On Friday, March 28, UND School of Law students, faculty and alumni convened in the VanderWalle Courtroom to celebrate one of their most inspiring alumnae. Hosted by the Law Women’s Caucus, the 20th annual Helen Hamilton Day event celebrated trailblazing women past and present, and brought together generations of women in law.

Helen Hamilton was the first woman to graduate from the UND School of Law, the first woman admitted to the North Dakota Bar and the first woman to apply for membership in the American Bar Association. Each year, the LWC hosts a symposium in her honor, inviting women in law and related fields to discuss their experiences.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of Hamilton’s graduation from the School of Law.

For the 2025 event, “Expanding the Circle,” the focus was on the evolving role of women in law, including how their advancement continues to open doors for others in law, business, government and beyond.

“Helen Hamilton was the only woman in her class when she graduated in 1905. Today, my class is over 50% women,” said Lily Burnside, a second-year law student who is coordinating this year’s event. “We wanted to honor that progress and also recognize how women have paved the way for other groups in the legal field.”

Burnside, who joined LWC in 2023 and led the planning for this year’s symposium, said Hamilton’s legacy makes the event especially meaningful.

“This event has been happening for over 20 years. There’s pressure to make sure each one is better than the last — but also to keep it reflective of how far we’ve come,” she said. “The whole entire board for LWC pitches in, and we try to bring in speakers and panelists who will honor the legacy of Helen Hamilton as a trailblazer.”

A look inside the boardroom, from the women who run it

The day’s final panel, “Expanding the Circle in the Boardroom,” explored how legal professionals — particularly women — are leveraging their law degrees to become leaders in corporate environments.

Moderated by UND Law alumna and former LWC president Taylor Kuznia, the panel featured Michelle Donarski, shareholder at ABST Law in Fargo; Stacey Dahl, vice president of external affairs at Minnkota Power and graduate of the UND School of Law; and Cassie Scheving, also a School of Law graduate and chief legal officer of Grand Forks-based ICON Architects.

“Legal expertise is invaluable beyond the courtroom, especially in shaping the policies, strategies and ethics that guide organizations,” said Kuznia in her introduction to the panel.

Persistence key to success in legal fields

The three panelists spoke candidly about navigating legal and legal-adjacent fields as women and offered advice to students in attendance. One shared observation was that, like Hamilton, they each had to show great persistence to get where they are today.

Donarski, who transitioned from a career as a trial lawyer to one as a shareholder and corporate counsel, said that she has found her legal background especially helpful in the field of corporate law.

“I was the dumbest smart kid at UND Law. I was my own worst enemy,” she said with a laugh. “But I worked hard, and now I get to make real impact advising clients in the boardroom.”

Dahl shared how a simple act of curiosity helped launch her leadership trajectory.

“It started with, ‘Can I sit in on this meeting?’ That turned into leading a multiyear carbon capture project,” she said. “You don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need to show up and ask.”

Scheving said that being a woman working in a traditionally male-dominated field does present challenges but added that a positive perspective can make the challenge worthwhile.

“I’ve worked in male-led spaces my entire career,” she said. “I don’t focus on what I lack — I focus on what I bring.”

Discussions also tackled work-life balance, a perennial problem in law. The panelists agreed that while those problems may seem unavoidable, boundaries and flexibility related to work-life balance evolve over time.

“You can’t control everything, but you can protect something. For me, it’s my daily gym hour — that’s my time,” said Scheving, of the effort she makes to retain some personal time during her day-to-day.

And, to the audience of prospective law students, Donarski said that patience is key in hitting the sweet spot of work-life balance.

“Balance comes later,” Donarski added. “Early on, throw yourself into learning. The rest will come.”

The panelists also emphasized the importance of mentorship, both formal and informal, and encouraged law students to seek connection and community.

“Mentors are everywhere — professors, classmates, attorneys. You don’t need a program to find someone who will help you grow,” Donarski said.

Scheving added that becoming a mentor to junior attorneys has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career.

“If I can help someone else avoid the same obstacles I faced, I’ll do it every time,” she said.

Helen Hamilton’s legacy lives on

For Burnside, the event was more than organizing speakers or scheduling panels — it was about showing her cohort and colleagues what is possible for them.

“One of the reasons I was excited about the boardroom panel is because it shows UND Law grads having incredible success,” she said. “That’s what this is about: seeing the potential.”

And, as the panel and event ended, the panelists offered advice and affirmation for students who soon will begin their careers as lawyers and law experts.

“If you’re here at UND Law, you’re smart. You belong,” said Dahl of the imposter syndrome students may feel as they enter the workforce. “You may not know everything yet — but you will.”

She added that, though stepping into legal and leadership roles may be intimidating at first, it’s possible to overcome initial insecurities. One of the most valuable pieces of advice she’d ever received was a familiar adage shared by a UND professor as she prepared for a challenge.

“He just said, ‘Fake it. Just fake it,’” she said. “I have taken that and applied it in many settings.”

Burnside said that while details on Hamilton’s experience at UND aren’t easy to find, she and the other members of the LWC and School of Law have found inspiration in her story.

“She graduated in 1905. That’s how early she was breaking barriers,” Burnside said. “It’s not just about honoring one woman. It’s about continuing what she started — making sure that circle keeps expanding.”