Knudson School of Law Director of Experiential Learning Tamara Nash Invests in the Legal Profession
Nash's passion for service extends across local, regional and national levels. She has spearheaded several initiatives, including Project Destination, aimed at recruiting Native American students to the legal profession, and expanding the "What Do Lawyers Do" program nationwide.
In the following guest column, Nash reflects on her journey, the impact of her work and the connections she has forged within the legal community. Here’s what she had to say.
I came home to the USD Knudson School of Law in 2022, when I left my practice as a prosecutor. Through law school and since graduation, I have been deeply focused and passionate about investing in the legal profession. As a first-generation college graduate and lawyer, I feel immense gratitude for the legal profession as becoming a part of this profession changed my life for the better and has been a dream come true. Every day that I can give back to our profession is an honor.
I focus on giving back through my involvement with both the State Bar of South Dakota as well as the American Bar Association (ABA). I have had the opportunity to serve the state bar through several committee appointments: I am South Dakota’s young lawyer representative for the ABA House of Delegates, and I am a former president of the South Dakota Young Lawyers Section. This year, I have the distinct privilege and joy of serving as the chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division (YLD). The ABA YLD is the largest young lawyer entity – serving as home to about 100,000 new lawyers and law students.
Through bar service, I have gained friends and mentors, traveled the country and participated in amazing leadership opportunities that have changed the course of my career. My journey began in 2015, when I was elected to serve on the South Dakota Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Board of Directors as its First Circuit representative. From there, I ascended through several officer roles until ultimately serving as president in 2018-2019.
During my time on the YLS, we created and implemented new member service and public service projects. Notably, in 2017, I designed and implemented Project Destination, a public service project focused on Native American student recruitment. The program’s design is a moderated panel, which seeks to expose school-aged children to law practice, the law school application process and law school resources. This program has become a staple of the YLS and continues to be executed. In 2017, Project Destination received the ABA YLD’s EMBRACING Diversity Challenge grant and in 2019, it received the ABA Partnership Award. Serving within the YLS led me to also find a home in national bar service.
In 2016, I became actively involved in the ABA YLD and attended my first meeting in San Diego, California. Since that meeting, I explored several paths in YLD leadership, holding multiple roles on various boards and teams and in various YLD branches. In 2019, I decided to run for the position of ABA YLD secretary (an officer position that automatically ascends to chair). After a yearlong national contested race, I was elected by young lawyers from across the country. During my time in the ABA, I have gained countless opportunities to grow professionally. I have attended just over 50 meetings/conferences; authored around 10 articles; appeared on podcasts; contributed to a book chapter; and planned, presented or moderated about 51 webinars or CLEs.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the voice of South Dakota on a national scale. To lead initiatives that impact the lives of law students and young lawyers every day is a tremendous privilege.
Notably, this year our First-Generation Initiative hosted its inaugural regional summit. The summit focused on enriching the legal pathway and included high school, college and law students and members of the judiciary for attendees.
We expanded our long-standing “What Do Lawyers Do” program, aiming to have a national 50-state goal. We successfully implemented programming in over 20 states. This year’s focus on public service was centered on local impact. We partnered with local foster care entities in the cities we visited for conferences and donated necessary goods and encouragement cards for youth in need. We maintained a strong commitment to advocacy and research supporting the issues around law student debt and financial well-being.
Moreover, it has been an honor to bring elements of South Dakota (and the Midwest) to the ABA. Specifically, the YLD jointly hosted its Spring Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, this year (marking the first time the ABA held an entity meeting in Nebraska). Many of the people who make South Dakota so special were there, including South Dakota practitioners, USD law professors and members of the judiciary. It was a remarkable event and fantastic way to bring together two bar associations that I love so dearly.
I would be remiss if I failed to highlight the significance of the State Bar of South Dakota’s support. Our bar has been unmatched in its support and encouragement of my journey and growth in bar service. The opportunity to lead the ABA YLD would not have been possible without the State Bar of South Dakota, its leadership and members.
Through the South Dakota State Bar and ABA YLD, I have not only found a professional home, I have found a place to grow and shine. The people I have encountered and the lessons I have learned have guided me through some of life’s biggest decisions and helped me navigate career changes and negotiate job offers and have been a beacon of light in times of uncertainty. I am forever grateful for the opportunities afforded.
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