Jody Ollyver DeSmidt

Email MeJody Ollyver DeSmidt

Shareholder and Attorney
Location:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Phone:
612-326-3453
888-340-9311 (Toll Free)
Fax:
612-340-1154
Email:
Email Me
Paralegal:
Denise M. Perry
Legal Assistant:
JoAnn M. Koloc
Families come in many forms. We help clients build families through adoption, third-party custody, and assisted reproduction.

Year Joined Firm

  • 1991

Areas of Practice

  • Adoption
  • Appellate Practice
  • Assisted Reproductive Technology
  • Child in Need of Protection or Services
  • Custody
  • Domestic Abuse & Harassment
  • Marriage Dissolution
  • Paternity

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1982
  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1982
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1994

Education

  • William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
    • J.D. - 1982
    • Law Review: William Mitchell Law Review, Staff Member, 1980-1981, Editor, 1981-1982, 1980 - 1982
  • University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • B.A. - 1979
    • Honors: Phi Alpha Theta
    • Major: Political Science

Published Works

  • The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children: Traps for the Unwary (Co-Author with Kimberly A. Weinacht), MILE Seminar, 2003
  • Foster Parent Adoption, Family Law Forum, Summer, 1996

Representative Cases

Classes/Seminars

  • Speaker, New and Emerging Issues in Juvenile Law, HCBA-CLE, May, 2002
  • Speaker, Legal Issues in Adoption, Resolve, October 13, 2001
  • Speaker, Direct Placement Adoption and Advanced Legal Topics in Adoption, Resolve, October 30, 1999
  • Speaker, Working with Social Workers and Lawyers as a Team in the Adoption Process, National Conference on Openness in Adoption, October 19, 1998
  • Speaker, Direct Placement Adoption, Resolve, October 17, 1998
  • Speaker, Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Custody and Dissolution, Volunteer Lawyers Network - CLE, June 18, 1996
  • MILE topic, March 21, 1996
  • How to Succeed In A Foster Care Adoption, Minnesota CLE, November 10, 1995
  • Panel Discussion on Visitation, Volunteer Lawyers Network - CLE, June 27, 1995
  • Adoption Law Update, Family Law Section Meeting, Minnesota State Bar Association Annual Convention, June, 1995
  • Direct Placement Adoption, Resolve, November 5, 1994
  • Guardian ad Litem Services, HSA Foster Parent Association, October 29, 1994
  • The Foster Parents Role in the Court System, HSA Foster Parent Association, November 20, 1991
  • Adoption Law, Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, November 13, 1993
  • How To Advocate For A Child In Foster Care, HSA Foster Parent Association, November 7, 1992

Honors and Awards

  • Named to Minnesota "Super Lawyers", 1999 - 2015

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • American Adoption Congress, Member, 2005 - Present
  • American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Annual National Conference - CLE, Co-Chair, 2002
  • Minnesota Legislative Task Force on the Uniform Parentage Act, Member, 2001 - 2002
  • American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Fellow, 1992 - Present
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Member, 1987 - Present
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Member, 1987 - Present
  • Juvenile Law of Hennepin County Bar Association, Co-Chair, 1992 - 1995

Past Employment Positions

  • Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, Associate, 1987 - 1991
  • Wright S. Walling & Associates, Associate, 1986 - 1987
  • District Court of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District, Honorable Allen Oleisky, Law Clerk, 1984 - 1986
  • District Court of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District, Honorable Rolf Fosseen, Law Clerk, 1983
  • Lubov & Foster, Associate, 1982 - 1983

Pro Bono Activities

  • Volunteer Lawyers Network, 1991 - Present