Kelly Swenseth, Attorney and Owner
Devils Lake, North Dakota is Kelly’s hometown. She attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in the Visual Arts and as a Scholar in the Honors Program. She continued at UND for law school and had the opportunity to travel and study abroad in Oslo and Shanghai during the summers.
After law school, she did what many new college graduates did at the time and hustled right out of North Dakota. It wasn't until 2009 that she was drawn back to this state with the rush of oil companies exploring the western part of the state. That oil rush ignited an interest to move back home and help to create something that others look for in a community. Kelly’s goal is to help make the greater Devils Lake area to become a destination for young families and businesses to grow and flourish.
After law school, she did what many new college graduates did at the time and hustled right out of North Dakota. It wasn't until 2009 that she was drawn back to this state with the rush of oil companies exploring the western part of the state. That oil rush ignited an interest to move back home and help to create something that others look for in a community. Kelly’s goal is to help make the greater Devils Lake area to become a destination for young families and businesses to grow and flourish.
Joseph Vetsch, Of Counsel
Criminal Defense Attorney
Joe grew up in Devils Lake, North Dakota. He attended the University of North Dakota where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology before going on to earn his Juris Doctorate (with Distinction) from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2001.
Fresh out of law school, Joe worked as an attorney for Legal Services of North Dakota assisting victims of violence and sexual assault with civil issues in State and Tribal Courts. Joe served as the prosecuting attorney for the Spirit Lake Tribe from 2004 until 2016. He has served as a Special/Conflict Judge for the Turtle Mountain Tribal Court since 2013 and has served as the Chief Judge for the Spirit Lake Tribal Court since 2016. Joe has been a contract attorney for many counties, the State of North Dakota and the City of Devils Lake since 2003 where he serves as court appointed counsel in criminal and mental health cases. Joe has also managed his own private law practice in the City of Devils Lake since 2003. The focus of his practice has been mainly criminal defense. However, he is also experienced in real estate transactions and estate planning. Besides donning many legal hats in his professional life, Joe also plays the role of husband and father of four wonderful children in his personal life.
Joe is available to advise our clients and their families, employees, and/or friends who may be facing criminal charges that could threaten their reputation, financial stability, and the assets of their small business or farm operation. His experience on all sides of the aisle gives him the unique ability to examine your case from multiple perspectives in order to get you the best resolution possible without wasting unnecessary time and/or money.
Fresh out of law school, Joe worked as an attorney for Legal Services of North Dakota assisting victims of violence and sexual assault with civil issues in State and Tribal Courts. Joe served as the prosecuting attorney for the Spirit Lake Tribe from 2004 until 2016. He has served as a Special/Conflict Judge for the Turtle Mountain Tribal Court since 2013 and has served as the Chief Judge for the Spirit Lake Tribal Court since 2016. Joe has been a contract attorney for many counties, the State of North Dakota and the City of Devils Lake since 2003 where he serves as court appointed counsel in criminal and mental health cases. Joe has also managed his own private law practice in the City of Devils Lake since 2003. The focus of his practice has been mainly criminal defense. However, he is also experienced in real estate transactions and estate planning. Besides donning many legal hats in his professional life, Joe also plays the role of husband and father of four wonderful children in his personal life.
Joe is available to advise our clients and their families, employees, and/or friends who may be facing criminal charges that could threaten their reputation, financial stability, and the assets of their small business or farm operation. His experience on all sides of the aisle gives him the unique ability to examine your case from multiple perspectives in order to get you the best resolution possible without wasting unnecessary time and/or money.
Cody Cummings
Family Law Attorney
From Kansas City, Missouri, Cody graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Economics from Missouri State University in 2013 and received his Juris Doctorate from the Creighton University School of Law in 2017. While attending Creighton, Cody participated in the school’s clinical program, assisting tenants facing eviction and was an intraschool finalist in Creighton’s annual negotiation competition.
Cody resides in Grand Forks with his wife, Rachel, their son and their dogs Thor and Ronin. In his spare time, Cody enjoys working out, horseback riding, participating in various shooting competitions and watching football (Go Chiefs!).
Bar Admissions
Cody resides in Grand Forks with his wife, Rachel, their son and their dogs Thor and Ronin. In his spare time, Cody enjoys working out, horseback riding, participating in various shooting competitions and watching football (Go Chiefs!).
Bar Admissions
- North Dakota, 2017
- Minnesota, 2021
Heather Nichols,
Litigation Attorney, Licensed in Texas
Gretchen Baer, Paralegal
Haley Baer, Client Concierge
Scott Sandy, Certified Public Accountant
Scott grew up in Mora, Minnesota, but don’t hold that against him! He wised up and attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting.
Scott started his career with Cargill, Incorporated in 2001. For the next seven years he worked in their Corporate Financial Reporting division, focusing on advanced accounting practices such as consolidations, acquisitions and mergers, and the quarterly compilation of Cargill’s financial statements. He then went to work with the Industrial Oils business unit within Cargill as a Senior Accountant. There, he focused on maintaining the day-to-day financial activities for the numerous product lines within Industrial Oils. After three years there, he was given the opportunity to manage a team of accountants within the Corn Milling division of Cargill. While in Corn Milling he worked to improve the efficiency of his team while focusing on the profit margins of Corn Milling’s wide variety of products.
After nearly 12 years with Cargill, Scott accepted a position with Target Corporation in their Freight Accounts Payable department, leading a team of eight employees in the timely and accurate processing of domestic freight invoices. While with Target, Scott also became a licensed CPA.
In addition to working with Swenseth Law, Scott is the accounting instructor at Lake Region State College.
Scott started his career with Cargill, Incorporated in 2001. For the next seven years he worked in their Corporate Financial Reporting division, focusing on advanced accounting practices such as consolidations, acquisitions and mergers, and the quarterly compilation of Cargill’s financial statements. He then went to work with the Industrial Oils business unit within Cargill as a Senior Accountant. There, he focused on maintaining the day-to-day financial activities for the numerous product lines within Industrial Oils. After three years there, he was given the opportunity to manage a team of accountants within the Corn Milling division of Cargill. While in Corn Milling he worked to improve the efficiency of his team while focusing on the profit margins of Corn Milling’s wide variety of products.
After nearly 12 years with Cargill, Scott accepted a position with Target Corporation in their Freight Accounts Payable department, leading a team of eight employees in the timely and accurate processing of domestic freight invoices. While with Target, Scott also became a licensed CPA.
In addition to working with Swenseth Law, Scott is the accounting instructor at Lake Region State College.
Our mission is to support North Dakota's entrepreneurial spirit by working alongside professionals, tradesmen, farmers, and owners to develop their businesses so they can dedicate their time and success to loved ones. With an attorney and CPA on staff, we can assist owners with business development, managerial accounting and tax planning, trust and estate planning, and property management.
Swenseth Law Office, PLLC does not share fees with non-lawyer professionals or assistants and does not pay referral fees, bonuses, or any other form of compensation for recommending legal services. In cases involving fixed fees or contingent fees, the total fees are agreed upon in advance and there is no separate charge for legal assistant services. In matters charged on the basis of “fee for service” or at hourly rates, a client shall be invoiced a different hourly rate for work performed by accountants and legal assistants in calculating the amount of fees to be charged to the client.