Practice Areas
- Appeals
- Business Litigation
- Estate Litigation
- Trust Litigation
Education
- University of South Dakota School of Law, Vermillion, South Dakota
- 05/2025
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Honors: Professor Garry's research assistant
- Law Review, South Dakota Law Review, Articles Editor
- Washington High School
- Augustana University
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Major: Government and International Affairs
Bar Admissions
- South Dakota, 2026
Biography
Tory J. Shafer is an associate attorney at Reiter Law Firm. He is a Sioux Falls native who graduated from Washington High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Augustana University, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Affairs.
Tory attended the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude in May of 2025. While in law school, Tory was the Lead Articles Editor for the South Dakota Law Review. He also served as Professor Garry's research assistant. Tory is published in the Criminal Law Bulletin for his analysis of free speech law after the Supreme Court's decision in Counterman v. Colorado. One of Tory's favorite activities during law school was helping prepare the moot court teams for their competitions.
Following law school, Tory worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Jonathan Papik of the Nebraska Supreme Court. He was admitted to the South Dakota bar in January of 2026. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, rock climbing, playing disc golf, and writing.
Past Positions
- Honorable Janine Kern, South Dakota Supreme Court, Extern
- Federal Public Defender, Appellate Division, Extern
- McGrath North Mullins & Kratz, Summer Associate
- Queens, NYC, District Attorney, Brave Justice Summer Intern
Awards, Recognition, and Leadership
- High Grade: Torts, Contracts, Legal Writing, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, First Amendment, State and Local Government, Indian Law at the Supreme Court, Localism, Discovery Practice.
- Editor and Co-Founder of South Dakota Amicus, a legal blog focused on the decisions of the South Dakota Supreme Court.
- President, Christian Legal Society, USD Law Chapter, 2023-2025.
- Conferee, Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference, Columbus School of Law, 2025; attended lectures and received feedback from federal judges on legal writing.
- Conferee, Originalism Summer Seminar, Georgetown University Law Center, 2025; attended lectures by the nation's leading scholars for and against originalism.
- Fellow, Christian Legal Society Fellows Program, 2023; attended lectures by scholars and practitioners regarding faith and law practice.
- Acknowledged for research assistance, The Saga of Dakota Territory's First Railroad, Patrick Garry (2024).
- Acknowledged for editing and proofing, A Legal Legacy: 125 Years of Excellence, Service and Leadership at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law (2026).
- Thomas Sterling Honors Society, inducted as a member for graduating in the top 10% of the class.
- Law Review, Lead Articles Editor, 2024-25, Staff Writer, 2023-24.