Lawyer, Mother, Coyote: Knudson School of Law Alumna Balances Life and Work in South Dakota
Named in honor of the first female graduate of the law school in 1907, the Marjorie Breeden Society event seeks to connect students with alumnae who have paved the way for women in legal careers and demonstrate the law school’s values of excellence, service and leadership.
Holmstrom, of Rapid City, South Dakota, earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Political Science with a minor in Economics while an Honors student at USD in 2015.
She graduated with her J.D. from the Knudson School of Law in 2018 and went on to clerk for United States District Court Judge Karen Schreier.
During law school, Holmstrom interned with Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, L.L.P., where she now works in the firm’s litigation section. There, she represents clients in commercial and complex litigation, including trust and employment law matters.
Holmstrom serves as a court appointed criminal defense attorney on the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. This panel consists of attorneys appointed by the court under the Criminal Justice Act to represent individuals unable to afford counsel.
Upon completing her clerkship, Judge Schreier encouraged Holmstrom to join the CJA Panel.
“Working with clients who are facing the loss of their liberty gives me a different perspective when working for all of my clients,” said Holmstrom. “As Dean Fulton has explained, there is something to be said about representing someone in life’s most difficult moments.”
In addition to these roles, Holmstrom is also a working mother, a role she says she is most proud of. “I am both a practicing lawyer and a mom. I take great pride in showing up for both my clients and my family each day. In my opinion, whatever you’re trying to attain in your own work/life balance, you can achieve it to a high standard.”
Reflecting on her time at USD and what the Marjorie Breeden Society means to her, here is what Holstrom had to say.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time at USD?
Some of my best memories at USD center around both my classmates and my law professors. Having the pleasure of learning from renowned faculty like Professors Pommersheim, Horton and Hutton remains a highlight to me, particularly because I find myself continuing to apply the life lessons they taught me in my daily practice.
I was also a member and co-president of USD Law’s trial team, so I had the great fortune of traveling with Professor Horton and my classmates to competitions often, which was also a highlight of my time in law school.
Outside of the classroom, some of my favorite memories involved just being in the trenches with my classmates, studying and helping one another through law school. We were all focused on lifting each other up, which is how I still try to practice law today. Our state bar is stronger when we help one another.
Why did you choose USD Law?
My desire to go to law school was solidified during my undergraduate studies at USD, particularly after learning from faculty like Michael Roche and Sandy McKeown. Through the Honors Program, I had the opportunity to be taught by Professor Horton, who quickly sealed the deal for me wanting to attend law school.
Although I always knew I wanted to practice in South Dakota, I initially was looking for a change and attended my first year of law school at the University of Minnesota. I quickly realized, however, that I would best serve my community and individuals in South Dakota if I completed my legal education at USD.
I’m so grateful to have completed my degree at USD, particularly because South Dakota’s legal community is so tight knit. As a first-generation graduate student, I did not have any connections to the South Dakota legal community. By attending the Knudson School of Law, I was able to meet members of the State Bar of South Dakota, which immersed me in the community and connected me to individuals who remain mentors to this day.
Why do you stay involved with the Marjorie Breeden Society?
I am grateful to be involved with the Marjorie Breeden Society because I think it is imperative to have a law school initiative focused on women and mentorship. I strongly believe connecting female law students to graduates is essential to lifting not just women in our legal community but our State Bar as a whole.
As a young, female practicing attorney, I have come to realize just how important mentorship is. This is particularly true for women who are in the thick of law school. As a law student, it is so encouraging to see and hear from women who have completed law school and are practicing in different areas of the law. Such encouragement then percolates into your own practice, instilling trust and confidence in yourself as you journey into the practice of law.
Through organizations like the Marjorie Breeden Society, USD’s Knudson School of Law helps students make those necessary connections early and often. And, at the end of the day, such important connections lead to South Dakota having a strong legal network ready to serve our community.
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