 3L year , Richard also worked as a law clerk at Olson , Juntunen , Sandberg & Boettner in Grand Forks .
Currently , Richard is an associate attorney at Furuseth Olson & Evert , P . C . in Williston . He practices in several areas including municipal law , oil and gas law , estate planning , real estate law , general civil litigation , and family law . In his free time , Richard enjoys traveling and spending time with his friends and family . He also enjoys skiing , golfing , hiking , and spending time with his fiancé , Kendra .
YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE
26 THE GAVEL