South Dakota Rural Attorney Recruitment Program

Learn about the critical work of the Rural Attorney Recruitment Program in South Dakota.

'Real-life science experiment' fills critical legal gaps in rural SD "Your clients are going to be the couple down the street, the old guy across the road, your kids’ friends’ parents."

Congratulations Class of 2024!!

And here is Kathy Zenner who works in Union County. Being the youngest of seven children prepares one for almost anything!

I was born in New Jersey the youngest of seven children and the first to graduate college in my family. I attended University of South Florida and graduated with honors with a BA in psychology and a minor in criminal justice. I went to Stetson University College of Law in Gulf Port Florida and focused on criminal and litigation classes. After graduating in 1998, I moved to Colorado and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in October of 1998 and took a job with the Colorado State Public Defender’s Denver Trial Office. After 3 years, I moved on to a law firm in Denver and focused on civil litigation. I got married in 2002, to Peter Zenner and stayed home to raise two daughters. We moved to Sioux Falls, SD in 2007.

We became foster parents in 2012 and have subsequently adopted 3 more children from foster care. Most of my time now is spent with family and quilting. I work for the Union County State’s Attorney’s Office and am participating in the Rural Attorney Recruitment program. I love the jurisdiction I work and live in.