Law Alumni Clapp, Godlewski and Loraas Receive Recertification

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

6-26-2014

Campus Unit

School of Law

Abstract

The Minnesota Bar Association recently announced the recertification of three UND Law Alumni. The certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in the specialty area, peer review, and documented experience. Certified attorneys have demonstrated superior knowledge, skill and integrity in their specific field and can use the designation of specialist to advertise their credentials. The MSBA has been accredited as an independent professional organization for certifying attorneys as Criminal Law Specialists, Real Property Law Specialists, Civil Trial Law Specialists and Labor and Employment Law Specialists. This achievement has been earned by fewer than 3% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys.

Richard Clapp of Pearson Christensen and Clapp, PLLP received recertification as Civil Trial Law Specialist. A 1976 graduate, Mr. Clapp received a Juris Doctor with Distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law. While attending law school, Mr. Clapp was a senior editor of the North Dakota Law Review and clerked for two and one-half years with a Grand Forks law firm.

Mr. Clapp is a former president of the Lake Region Bar Association, a former member of the North Dakota Bar Association Inquiry Committee East, a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar Association of North Dakota, the Grand Forks County Bar Association, American Bar Association Section of Litigation, the Defense Research Institute (DRI), and has been a member of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the North Dakota Bar Association.

Paul Godlewski , of Schwebel Goetz and Sieben, PA, also received recertification as Civil Trial Law Specialist. Mr. Godlewski knew long before he went to law school that he wanted to be a personal injury trial lawyer. Even before graduating from the North Dakota School of Law in 1973, Paul volunteered at the Legal Aid Clinic and worked with the Public Defender's Office. While in law school, Paul was appointed to the Board of Editors of the North Dakota Law Review and had two legal researched articles accepted for publication. Soon after graduation, he began his courtroom career by trying cases assigned through the public defender system, as well as representing people injured in automobile accidents.

Paul Loraas of Fryberger, Buchanan Smith and Frederick, PA, received recertification as Real Property Specialist. Mr. Loraas is a 1994 graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law and currently practices in the areas of lender support, real estate, collections, contracts, minerals and mining law.

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