Nick was born in Brookings, South Dakota on January 11, 1984. He grew up in a small, ranching and farming community of approximately 800 people in Central South Dakota. [Fun fact—Nick actually has three first-cousins who have qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in steer wrestling].
Nick wanted to be a lawyer from a very young age. His third-grade teacher always recounted how emphatic he was about becoming a lawyer when the discussion of future dreams came up in class.
As a young man, Nick worked at his parents’ cattle sale barn and enjoyed participating in 4-H: raising Grand Champion Hereford steers, and qualifying for the State Fair, where he would stay and show his cattle for one week each year. This was in addition to playing basketball, football, and running track. Nick still enjoys watching sports and attending games with his family, especially their favorite team—the Chicago Bears.
Nick graduated from high school in 2002. He made the transition from a class of fifteen (15)—many of whom attended Kindergarten through Senior Year together—to college at the University of South Dakota, a campus of approximately 9,000 students, in pursuit of his dream of becoming a lawyer. Nick pursued dual Bachelors’ Degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science, which he obtained, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Though Nick was accepted to attend law school in South Dakota—a place that he has always loved—he wanted to try something outside of his comfort zone, while also remaining close to his roots in the Midwest. Therefore, Nick applied to Drake University Law School in Des Moines. Despite having never been to or known anyone from Des Moines, he made one visit to the University, and shortly thereafter, moved within walking distance of the campus to begin school.
The rest, as they say, is history. Nick and his family now call Des Moines home. He has worked as a law clerk and as a lawyer in the same place ever since the Summer following his first year of law school.
Nick practices with a passion to help individuals, many of whom are injured workers, and are the same sort of hard-working folks with whom Nick grew up with and was proud to call family and friends. Therefore, what he does is especially rewarding and gratifying to Nick—it is easy to love your job when you love what you do.
