Amanda M. Thole

Amanda M. Thole is a Partner at Austin, Hinderaker, Hopper, Strait & Benson LLP in Watertown, South Dakota. Her practice includes family law and criminal defense, with family matters involving divorce, custody, child support, adoption, and marital agreements. Thole also defends individuals facing criminal charges in Codington County and surrounding communities. Her work emphasizes practical guidance while helping clients address difficult legal and family decisions.

Thole graduated from Augusta University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in government/international affairs and history. She earned Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota Law School in 2014. Her academic training supports a practice that requires careful legal analysis, negotiation, and courtroom preparation. She is licensed in South Dakota state and federal courts, several South Dakota tribal courts, and Minnesota.

Her family law work includes helping clients resolve parenting arrangements, financial issues, and other matters that can shape family relationships after a case ends. Thole also represents clients in criminal proceedings and evaluates the facts, available defenses, and procedural issues involved in each matter. She approaches negotiations and litigation with attention to both immediate legal needs and longer-term consequences for the people she represents.

Amanda M. Thole brings a client-centered approach to matters that often involve significant personal and legal pressure. She aims for workable resolutions when agreement is possible while remaining prepared to protect a client’s interests through litigation when needed. Thole’s combined family law and criminal defense practice gives clients a single point of guidance across several types of high-stakes disputes, with a focus on clear communication and practical judgment.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Austin Law
• Member, State Bar of South Dakota
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association

Licensed State

• South Dakota
• Minnesota

Education

• University of South Dakota School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Augusta University
  Bachelor’s degree in government/international affairs and history

Awards & Badges