Thirteen years ago, Dan Koewler (son of Jeff and Delrose) finished up 13 years of education at St. Mary’s School and headed off to the University of St. Thomas.
At that time, Koewler didn’t have much idea what he wanted to do. Now, in the May edition of Minnesota Lawyer, Koewler has been named one of 25 Up & Coming Attorneys for 2010.
“I was astounded,” said Koewler. “Most attorneys who received that award had two or three times more experience than I have, so it was truly an honor.”
The path Koewler has traveled in receiving this honor has involved lots of long days of reading, writing and arguing his points. All in all, Koewler has loved the experience.
While in high school, Koewler spent much of his free time working at Overson Lumber. Looking back at his time at St. Mary’s, Koewler is grateful for the guidance he received.
“I will grudgingly admit that Mr. Neubauer’s heavy-handed discipline did ultimately end up making me a better person in the long run and helps me stay on track even today,” he said.
While receiving his undergraduate degree in political science and international studies, Koewler had the chance to spend a semester in Washington, D.C. It was then he decided to become a lawyer.
“At that point, living in a city where every other person had a law degree, I realized that getting a law degree would put me in a position to help people,” he explained.
To understand how the legal process works, Koewler interned with Hennepin County District Court. He quickly learned he wanted to spend his future in court as a private defender.
“Personally, I prefer private practice,” Koewler explained. “There isn’t a better feeling than getting a hug from a client you helped out of a tricky situation, and I just don’t think that happens to prosecutors a whole lot.”
Now having gotten a taste for the legal profession, Koewler enrolled at law school at the University of Minnesota. It was during this time that he learned how to survive on very little sleep.
“Law school was equal parts pain and suffering,” he said. “It’s an incredibly intensive marathon of non-stop studying, and I think everyone in my class had a nervous breakdown at one point or another.
“When you take over 200 ‘type A’ personalities, all of whom had great grades throughout their lives, and then tell them that they are all going to be graded on a curve . . . people go a little nuts.”
After going nuts for a few years, Koewler received his degree and landed a position with Ramsay Law Firm in Roseville. What started as a part-time position writing legal memoranda has rapidly evolved.
“Now I practice all aspects of criminal defense work,” he explained. “I’ve represented clients charged with first degree murder, drug and assault cases, prostitution cases, DWI cases and even speeding tickets.”
Koewler explained that students considering a future in the legal profession should love reading, enjoy writing and be able to think logically. Also, Koewler emphasized that a legal career shouldn’t be money-focused.
“If it’s for the money, there are far, far easier ways to get rich than by practicing law,” he said. “You will probably rack up a ton of student loans pursuing a law degree.”
In the future, Koewler hopes to continue working as a criminal defense attorney. Also, moving back home holds an appeal for him as well.
“While it’s nice to know there are 5,000 places to get a bite to eat at 2 a.m. in the Cities, I still look forward to moving back to Sleepy Eye some day and enjoying a life where I can actually see the stars and know all my neighbors by name,” he said.
