Erin Schoenbeck Byre

Erin is a South Dakota native. She was born in Webster and moved to Watertown at a young age.

Erin attended Augustana University, where she graduated with honors with degrees in government/international affairs and business administration with an emphasis in nonprofits. Following college, Erin spent a year volunteering with AmeriCorps NCCC, providing aid to communities affected by natural disasters and earning the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She then spent three years working in nonprofit development, raising funds for a variety of charitable organizations and helping individuals leave charitable gifts through their estates. Her desire to serve others led her to pursue a career in the law.

Erin attended the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where she graduated summacum laude. During law school, she served as a writing, research assistant and was elected student body president. Her advocacy for students with disabilities and her efforts to bring together the St. Thomas community led to her receiving St. Thomas’ Mission Award for Service and Community.

Erin began her legal career clerking for Chief Justice Gilbertson and Justice Myren of the South Dakota Supreme Court. Following her clerkship, she practiced medical malpractice and legal malpractice defense, construction litigation, and criminal defense before transitioning to the plaintiff’s side of litigation.

Erin focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on personal injury and insurance bad faith. She has successfully argued before the Eighth Circuit, South Dakota Supreme Court, Minnesota Court of Appeals, and numerous circuit courts.  She has secured favorable verdicts at trial and has obtained countless significant settlements on behalf of injured clients pursuing personal injury and insurance bad faith claims. Her experience on both the defense and plaintiff side of litigation give her a unique perspective when evaluating and litigating complex cases.

Outside of her legal practice, Erin remains passionate about serving others and volunteers for various Catholic organizations and conservation nonprofits. She lives in Sioux Falls with her husband, Wade—a fellow Augustana Viking—their two children and a goofy Goldendoodle. The family can usually be found outside gardening, hiking, biking, kayaking, snowshoeing, or skiing.