GET TO KNOW YOUR BOARD MEMBER
Carrie Francis
SBAND Board Member North Central Judicial District Representative
What is your current position ? I am in private practice in Minot , with my primary practice areas being family law and mediation . Prior to private practice , I was a supervising attorney with Legal Services of North Dakota with an emphasis in tribal law and domestic violence .
What is your hometown , college attended , and law school attended ? I am originally from Garrison , North Dakota . I received my bachelor ’ s degree in psychology from Minot State University in 1997 . I graduated from UND School of Law in 2001 and was admitted to the Bar that same year .
What professional work did you do before law school ? Prior to entering law school , I worked as a store manager for Osco Drug while deciding what my next career move would be .
What led you to a career in law ? I have always had an interest in the law and have wanted to be a lawyer since the sixth grade .
How long have you been on the SBAND Board ? I have been on the SBAND Board since September 2015 .
What other involvement have you had with SBAND prior to being on the Board ? This is my first involvement with SBAND and I am excited to see what other opportunities lie ahead .
What is your favorite quote ? While I don ’ t have a favorite quote per se , the quote that I find myself using most often is , “ this too shall pass .” In my practice , I find myself using this often , reminding my clients that better days are ahead and we need to focus on those days instead of dwelling on the past and what could have been .
What ’ s the last book you read ( good or bad ?) The last book that I read was The Kite Runner . I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read .
MSUM Paralegal Program Reapproved by ABA
The Paralegal Program at Minnesota State University Moorhead has been granted reapproval by the American Bar Association ( ABA ). In existence since the early 1980s , the program has been approved by the ABA since 1995 .
Tracy Gompf , J . D ., coordinator and professor with the program , said the approval process involves an intensive review of the curriculum , faculty , students , and resources that culminates in a two-day site visit .
During the most recent site visit in September 2015 , ABA delegation met with faculty , administration , students , staff , graduates , and members of the Paralegal Advisory Board .
Only 78 four-year paralegal degree education programs in the nation are approved by the ABA , said Gompf . “ ABA approval is considered the ‘ gold standard ’ assessment of paralegal programs by employers and students . As one of only a few four-year ABA-approved programs in the tri-state area , we are proud of the hard work and dedication that is put into meeting the stringent standards necessary to achieve this prominent recognition .”
He said the program was first established at the request of Fargo-area law firms , which were having difficulty filling paralegal positions . Students come to Moorhead both as freshmen , to complete all four years of the bachelor of science degree program , or as transfers , having completed their first two years of general courses somewhere else .
“ Every year we also have students who have a prior degree and want this as a second degree ,” said Gompf . “ Some paralegals go on to law school , either right after getting their degree or after working at a law firm for a few years .”
The program has 60 majors each year , and the job market remains strong for graduates , Gompf said . “ We get many calls from law firms in North Dakota , Minnesota , and some in South Dakota , and job placement remains above 90 percent .”
Four faculty members teach in the program , which , in addition to Gompf , includes fulltime and adjunct teachers who are practicing attorneys and paralegals .
More information on the program is available from Gompf at 218-477-2862 , or by email at gompftr @ mnstate . edu .
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