"Living in Deep Relation: Chris Yoder on Life and The Law"

Recently, attorney and Northfield alumnus Chris Yoder spoke to us about how he came to love the law, and how how he's made a life of deep relation with all that he loves: family, sustainable farming, rural communities, community service, philosophy, poetry, the law, advocacy, jazz, and much more.

Chris's talk is insightful and wise, integrative, and deeply inspirational. I am so glad my students got to learn from him again this year, in our deep-dive on U.S. History and Constitutional Law.

Christopher Yoder is a staff attorney at Baron & Budd. He works in their Opioid Litigation Group.

He studied philosophy and English literature at Wichita State University, receiving a bachelor of arts in each. His family history of farming closely connected him to grassroots America, and he applied to law school hoping to advocate for those living in underserved rural areas by providing ready access to legal representation.

While attending Washburn University School of Law, Mr. Yoder was a recipient of the Hansen Foundation Rural Initiative grant, which allowed him to gain experience practicing criminal defense in remote areas of western Kansas. This advocacy at such a hyper-local level in the farm community inspired in him a passion for representing those who struggle to afford legal representation that provides them with a sincere and powerful voice in the court system. Because of the great need for attorneys in rural areas, and the difficult barrier of entry for new practitioners, Mr. Yoder was motivated to found the Rural Practice Group at Washburn University School of Law to connect aspiring attorneys with established small-town lawyers and to give them a foothold in the community.

He also plays jazz guitar and studies sustainable agriculture.

Chris lives in Overland Park, KS, with his wife, Rachel, who is a cancer researcher, and their son, Caspian.