Fall 2016 | Page 26

YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE The SBAND Young Lawyers Section (YLS) would like to congratulate all of the new attorneys admitted to the North Dakota Bar on Sept. 23. All new bar members are automatically made members of YLS. The purpose of YLS is to encourage active participation of young lawyers in SBAND and in their local communities. To that end, YLS has sponsored a number of seminars and activities this fall. The YLS Education and Professionalism Committee hosted the Fundamentals of Law Webinar on Oct. 3. Jessica Foss, Katie Perleberg, and Kyle Barlow presented on best practices in trusts and estates law, and young lawyers and other licensed attorneys participated in this presentation. Information on upcoming webinars can be found at sband.org. The YLS Community Service Committee will host the Fourth Annual Feed Your Community Food and Fund Drive this spring. YLS will once again partner with the Great Plains Food Bank to help feed those in need in our local communities, and YLS is excited to continue this worthwhile event. To become involved in the food drive, contact Taylor Olson at [email protected] or Cassie Marka at [email protected]. YLS will continue to host monthly luncheons and happy hours across the state. These social events serve as a great way to interact with other young lawyers in the community. If you are interested in hosting, please contact YLS SecretaryTreasurer Meredith Childress at [email protected]. Please contact Jill Martin, YLS president-elect, at [email protected] to recommend young lawyers for future showcases or to get involved in YLS. LEAH CARLSON Leah Carlson is an attorney with the Bismarck-Mandan Public Defender Office, starting as a public defender in July. Prior to her current position, Carlson practiced family law at Smith Bakke Porsborg Schweigert & Armstrong in Bismarck. Originally from a farm near Glenburn, N.D., Carlson graduated from North Dakota State University in 2011 with a bachelor of science degree in political science. She earned her juris doctor from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2014. During law school, Carlson was Dean of Delta Theta Phi, a note editor for the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, and a research assistant for Professor James Albert. She also participated in the law school’s criminal defense clinic and worked at the State Public Defender Office in Des Moines. Leah is an active member of the YLS and is involved in the Big Muddy Bar Association. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, and baking. 26 THE GAVEL