of Criminal Defense Lawyers ; president of the Greater Grand Forks Bar Association ; served on the SBAND CLE Committee ; and was elected to represent the Greater Grand Forks District on the SBAND Board of Governors . For me , my involvement in SBAND has been a gradual process : Learning bar leadership locally before moving into SBAND leadership . Once on the board of governors , I learned the workings , issues , and processes of SBAND governance .
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR LAWYERS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN SBAND ? SBAND is a unique body in the practice of law . There are many practice-specific sub-groups in the legal field , but there is only one organization that represents all of the lawyers and judges , all of the time , regardless of area of practice . Accordingly , SBAND involvement offers attorneys the opportunity to learn and understand the legal practice as a whole while simultaneously introducing attorneys to other attorneys and judges from different backgrounds , practice areas , and regions . The net result is a healthier , vibrant legal community .
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS SBAND PRESIDENT OVER THE NEXT YEAR ? I would like to assist the law school in making connections with North Dakota students to consider attending law school . The state needs lawyers outside of the larger cities . I want my efforts to build off the excellent work done by President Olson and others , as well as the efforts being made by the law school to identify and recruit talented North Dakota students .
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU SEE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN GENERAL AND IN NORTH DAKOTA ? The diminishment of legal comity and bifurcation of the legal community into isolated silos of specific practices areas , especially by newer attorneys early in their careers . This , in turn , limits the number of attorneys doing general practice in small and mid-sized regions . And eventually , this results in citizens being barely served ( if at all ) by the local legal community . It then leads to citizens going farther from home to find legal help , employing lawyers not from their region who are mostly unknown to the citizens .
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE OUTSIDE OF YOUR LEGAL CAREER ? I have served on various church and local boards , including the Grand Forks Library Board of Directors . I have coached hockey and been a booster for Red River Tennis .
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN ? My family and I ski , most commonly at Whistler , British Columbia , and Montana . If I could ski every day , I would . We also all play tennis . My kids both played tennis from a young age and both played tennis for Red River High School . We like to travel with friends and family . We also enjoy sports , and my wife and I are proud UND alumni and fans with both football and hockey season seats , and also both lifelong Detroit Tigers supporters . I am a passionate Winnipeg Jets fan and watch or attend every game ( in general , I enjoy anything involving hockey , although my playing days are long-since completed ).
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR LAW STUDENTS AND YOUNG LAWYERS AS THEY ENTER THE LAW PROFESSION ? First , be good to your law school classmates – they are going to be your primary professional support throughout your career . Second , be patient with your career : don ’ t quickly jump for the biggest paycheck or the prettiest office space . Most legal careers extend for 40-plus years , so don ’ t back yourself into a box too early for the sake of marginally more money or a bigger desk . Third , always work through to hone your skills and establish – and keep – good work habits .
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