Tim Rensch of Rensch Law in Rapid City has earned a reputation that makes him a sought-after criminal and civil lawyer.
Of all the honors he has received over the years, he especially cherishes two from 2017. That’s the year he was named South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year and South Dakota Criminal Defense Lawyers Association’s Outstanding Lawyer of the Year. He’s the only attorney to earn those designations in the same year.
“The significance of winning both of those awards is that they cover civil and criminal, so basically I cover the waterfront,” Rensch said.
He certainly does. He has handled drug, DUI, rape and high-profile murder cases, as well as personal injury and civil cases.
As the only practicing South Dakota member of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, an exclusive group of 225 lawyers across the United States, Rensch attends seminars with “all these great lawyers across the country,” he said.
Tim Rensch of Rensch Law.
That helps him “stay on the cutting edge with the most elite trial lawyers, so when you’re representing someone and you’re looking at a set of facts, you have the benefit of the collective experience of many, many, many supremely experienced, successful lawyers.”
An early start
Rensch is one of those lucky people who knew very early what he wanted to do when he grew up. His introduction to law came early. His father was an attorney in Rapid City for 50 years.
“I wanted to be a lawyer from a very, very young age,” he said. “I used to sit in his office from age 2 or 3.”
As a teen, Rensch would watch his father try murder cases.
“I’d sit in the courtroom and (later) he would ask me my thoughts trying to just get a fresh perspective about things,” he added.
While attending Rapid City Central High School, he helped his debate team win the state championship and “best of tournament” awards.
After law school, he spent a year working as an attorney in Deadwood. When he went home to Rapid City and hung out his shingle, his father came to his office and said, “There’s a jury trial in a month, and you’re going to try it.”
“He basically threw me right in the water of law to sink or swim,” Rensch said.
Clearly, he swam.
Key to success
“I think the key to being a trial lawyer is speaking from your heart and being sincere so that when you make your argument, people side with you,” Rensch said. “They can tell that that’s what you believe and you’re passionate about it.”
Rensch’s experience as a criminal lawyer easily translates to his role as a civil attorney.
“You are able to think of what the issues are and how the case should be presented,” he said. “When you apply those principles to protect the plaintiff’s rights and seek damage for their injuries, you’re able to go into court and advocate more effectively and win for your clients.”
Rensch noted it’s not the lawyer’s job to decide who’s guilty or not guilty.
“It’s the lawyer’s job to argue the law and the facts within the bounds of ethics, to do all that one can do to protect a person’s rights.”
