The State Bar Association of North Dakota Summer 2013 Gavel Magazine | Page 10

WEILER WANTS SBAND TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE
sionals and community leaders. I look forward to tackling the big picture policy issues with them.” One priority is a continued focus on increasing pro bono work. “We have to continue to find ways to serve those who can’t afford legal services. We also need to be aware of the shortage of lawyers in smaller towns.” North Dakota has never had so many lawyers, and of the 2,500 who are licensed, 1,400 live in the state. “This has been a big change in the past five years,” says Weiler. “What does it mean to our association and profession when so many of our state’s lawyers are not part of our communities? It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but something to consider.” He also believes it’s important that SBAND continue its strong relationship with the University of North Dakota School of Law. “Our law school produces excellent lawyers,” says Weiler, who graduated from there in 1998. A fourth-generation North Dakotan, Weiler, 43, grew up in Fort Yates, where his father was a high school teacher, administrator and coach. Following graduation from Standing Rock High School, Weiler earned an English degree from UND in 1992. At college, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played football. “I like to read and write, and I always appreciated the work that lawyers did,” Weiler says. “I believed that by becoming a lawyer, I could make a living reading, writing and thinking.” Prior to attending law school, Weiler worked in the labor standards office in the North Dakota Labor Department for three years. Following law school, he spent a year at the Supreme Court as a clerk for Justice Dale Sandstrom. “There, I was able to observe the work of good lawyers, and was able to read well-written briefs and hear good oral advocacy. I saw what was effective and what wasn’t.” From 1999 to 2002, he was in general practice at the Wheeler Wolf firm in Bismarck. He then moved to the Maring Williams Law Office, also in Bismarck, because he wanted to focus more on trial law. “Dave Maring is a great litigator who was also very involved in SBAND. The firm stressed that service within the profession and leadership in our communities is important for lawyers.” Both Maring and partner Mike Williams of Fargo are former longtime SBAND board members and presidents. During his eight years with Maring Williams, he served on SBAND’s Ethics Committee and the annual meeting committee when it was held in bismarck. Weiler returned to state government in 2010, when he was appointed by thenGovernor John Hoeven as State Labor Commissioner. “I enjoyed being back in the public sector, and it was an honor to serve on the Governor’s cabinet.” He remained as that agencies head, supervising a staff of 11, until moving to SBAND in June. “I believe my background in the practice of law, running a state agency, as well as experience in lobbying, public policy formation and working with the executive branch of state government have prepared me well for this position. It is a good fit for me.” Weiler lives in Bismarck with his wife, Sheila, a registered nurse who stays at home with their four young children between the ages of 11 and three. And despite the challenges of his new position, he continues to remain involved in his community. “We need to continuously provide value to our members, show the public the good work lawyers do as a profession, and earn their trust through the good things we do in our communities. Lawyers are leaders who constantly give back to our communities, and when we do we help not only our communities and our profession, but we help ourselves.”

SBAND Executive Director

Tony J. Weiler

“This is an interesting and exciting time for the legal profession in North Dakota,” according to Tony J. Weiler, the new executive director of the State Bar Association of North Dakota. Among his top priorities is a thorough look at current challenges and opportunities with an eye to the future. “In my 15 years of practicing law and working as an agency head, I have seen many changes,” says Weiler. “We need to use some foresight to analyze what issues may be f 6??r?w?W'2??F?R?W?BF?R?V'2?B&Vv??F?v?&???v?2F?FG&W72F?V???r?( ?vV??W"7FWVB??F???2?Wr?6?F??????V?R?&W?6??r&????WV????v??&WF?&VBgFW"V?v?B?V'2?( ??gV??v&RF?B??fR&?r6??W2F?f????W&R?( ??R6?2??B( ?B?2???'F?BF?6??F??VRF?Rv??Bv?&?F?B4$?BF?W2?2?76?6?F????vR?VVBF?6??F??VRF?&?f?FRf?VRF??W"?V?&W'2??&V?WfRvRF?F?BvV????r?'WBvR?VVBF?6??6?FW"??rvR6?F?F?BWfV?&WGFW"2vR??fRf?'v&B?vR?VVBF?VW7F???( ?v??&RvRF???rF??3?( ??B( ?6?vRF?F??2&WGFW"?"??&RVff?6?V?F??( ??N( ?2?WfW"&B?FVF?F?R?&B????BWfW'?F???r??6R??v???R?( ?F??2??6?VFW2??R6?2?&Wf?6?F??rF?Rv??2?B?76???2?b4$?B?B?G26???GFVW2?( ?vR???VVBF?&Wf?F??R6??R?bF?R6???GFVW2?"BF?R?V7B6??6?FW"??rF?W?6?&?f?FRf?VRF??V?&W'2?BF?RV&?2???f?'GV?FRF?&R&?RF?v?&?v?F?7V6?7G&??r&?&B?bv?fW&??'2?F?W?&R??6????VB&?fW2?????F?RvfV?7V??W"#0??