YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE
Membership in the Young Lawyers Section( YLS) is automatic with licensure in North Dakota for attorneys who are 35 years of age or younger or have practiced law for five years or less. YLS hosts social events across the state, providing networking opportunities for young lawyers. If you are interested in hosting an event in your area, please contact the YLS board at younglawyersnd @ gmail. com. YLS also hosts continuing legal education webinars, which are free for YLS members. All lawyers are encouraged to participate in these webinars to earn CLE credits.
MATTHEW SWANSON
Matthew Swanson is an attorney in the Natural Resources and Native American Affairs Division of the North Dakota Attorney General’ s Office in Bismarck.
His interest in environmental law and policy developed from his academic background spanning law, economics, and natural-resource management.
Swanson earned his juris doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2025. While at Iowa Law, the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative helped connect him with opportunities to pursue his interest in environmental law, including a summer internship with the North Dakota Attorney General’ s Office. During the internship, he was introduced to environmental enforcement, administrative proceedings, and the work of North Dakota’ s naturalresource agencies. The experience also marked his first time living in North Dakota. He joined the division full time in fall 2025.
Swanson passed the February 2026 bar examination and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar in April 2026. Prior to law school, he earned bachelor of science degrees in environmental economics and policy and in ecosystem management and forestry from the University of California, Berkeley. His earlier public-service experience included time with the Illinois St. Clair County State’ s Attorney’ s Office and the district office of Illinois State Representative Katie Stuart. He also spent a summer at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville, Illinois, assisting with water-quality monitoring, watershed mapping, conservation work, and environmental education.
Originally from Illinois, Swanson is enjoying the experience of beginning his legal career and making a home in North Dakota with his girlfriend, Diavi. Outside the office, much of his time is spent corralling his new kitten and puppy, Otis and Keiko, away from his older cat Milo. New to homeownership, Swanson also finds time to enjoy the very fun project opportunities that come with unexpected home maintenance.
ALIVIA INGEBRETSON
Alivia Ingebretson is an associate attorney based in the Mayville office of Nilson Brand Law, where her practice focuses primarily on family law, including divorce, child custody, parenting time, and child support matters. In addition to her family law practice, she represents clients across a broad range of legal matters throughout North Dakota.
Ingebretson also serves as the part-time assistant state’ s attorney for Traill and Steele counties, giving her valuable courtroom and prosecutorial experience that strengthens her advocacy on behalf of clients. She also has experience representing clients in federal criminal defense matters, providing her with a diverse perspective on legal advocacy and the ability to evaluate cases from both sides of the courtroom.
Ingebretson was raised on her family’ s farm and ranch in western North Dakota. Prior to attending law school, she earned her undergraduate degree in managerial finance and accounting from the University of North Dakota.
YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE
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