Nicole Laughlin

Nicole Laughlin is the Attorney and Owner of Laughlin Law in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her practice includes state and federal criminal defense, appeals, habeas corpus matters, family law, and selected personal injury matters. Nicole represents clients in cases involving DUI and alcohol offenses, assault, drug offenses, homicide, juvenile law, sex crimes, pardons, custody, divorce, adoption, guardianships, protection orders, and related proceedings. She also handles appellate matters at several levels of the South Dakota court system.

Nicole earned Bachelor’s Degrees in English and Criminal Justice from the University of South Dakota in 2002. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2006. During law school, she served as a staff writer and Lead Articles Educator of the South Dakota Law Review. Her academic training in writing, criminal justice, and law supports a practice that requires close legal research, persuasive briefing, courtroom advocacy, and careful analysis of trial and appellate records.

Nicole’s prior roles include attorney at the Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office, law clerk for the Third Judicial Circuit of South Dakota, Senior Public Defender, and appellate attorney. She has also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of South Dakota and published law review articles. She opened Laughlin Law in January 2013 and has continued representing clients in state and federal matters, combining trial-level defense, family law work, post-conviction issues, and appellate advocacy within one practice.

Nicole’s background gives her experience with cases from several institutional perspectives, including public defense, judicial chambers, appellate practice, private representation, and legal education. That range is particularly useful in matters where trial strategy, preservation of issues, written briefing, and appellate review may overlap. Nicole Laughlin helps clients navigate criminal, family, and appellate proceedings with an emphasis on understanding the record, identifying legal options, and preparing the advocacy required at each stage of a case.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Laughlin Law
• Member, State Bar of South Dakota

Licensed State

• South Dakota

Education

• University of South Dakota School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of South Dakota
  Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and English

Awards & Badges