Need some legal work done? Tyson Smith is back home and ready to go to work. Tyson recently joined his father’s law practice in Grand Marais. He has experience in litigation and is learning real-estate law from his father, Scott Smith.
Tyson Smith, age 28, an up and coming attorney, loved growing up in Cook County, but he didn’t know how much he would miss it until he left.
Tyson lived in Cook County until moving in 10th grade and graduating in 2006 from a high school in Boston. He came back home every summer because his father, Scott Smith, was here and his mother, Christine and her husband Roger Barton, also had a second home here.
After high school Tyson attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. He spent a year and a half there before traveling to Beijing, China, where he attended an intensive Asian language class for six months. Following his return from China Tyson transferred to the University of Minnesota. He graduated in 2010 with a degree in Asian studies with a focus in the Chinese language.
“I made it through my undergraduate program in four years. A lot of kids don’t realize all of the requirements they need to graduate, so they end up going the fifth year to take underwater basket weaving or some nonsensical course like that to fulfill their undergraduate requirements. Kids need to pay attention to their educational requirements early, so they don’t end up further in debt,” he said, adding he had enough student debt without more being added on because of inattentiveness.
When asked why he picked Chinese to major in, Tyson was quick to answer, “I always figured that at some point they would be taking over the business world so why not be prepared.”
After graduating from the U of M Tyson was accepted to William Mitchell law school, where in 2013 he earned his law degree.
With a law degree in hand, Tyson quickly found the market for new attorneys to be thin.
“When I graduated from law school there were four law schools in Minnesota. There should never have been more than three, and I’m not sure if two aren’t enough for this state.”
Today there are only three law schools, but when Tyson was ready to go to work, there was a glut of attorneys competing for all too few jobs.
“It was rough at first to find employment. I came home and worked for my dad for a couple of months before a law firm in Cloquet hired me. I was there for a year and a half, almost two years before I was offered a job in the cities by Bernick Lifson Attorneys. It was a cool place to work. They taught me commercial litigation. No one practices that kind of law up here.”
So what made you want to come home? he was asked.
“My fiancée, Clare, always wanted to live in a small town. I was ready to come home too. We came at the end of March and loved it. There’s something extraordinary and unique about Grand Marais and the whole North Shore.”
Clare has some direct ties to the community. Her great-aunt is the late June Olson, and her uncle is Richard Johnson.
“That’s definitely an ice breaker for many in the community. Once people know Clare has connections to the shore, acceptance of her is almost immediate.”
Currently Clare is teaching at Stone Harbor, “She has the job to envy,” Tyson said smiling broadly.
When he’s not in the law office Tyson can be found riding his Harley Sportster. “Riding motorcycle is a big part of my life. I still ride with a group of guys in the Cities. Clare and I also love the outdoors. We love to hike, and I like to do some winter hunting with friends. And I love to work out, stay in shape.”
For the immediate future, Tyson said he plans to get married, find a house—which he admitted is a big challenge— and learn as much about real estate law from his father as he can. “I will handle litigation. But I also want to take advantage of learning from my dad, who specializes in real estate law.”
Someday, when Scott retires, Tyson will take over the business.
Do you have any plans to leave Cook County in the future to search for greener pastures? he was asked.
“Right now my dad and I are working together. We are partners. I feel at home and have no plans to leave. If you have noticed, more and more people my age are coming back here. This is a great place to live. A beautiful place. You find that out when you live someplace else. I am home to stay.”
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