Jim Sword

Jim Sword is a Business Lawyer and attorney at Sword Law Office, P.C. in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He advises business owners, ranchers, and farmers on company formation, contracts, land sales, growth planning, and asset protection. His wider practice includes real estate, agriculture, estate planning, civil litigation, family law, personal injury, and criminal defense. He provides individualized representation while limiting his caseload to preserve sufficient time and resources for each client.

Jim earned a Bachelor of Science from Black Hills State University in 1992. He graduated from law school in 1996 and began practicing in a small community. He later joined South Dakota’s largest law firm before changing his career after the September 11 attacks. His education and early practice strengthened his legal analysis, negotiation, litigation, and client counseling abilities.

Jim enlisted in the US Army in March 2003 and completed artillery basic training. He deployed to Baghdad with the First Armored Division before transferring to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He later served as lead military prosecutor for Space and Missile Command. He was appointed a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. After returning home, he won three consecutive terms as Fall River and Oglala Lakota County State’s Attorney.

Jim Sword has handled more than 60 criminal trials and 1,000 evidentiary hearings. He has represented individuals, businesses, and government entities before state, federal, tribal, appellate, and regulatory forums. His community service includes legal-services boards, domestic-violence initiatives, veterans’ organizations, youth programs, and recovery organizations. He received WEAVE’s Man of the Year honor in 2011 and the American Legion’s Don’t Tread on Me Award in 2014. His military, prosecutorial, and private-practice experience supports disciplined preparation, practical judgment, and determined advocacy.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Sword Law Office, P.C.
• Member, South Dakota State Bar Association

Licensed State

• South Dakota

Education

• University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Black Hills State University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges