Susan Holden

Women To Watch

Lots of people aspire to make a career of helping people. Susan Holden is someone who has actually lived up to that ideal. She is one of the very few women in Minnesota who is certified as a civil trial specialist - a distinction that less than 1 percent of female attorneys achieve. And her litigation work on personal injury and other types of cases led to her being named the first female partner of Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey, Minneapolis, in 1993.

She has built on her success in the courtroom by being active in many professional organizations. Holden was recently elected president of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Her predecessor, David Stowman, said she will be outstanding in that role.

Stowman first noticed Holden's leadership ability when they were working together during an American Bar Association event in Washington, D.C. They had been working steady for two full days, talking with congressional leaders about issues affecting the legal profession, yet they were unable to contact one key lawmaker despite repeated attempts. They both were very tired, and Stowman said he was ready to quit, but Holden said, "I'm going to give it one more try."

"She has a real sense of purpose and a willingness to go the extra mile," said Stowman. "I've observed that quality in everything that she's done."

Holden says she gets that from her parents and grandparents. Growing up in Backus, her family owned and operated a resort, and Holden did chores along with the rest of the family. She said her grandparents had the strongest work ethic she has ever seen, and that has influenced her success as an attorney.

When she was in high school and thinking about her career, Holden aspired to help people, so it came down to medicine or law. She said she chose the law because she didn't think she could stomach some of the trauma she would see every day in a hospital or emergency room.

Working as a personal injury attorney is rewarding, she said, because she enjoys helping people get through some of the toughest times of their lives and making something positive happen for them in the time of tragedy.

As bar association president, Holden intends to advocate for more funding for public defenders and more legal services for people with low incomes - and other policies to create a court system that is more accessible to everyone. She also hopes to educate the public to promote a better understanding of importance of an independent judiciary. Another goal is improving diversity within the field of law, which she said will improve the public's trust and confidence in the system.

"In the legal profession, we have to take our limps and criticism, but it seems like the criticism has never ben so great as it is now," she said. "One of my goals is to respond to the unfair criticism of judges and the courts and to look at ways that the profession can better serve the public.

Contact the law offices of Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey for a free consultation. We encourage you to make this first step toward resolving your legal matters so that you can get back to your life.