ERIK WALLEVAND
Erik Wallevand is an assistant Attorney General in the Natural Resources and Native American Affairs division of the North Dakota Attorney General’ s Office and has worked in the office since he was admitted to the North Dakota Bar in September 2022. In his division, Wallevand primarily provides legal counsel for the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. His practice includes both general counsel work, advising agencies on applicable laws and procedures, and litigation on environmental enforcement actions and multi-state lawsuits. He was recently elected North Dakota’ s representative in ABA’ s Young Lawyers Division, and participates in the SBAND Legislative Committee and maintains membership in the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law.
Wallevand was born in Byron, Minnesota, and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with majors in history and environmental studies. While at Concordia, he participated in the school’ s Symphonic Band, History Club, and the Lutheran College Washington Semester. After college, he moved to Grand Forks to attend the University of North Dakota( UND) School of Law. At UND, he helped found the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board and participated in the Environmental Law Society and Energy Law Association. Wallevand graduated and obtained his J. D. in May 2022.
Outside of work, he can usually be found fishing, hunting, biking, or skiing on the lakes. Wallevand also enjoys curling during the winter months at the Capital Curling Club.
LIZ FORDAHL
Liz Fordahl serves as counsel for the North Dakota Legislative Council, where her portfolio includes education, administrative rules, ethics, and open records, and she serves as the intern coordinator. A former English teacher( B. S. language arts and communication education, Minnesota State University Moorhead, 2011), she returned to academia and received her J. D. in 2021 from the University of North Dakota Law School, where she graduated cum laude. She was admitted to the North Dakota Bar in September 2021. Following law school, she enjoyed clerking for the Honorable Judge Shon Hastings for the U. S. Bankruptcy Court, District of North Dakota.
In addition to her involvement in the Young Lawyers Section, Fordahl served as secretary / treasurer of the Women Lawyers Section( WLS) last year, moderated WLS ' s continuing legal education programming at SBAND ' s Annual Meeting in 2025, served on the Legislative Council’ s United Way fundraising team, presented on legislative topics to the Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants in 2023, and served as president of the Environmental Law Society and treasurer of the Student Trial Lawyers Association during law school.
In her personal time, Fordahl enjoys outdoor recreation, traveling, the arts, and quality time with friends and family.
If you would like to recommend a young lawyer to be featured in future showcases, please contact the YLS board at younglawyersnd @ gmail. com.
YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE
SUMMER 2025 33