In fact, by the time Sterling was in Congress, two of his earliest graduates William Williamson and Royal C. Johnson were Congressmen themselves.

Tripp was returning to South Dakota from his diplomatic post in Austria at the turn of the century.

Tripp had been initially considered to be the running mate of President William McKinley, his friend and Albany Law School classmate, but was overlooked in lieu of then-Governor of New York Teddy Roosevelt.

With no other political opportunities left to him, Tripp devoted his full attention to establishing the College of Law.

It is speculated that had William McKinley not overlooked him for Vice President of the United States the College of Law may not have been founded as soon as it was.

Thomas Sterling's 1911 departure was partly led by the death of his friend and colleague Bartlett Tripp.

A stronger class did not come until 1975, when USD Law produced Steven L. Zinter, David Gilbertson, Glen A. Severson, Steve T. Kirby, and Tim Johnson.

During this period the law school was led by the 11th Deputy Attorney General of the United States from the Nixon Administration, Ralph E. Erickson.

Former CEO of the Mayo Clinic, Mike Myers served on the faculty as an elder law professor.

Myers, known for his eccentric behavior, resigned in 2012 and ran for Governor of South Dakota in the next election.

According to South Dakota's official 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 60.6% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, making it the best in the region with the exception of the University of Minnesota Law School.

[9] The University of South Dakota School of Law has historically produced a number of noted alumni among which include eight governors, thirteen members of the U.S. congressional delegation from South Dakota, nineteen state attorneys general, thirteen U.S.