Assistant Director, Lawyering: Advice and Persuasion
Assistant Professor of Legal Writing
Steve Aggergaard is a legal educator and professional writer who teaches Lawyering: Advice and Persuasion and Professional Responsibility. For 12 years, he was a litigation and appellate attorney at Minneapolis law firms. Professor Aggergaard clerked for Hon. Paul A. Magnuson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and Hon. Sam Hanson of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Before his legal career, Professor Aggergaard was an editor and reporter for the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Duluth News Tribune, and Fort Dodge (Iowa) Messenger. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Professor Aggergaard also has taught journalism at Augsburg College in Minneapolis and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Professor Aggergaard maintains scholarly interests in the areas where law and journalism intersect, ethical issues in particular. He has written on legal topics for the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, been a source for publications ranging from City Pages to the People’s Daily of China, and appeared on air for Minnesota Public Radio, FOX 9, WCCO-AM, and KFAI-AM.
An avid long-distance runner, Professor Aggergaard is finishing his first book, The Law of Running: A Runner’s Guide to Legal Rights.
Education
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
M.S.J., Northwestern University
B.A., Augsburg College
Teaching experience
Adjunct Instructor, Augsburg College English Department
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Journalism, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Law practice experience
Shareholder and Associate Attorney, Bassford Remele, PA, Minneapolis
Associate Attorney, Rider Bennet, LLP, Minneapolis
Judicial clerkships
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Hon. Paul A. Magnuson
Minnesota Supreme Court, Hon. Sam Hanson
Legal journals
Minnesota State Bar Association Publications Committee (2004–)
Editor-in-Chief, William Mitchell Law Review (2003–04)
Journalism experience
Saint Paul Pioneer Press
Duluth News Tribune
Fort Dodge (Iowa) Messenger
Bar admission
Minnesota
Wisconsin (inactive)
Pro bono
Minnesota Board of Public Defense, Appellate Office
Hennepin County Conciliation Court
Volunteer Lawyers Network
Chrysalis Center for Women
Student Press Law Center
Leadership and service
Chorus member, VocalEssence
Chorus representative, VocalEssence Board of Directors (two-year term)
Rose Ensemble Board of Directors
Memberships
Association of Legal Writing Directors
Legal Writing Institute
Association of American Law Schools sections on Legal Writing and Professional Responsibility
Awards and honors
Minnesota “Super Lawyer” (2015–17) and “Rising Star” (2014)
Elmer Wiblishauser Award for Best Article, Bench & Bar of Minnesota (2015)
