North Dakota law boasts one of the smaller bodies of legal decisions and less complex state codes, a tribute to how recently it became a state (1889) and the historical sparseness of its population.

North Dakota state laws have an emphasis in agriculture and energy, two of the main industries in the state. At one time "blue laws" restricting various personal actions were prominent in the laws of North Dakota, but these have been relaxed in recent times.

North Dakota's Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state. There is also a Court of Appeals.

You should know:

1. Most North Dakota law firms are located in four places: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot.

2. North Dakota is considered a good place to do business. It ranked number nine in the Forbes 2007 list of best states in which to do business, and its regulatory environment was number 16.

3. North Dakota has one of the smallest number of lawyers in total numbers of any state. Only about 2000 lawyers practice in the state.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know where to find information about laws in North Dakota

Several good websites offer the laws of North Dakota and court interpretations of those laws for free.

I recommend: The North Dakota legislative branch provides links to both the North Dakota legislative code and the administrative code. North Dakota cases can be found at the North Dakota Supreme Court website.

Get advice on how to work with North Dakota law.

Know where to find the best free legal resources for the laws in North Dakota.

I recommend: The site MegaLaw.com has a good selection of North Dakota legal sites, including ones covering legal forms, law enforcement and court reporters. Legal Services of North Dakota has a selection of publications that can give you basic advice on how to deal with North Dakota state laws.

Know where to find a North Dakota lawyer or North Dakota law firm.

There are several places you can go to for listings of North Dakota law firms or North Dakota attorneys.

I recommend: The Supreme Court of North Dakota has a listing of all the attorneys licensed to practice in the state. The State Bar Association of Norh Dakota has a lawyer referral service that allows you to find a North Dakota attorney or North Dakota law firm for a small fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For any complex legal issues in North Dakota, utilize North Dakota attorneys or North Dakota law firms.
• •  If you are out of state, look to the bigger cities in North Dakota when you are hiring a law firm.