• Litigation
• Employment Law
• Family Law
• Elder Law

Susan L. Ellison joined the Ohnstad Twichell law firm on July 1, 2005, as a shareholder and practicing attorney.  She is a North Dakota native and has been a resident of this area for 30 years.  She currently resides in West Fargo, North Dakota. 

Susan's primary areas of practice include employment law,  family law, and elder law.  Regarding employment law, she handles cases involving discrimination and harassment based on gender, race, age, disability, and other protected class status; whistle-blower claims; wrongful termination; and employment contracts.  In her family law practice she handles issues involving divorce and post-divorce modification, child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, paternity, adoption, guardianship, grandparent custody and visitation, and parental rights.  She is a reputable family law attorney.  In the area of elder law, she prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and she handles probate and guardianship actions.  

Susan is licensed to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota and has been admitted for practice in all state and federal courts in both states.  She has been a faculty member and has spoken for various business and professional groups on issues relating to human resource issues, sexual harassment/discrimination, and elder law.

Susan received her B.A. degree and J.D. degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota.  She is a member of the Cass County and Clay County Bar Associations, the Ronald N. Davies Inn of Court, the State Bar Association of North Dakota, the Minnesota State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.  Prior to practicing law, Ms. Ellison worked in the field of print and broadcast journalism in this area.  Upon graduation from the UND School of Law, she served as a judicial law clerk for the East Central Judicial District Court in Fargo, ND.  She began to establish her practice in 1991 and had offices in Moorhead, MN, and Fargo, ND, before joining the Ohnstad Twichell law firm.  She is currently located at the Ohnstad Twichell West Fargo office.  Susan is also a qualified family mediator in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Living and raising daughters in the Red River Valley of Fargo-Moorhead has instilled in me the importance of family values and a strong work ethic, said Ms. Ellison.  Those values and ethics remain an integral part of my law practice as I strive to resolve legal issues for my clients and improve their quality of life.  I am dedicated to providing individualized attention to my clients by making myself available through prompt communications and consideration.

Year Joined Organization

• 2005

Areas of Practice

• Elder Law
• Employment Law
• Family Law
• Litigation

Bar Admissions

• North Dakota, 1990
• Minnesota, 1990
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
• U.S. District Court District of North Dakota

Education

• University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, North Dakota
  J.D.
  Honors: With Distinction
  
  
• University of North Dakota
  B.A.
  Honors: With Distinction
  
  

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Faculty Member, Business and Professional Groups Issues Relating on Human Resource , Sexual Harassment/Discrimination, and Elder Law

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Cass County Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Clay County Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Ronald N. Davies Inn of Court
  Member
  
  
• North Dakota State Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• American Bar Association
  Member
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• East Central Judicial District Court, Fargo, Judicial Law Clerk
• Hannig Law Firm, Moorhead

Birth Information

• July 7, 1954, Williston, North Dakota, United States of America