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State's attorney hosts inaugural law-pathways externs; office plans to hire both after graduation
Summary
The Pennington County state's attorney introduced two University of South Dakota 'alternative pathways to the bar' externs who are completing a semester of supervised practice in the office and who have committed to two years of public service after graduation.
Pennington County's state's attorney told commissioners on Sept. 2 that her office is hosting two of the first students in South Dakota's new "alternative pathways to the bar" program, which lets qualified law students complete supervised practice hours and be licensed without taking the traditional bar exam.
Laura Retzel, Pennington County state's attorney, introduced externs Carly Veer and Thomas Potts, who are completing 500 hours of practice in the office this semester. Retzel described the program as a state bar and university collaboration designed to address the state's attorney-supply shortage by providing supervised, practical courtroom and office experience during law school.
"They spend 500 hours here in our office, literally practicing law, drafting motions, going to court, participating in trials," Retzel said. Both students told the board they plan to return to the county office after graduation; as part of the pathway program participants commit to two years of public-service work following licensure.
Why it matters: The program aims to increase the number of locally licensed attorneys who can serve in public offices — prosecutors, public defenders and other public-service roles — by providing a supervised, practice-focused route to licensure. The state's attorney said both students will return to work in her office when they complete the pathway and graduate.
