Joel Arends

Joel Arends offers his clients substantive experience in a wide range of fields including personal injury, family law, estate planning/probate, real estate, government relations and public policy development.

Born and raised in Little Rock, Iowa, Joel Arends graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2000 and received his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2006.

In 2022 the voters of Lincoln County re-elected Arends to serve a second four year term on the Lincoln County Commission in County Commission District 1. Arends ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, economic growth, fidelity to taxpayers and creating partnerships with local, state, federal and private stakeholders.

Having worked at the highest levels of American campaigns and elections, Arends served as a campaign aide to former president George W. Bush and former presidential candidates Senator John McCain and Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann. Joel had the high honor and distinct privilege to personally endorse Donald Trump and his presidential campaign on the deck of the USS Iowa in September 2015.

Joel enlisted in the United States Army as a private in 1995 and has risen through ranks to achieve the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. Arends served as an infantry platoon leader in Iraq with the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service to the Army and our nation. He was recognized by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as one of the fifty heroes in the Global War on Terror and has been profiled in Investor’s Business Daily.

Joel is married to his beautiful wife Robin and they have three children together Noah, Abigail and Zachary. Joel and his family are members of Holy Spirit Church and active in their community.

Joel Arends is licensed to practice law in both South Dakota and his native state of Iowa.