About Sara-beth Swansom

Sara was born and raised in Hutchinson, Minnesota, where she graduated from Maplewood Academy in 1993. Sara then attended Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in English: Writing and Speaking. Sara graduated valedictorian of her college class in 1996. After graduating from college, Sara married her high-school/college sweetheart (from Blackberry, Minnesota) and began attending law school at the University of Minnesota (one of the top 20 law schools in the nation). During Sara’s time in law school, Sara also gained practical experience working for a private family law attorney in Minneapolis, volunteering at the Southside Legal Aid Office in South Minneapolis, interning through the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) clinic, and clerking for the Honorable Jack Davies at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Also, during the summer of 1997, Sara completed a summer internship at Legal Aid Services of Northeastern Minnesota, where she solidified her desire to practice family law in Northern Minnesota. In 1999, Sara graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School (earning her Juris Doctorate in Law).

After graduating from law school and taking the bar exam, Sara began working as an associate for the John P. Dimich Law Office in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Sara became a partner with Dimich, Swanson, & Sterle, PLLP in 2003, and in 2007, Sara opened her own solo practice (after renovating a hundred year old house into office space).

Sara has been actively involved in the Grand Rapids legal community, helping create an Early Case Management/Early Neutral Evaluation pilot project for Itasca County. Sara is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and a past president of the Itasca County Bar Association. Sara volunteers time to indigent parties through the Volunteer Attorney Program.

Sara enjoys spending time with her family, competing in triathlons, marathons (and other races), traveling, and cross-country skiing. Sara also enjoys volunteering with the Itasca Coronary Health Improvement Project.