Matthew Kolling considers himself fortunate to be able to practice law in his home community and represent several western North Dakota towns as their city attorney, including Dickinson.

Age: 34

Position: Partner, Ebeltoft Sickler Lawyers

Family: Wife, Kari; children, Joshua, 7, Emma, 4

Community involvement: As a lawyer at Ebeltoft Sickler Lawyers, my practice centers around representing public entities and nonprofit organizations. I currently serve as the city attorney for the city of Dickinson and several smaller communities in southwestern North Dakota, including Medora, Beach, Regent and Hettinger. In addition to government work, I also have a number of nonprofit clients, health care organizations, public service agencies, and faith-based organizations. I am the guy at city commission meetings, planning and zoning meetings, non-profit organization meetings, and church board meetings, giving the board members counsel on what the law requires, and how they can avoid legal problems while pursuing the passions, dreams, and goals they have for their organizations and our community. William Carey, the 19th century missionary to India, used to tell people that he was willing to descend to the depths of hell to save people, provided that there was someone at the top who would hold the rope to pull him to safety. With the clients I get to work with, I’m often the “rope-holder.” My clients are the ones on the front lines, pursuing their dreams and goals for their people. I’m just the guy holding the rope to pull them to safety.

Career path: I grew up in North Dakota, but moved away in order to go to law school. After graduation, I started working at a major law firm in Minneapolis — the kind of place where “big” and “impersonal” are just a way of life. After a couple of years there, I began looking for something different, smaller and closer to home. I heard that a law firm in Dickinson was looking for a new lawyer, and jumped at the chance to come back to North Dakota, and back to my hometown. I practiced law in Dickinson for several years, doing a variety of things – everything from civil lawsuits, real estate matters, estate planning and juvenile delinquency cases. Then, a few years ago, the Dickinson city attorney position opened up. I had always enjoyed local politics and been involved in community affairs. I expressed an interest in becoming the new Dickinson city attorney, and was honored to be appointed to the position. Along with Dickinson, I also serve as the city attorney for other communities around southwestern North Dakota, including Medora, Hettinger, Beach, and Regent. It certainly keeps me busy, but I love being able to help these communities as they deal with the ordinary affairs of government in our area. City attorneys are not elected in North Dakota. So most of my work is behind the scenes, helping the elected officials in these communities accommodate and respond to the needs of their constituents.

Mentors: In 2009, my current law partners and I reorganized our law firm, creating a smaller, more focused group for the benefit of our clients. The two senior partners in our law firm, Paul Ebeltoft and Randy Sickler, are probably the finest attorneys I have known. They are really the people who have taught me how to be a lawyer and what it means to be a professional. One of the core values of our law firm is a commitment to public service. I have seen my partners exemplify this in their service to community boards and organizations throughout our region and state. And they have allowed me the freedom, also, to pursue community service with many of the organizations I work with. Additionally, I have learned a lot from the various elected officials that I get to work with. Many people tend to criticize politicians, but I have seen up close the commitment that elected officials have to their work and their community. Many of the decisions they face are not easy. But I admire their willingness to put themselves on the firing line and make difficult decisions for the benefit of our community. Of course, I cannot leave out my parents. They were my first and most important teachers and models. They showed me, more than anyone else, the value of hard work and a job done well. And they helped instill in me a sense of community and service to the public.

What motivates you? My goal is to be a good counselor for my clients. The clients I work with are primarily government entities and nonprofit organizations. They have dreams and goals about what they want to accomplish for their people. Often times, however, there are legal hurdles that must be overcome. If I can provide sound counsel to my clients, and enable them to pursue their passions free from legal difficulties, then I consider that a job well done. Sometimes it may be as simple as drafting a contract to protect my client’s interests. Other times, it may be providing advice on some sort of complicated regulatory or statutory issue. But in any case, if I can provide my clients with sound legal counsel, then they are free to pursue their passions and goals. And the community benefits as a result. I may play just a small role in helping my clients pursue their passions. But seeing the fruit of their labors motivates me every day to help assist them in reaching their goals.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Forming a new law firm was probably the toughest and biggest risk in my professional life. Although my law partners are excellent lawyers, it is always nerve-racking to step out on your own and see if it works. I’ve learned, however, that with the biggest risks also come the biggest rewards. Our new law firm was able to focus more on the clients we serve, and make a new commitment to being leaders in our community and region. That new focus has brought benefits for us as lawyers and, I think, for the clients we work with.

Anything you’re particularly proud of? One of my clients is St. Luke’s Homes, an 84-bed skilled nursing home and assisted living center in Dickinson. Over the past several years, I’ve been able to work with them on putting together plans for building a new skilled nursing facility. It will be complete with residential-style rooms, a “town-center” area, new dining center and activity spaces. It will really make a difference in the quality of experience for all of the residents and their families. We were able to close the financing on the project in November 2009, and now construction on the project is ongoing. I pass by the construction site everyday on my way to work, and am thankful that I am able to be involved in things like that. It is those sorts of projects — helping good clients make a difference in the lives of their people that really make my work worthwhile.

What advice would you offer other young professionals? Find something you love to do and do it with all your heart. Think holistically about your work. You’re not just coming to the office each day to accomplish some narrow task, or complete some small project, or – worst of all – simply to collect a paycheck. Rather, your work is connected to a larger picture of how our community is developing, how people’s lives are being lived on a daily basis. Decide not to be cynical about your work, thinking that it is some small, meaningless thing. Rather, your work has meaning, not only to you, but to the larger community in which you live. Consider what you want the meaning of your work to be. In the words of Walt Whitman when he wondered what the meaning of it all was: “That you are here — that life exists and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” Consider what your verse will be.

What are you thankful for? Most of all, I am thankful for my family. It amazes me each day that I get to come home to a beautiful wife and two kids who think I’m an OK dad. Before I ever get to my work as a lawyer or my service in the community, my most important job is to be a good husband and father. If I hope to make any contribution to the world, it is first in that area. Beyond that, I am thankful for the clients I get to work with. They are the real world-changers, the ones with hopes, dreams, and passions for their people. I am thankful that they trust me to work with them to resolve the legal challenges they face. Moreover, I am thankful for the law partners I have: Paul Ebeltoft, Randy Sickler, Jen Grosz and Nate Bouray. They are excellent lawyers and good people. And I am proud to be associated with them.

What do you see yourself doing in 10 years? It is difficult to look 10 years out and predict the future. But I hope to continue to be of service to my community, helping my clients achieve the passions, goals and dreams they have for their people.