The State Bar Association of North Dakota Fall 2013 Gavel Magazine | Page 14

NEW BAR
ADMITTEES

In a September 27 ceremony in the
House Chambers at the North Dakota
State Capitol, 50 lawyers were admitted to
the North Dakota Bar and welcomed by
state officials, fellow lawyers and family
and friends.
Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle told
them they are entering a changing profession. “It always has been a changing
profession but it continues to change at
a more rapid pace. Two engines driving
change are technology and the globalization of the practice of law. But there is one
thing that should not, must not change.
That is your -- our -- dedication to core
values of the legal profession. Those values are generally held to include honesty,
integrity, competence, client confidentiality. And civility.”
Other speakers were State Board of
Law Examiners member Lawrence King,
SBAND member Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley,
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem,
University of North Dakota Law School
Professor Margaret Moore Jackson, and
State Bar Association president-elect Jack
McDonald.
“The need to keep balance in one’s life is
critical,” King told the new lawyers. “Balance professionally, personally and with
community involvement.”
“The practice of law will present you
with a variety of challenges, both large
and small,” said Wrigley, who brought
greetings from Governor Jack Dalrymple.
“Keep in mind that the meaningful
triumphs in this profession are made on
behalf of others.”
Speaking on behalf of the University
of North Dakota School of Law, Jackson said, “Now that you’re on your own,
released from school and newly licensed,
my advice to you is that you learn to learn
from experience – because there are more
challenges ahead and additional goals to
accomplish. As you begin your career as
a lawyer, examine your preparation, your
methods, your habits, your processes;
then reflect upon your results.”

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NEW LAWYERS WELCOMED TO NORTH
DAKOTA BAR IN SEPTEMBER CEREMONY
She encouraged the new lawyers to engage in constructive self-critique. “Pay attention to how others navigate the terrain,
noting and incorporating some of what
they do well and making sure to sidestep
their pitfalls.”
“Each time you work through a new
problem, or complete a negotiation or a
hearing, ask yourself, ‘What did I learn
this time? What will I do differently next
time? And what will I be sure to do again,
because it worked for me?’” she said.
Stenehjem told the new lawyers that
they need to consider themselves members of both their legal community and
their local community. “In your future,
you will certainly be called upon to give
back to your community. North Dakota
has many outstanding civic leaders, but
never enough.”
He said volunteer groups, civic organizations and non-profit corporations will
seek them out for involvement because
of their unique training and knowledge.
“Serve on a board of charity. Join a service
club. Run for public office. I believe it is
your obligation as a lawyer to become
involved in such causes. You will be much
richer for it, and so will your city and the
state where you live.”
McDonald encourged the new admittees to take their new profession seriously
and to take part in their local and state
bar association activities. “It is important
to the legal profession in North Dakota
that lawyers take an active role on both
the county bar association level and the
state bar association level in furthering
the goals of our profession,” he said. “The
hallmark of a professional is giving back
to that profession.”
The individuals who met all of the requirements for admission based on the bar
examination are:
Alyssa Albus
Stephen Baird
Matthew Barber
Sarah Barry
William Behrmann

Brittany Bergstrom
Brittney Blake
Marquis Bradshaw
Zachary Burmeister
Christel Croxen
Andrew Eyre
Margaret Eyre
Austin Fauske
Stephen Fetch
Jacob Geiermann
Raymond Grabanski
Kirby Graff
Erich Grant
Brittany Hatting
Charlie Hendrix
Jared Hines
Seung Mi Hong
Stacey Hummel
Christopher Joseph
Thomas Kading
Anne Lawrence
Christopher LeCates
Megan Lindquist
Michael Mahlen
Michelle Mahlen
Tyler Malm
Casey Moen
Ashlei Neufeld
Aaron Nicholson
Amy Pikovsky
Brandon Pittenger
Steven Podoll
Andrew Pritchard
Morgan Reinke
Shannon Rogers
Angela Simerly
James Thompson
Leslie Weigel
William Wiebolt
Isaac Zimmerman
The following individuals were admitted having met all of the requirements for
admission based on eligibility by practice or
test score:
Kathleen Barrow
Kelly Fancher
Kristen Galster
Seth Thompson
Janna Wittenberg

The Gavel Fall 2013