YOUNG LAWYER SHOWCASE
The YLS welcomed its new board in May. Helene (Laney)
Herauf has taken over the role of president for the 2018-2019
year. Sarah Wall is the new president-elect and Ashley Schell
is the secretary/treasurer. Andrew Askew will continue as the
Association Board of Governors representative. Please be on
the lookout for their YLS Showcases throughout the year in
The Gavel.
YLS will continue to host luncheons and happy hours across the
state for great social networking opportunities starting again
in the fall. If you are interested in hosting, please contact YLS
Secretary/Treasurer Ashley Schell at [email protected].
In addition, the YLS Education and Professionalism Committee
will continue to host webinars featuring various legal topics.
Young lawyers, as well as other licensed attorneys, are
encouraged to participate in these educational opportunities to
earn continuing legal education credits.
YLS is specifically looking for individuals interested in co-
chairing and participating in the YLS Community Service
Committee and the YLS Education and Professionalism
Committee. The YLS Community Service Committee is
responsible for organizing and implementing the annual
spring food drive. The YLS Education and Professionalism
Committee is responsible for planning and hosting the
webinars. If you are interested in participating in either
of these committees, please contact Sarah Wall at swall@
smithporsborg.com.
If you would like to recommend young lawyers for future
showcases or if you would like to get involved in YLS,
please contact YLS President Helene Herauf at lherauf@
nd.gov.
ASHLEY SCHELL ALEXANDER S. KELSCH
Ashley Schell is an associate attorney with
Oster Law Office, PLLC. She specializes in
custody, divorce, adoption, and criminal
defense. Schell graduated from William
Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn.
While in law school, she completed a
family law externship and internship and
also participated in a tax law clinic and
took classes focusing in alternative dispute resolution. Alexander S. Kelsch is a partner
at Kelsch, Ruff, Kranda, Nagle &
Ludwig located in Mandan, N.D.
Kelsch practices in the areas of
family law, bankruptcy, criminal
defense, and civil litigation. He is
also active in the firm’s extensive
governmental and administrative
lobbying effort.
Prior to making the move into private practice, Schell was an
Assistant State’s Attorney in Ward County, N.D. As a prosecutor,
she made lasting relationships with law enforcement, defense
attorneys, and members of the public. Schell also became the
office resource for financial crimes, because of her ability to
analyze complex financial cases, while still managing a caseload
of all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug possession and
delivery, theft, and assault. Kelsch is a Mandan native and graduated from the
University of North Dakota (UND) with a bachelor of arts
in English and economics and from the UND School of
Law with a juris doctor. Kelsch served on the 2017 North
Dakota Bankruptcy Court Local Rules Advisory Committee.
He currently serves as a Young Lawyer Liaison to Meritas,
as well as the Network Attorney and Telephone Attorney
for ARAG Legal Service. Kelsch was recognized as the Big
Muddy Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer of the Year in
2013, 2014, and 2015.
Schell married her husband, Josh, in 2012. Together, they have
a daughter and two rescue dogs. Schell is an avid runner and
competes in 10K and half marathon races as often as she can
and also recently took up racing in triathlons.
Schell previously served as treasurer of the Minot YWCA and is
currently on the board for the Young Lawyers Section.
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THE GAVEL
Kelsch has served as a sophomore boys basketball coach
for Mandan High School since the 2012-2013 season and
has participated in the Junior Achievement program since
2013. Kelsch resides in Mandan with his wife, Ashley, and
their Great Dane, Granger.