State Bar of South Dakota

Created in 1931 by the South Dakota Legislature, the State Bar of South Dakota (SBSD) is the state’s mandatory bar association. The State Bar of South Dakota is charged with both providing aid to the lawyers of South Dakota as well as regulating the practice of law in the state. All attorneys must join the State Bar of South Dakota when they become licensed to practice in South Dakota.

The State Bar of South Dakota strives to maintain a sense of community among its members. For example, new attorneys are encouraged to join the association’s Young Lawyers Section, which offers valuable programming such as the Hageman-Morris Mentorship Coin Program. Each year, the State Bar of South Dakota hosts a three-day meeting that enables members from across the state to network and socialize with one another.

The State Bar of South Dakota is also committed to providing a number of helpful perks to enhance the professional lives of its members. Attorneys belonging to the State Bar of South Dakota who are unable to attend educational seminars hosted by the State Bar of South Dakota in person can watch video recordings of those seminars on the association’s website. For members in need of employment, the State Bar of South Dakota regularly updates online job listings.

An important role of the State Bar of South Dakota is to ensure that all legal professionals in South Dakota maintain a high level of professionalism and personal integrity in their practice of law. The State Bar of South Dakota oversees professional licensure by administering the South Dakota Bar Exam. After lawyers become licensed to practice law in South Dakota, the State Bar of South Dakota Bar Association continues to regulate their professional lives in accordance with the stat’s code of legal ethics.

Aside from protecting the public from unethical lawyers, the State Bar of South Dakota offers a variety of informational and charitable services that directly benefit the public. For example, low-income residents in South Dakota can obtain free legal assistance through the State Bar of South Dakota’s Access to Justice Program. The State Bar of South Dakota also publishes online documents that provide valuable legal information for the general public.

Contact the State Bar of South Dakota:

222 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-2596
605-224-7554