Minnesota’s three largest bar associations were led by alums this year

Jun 29, 2023

Kenya Bodden ’01, Landon Ascheman ’09, and Paul Peterson ’89 served as presidents during the 2022-23 cycle of the three largest bar associations in Minnesota.

Since the first bar association in Minnesota was established over a century ago, the state is now home to seventeen, with members representing various areas of law practice. This past year, the three largest Minnesota bar associations were led by Mitchell Hamline School of Law alumni. Their terms ended July 1, 2023.

We caught up with Kenya Bodden ’01, Landon Ascheman ’09, and Paul Peterson ’89 to ask them about their experiences as bar association presidents and share reflections about law school.

Bodden, who works for Thompson Coe, was president of the Ramsey County Bar Association. Ascheman, who runs his own criminal defense firm, led the Hennepin County Bar Association. Peterson, with Harper and Peterson, was president of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

What have you focused your time on as bar association president?

Kenya: “Volunteering as a way to improve mental health. Volunteer events and activities in the community drew me to the bar association. We practice law, but we’re also part of the community. It’s something good to do, and I get something out of it that makes me feel good.”

Landon: “Increasing access to justice. We also focus on getting diverse representation by making sure seats at the table are filled by people who are not already at the table.”

Paul: “Working to support an increase in state funding for our justice system-everything from pay for judges and law clerks to work matters. We’re also trying to actively develop future leaders from our current membership.”

Most important role bar associations play for attorneys?

Kenya: “It’s a way to network and get to know people’s social events. And law students get to know people who are potential employers, or references to future employers.”

Landon: “Connections with community members in and out of our individual practice areas. There are opportunities to promote needed changes to statutes, rules, policies, and work together to improve our community.”

Paul: “It’s a great organization for lawyers, judges, and all our stakeholders to come together, belong, share, support each other and enhance the justice system.”

This article first appeared in the Summer 2023 issue of Mitchell Hamline Law magazine.

How did Mitchell Hamline prepare you for this role?

Kenya: “Being a part of a student organization and in a leadership position showed me I can do things outside of just what I was there to do.”

Landon: “Mitchell Hamline has the focus on teaching, training people, and getting them involved in the legal community. By the time I graduated, I had connections in the legal community.”

Paul: “I learned that collegiality and civility were important. I’ve tried hard to make those cornerstones in my practice.”

Favorite memory at Mitchell Hamline

Kenya: “The freedom of just learning, going to school, and saying, ‘this is what I’ve been waiting for.’”

Landon: “It’s where I met my wife! She’s also an attorney.”

Paul: “Trial practice and court mock trial.”

What is one interesting non-attorney thing about you that people should know?

Kenya: “I am an introvert who is a reluctant extrovert.”

Landon: “I’m a swimmer. I’ve swam 36 miles in freezing water and during a thunderstorm, just not at the same time.”

Paul: “I do what’s been described as a very good Bill Clinton impersonation, which has led to a lot of interesting gigs.”

This article was written by Marla Khan-Schwartz, a freelance writer in the Twin Cities.