David L. Olson recognized as a North Star Lawyer
The Minnesota State Bar Association is proud to recognize members who provide 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services per year as North Star Lawyers.
Lawyers who serve the poor without charge should be celebrated. By generously donating their time and talent, they change lives. They help people who otherwise could not afford counsel achieve justice. The Minnesota State Bar Association is tremendously proud of our members who render free legal services to low-income persons. For hours volunteered in calendar year 2013, the MSBA gives special recognition to members who provide 50 hours or more of legal services as defined in Rule 6.1(a), (b)(1) and (b)(2) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Last year, over 950 MSBA members were certified as North Star Lawyers. David is proud to be one of those certified for his volunteer legal services in calendar year 2013.
Forty Years Practicing Law
As of October 2014 I have been practicing law for 42 years, most of it in the area of family law. Over the decades much has changed in family law. From the advent of no-fault divorce in the 70s, the 80's brought mediation and the 90's collaborative law, both alternative dispute resolution processes initiated by family lawyers frustrated with the adversarial litigation process. The new millennium saw the court itself initiate initial case management conferences in an effort to intervene at the beginning of the divorce instead of at the end. The current decade saw the courts introduce the early neutral evaluation process, in both financial and child related areas.
All of these efforts have been successful in reducing conflict in divorce cases and promoting resolutions without trials. All have a common thread; communication. When people communicate with each other, issues get resolved. That is the lesson that has been learned over the years, that is what brought about change, and what gives hope to the future of family law. Divorce is never going to be easy, but it can be done in a respectful manner.