Skip to main content

Staff Snapshots | Christopher S. Joseph

December 22, 2022

Christopher S. Joseph

Hometown: Miramar, Fla.

Role: Senior Legal Counsel, North Dakota Legislative Council

Years of legislative service: Seven, with 10 years total in state service.

NCSL connection: Joseph is a 2020 graduate of NCSL’s Legislative Staff Certificate Program.

The best advice he’s ever received: “My father would always have two sayings when it comes to life: ‘Always have goals that are beyond your grasp’ and ‘You haven’t lost until you are down and stop getting up.’”

Why did you choose to work at the Legislature?

The problem-solving aspect of the legislative branch has always fascinated me. There is no higher level of professional satisfaction than using my legal education and writing skills in service of the people of North Dakota by drafting impactful, well-written legislation for their elected representatives and senators. Plus, it is pretty cool to see something you wrote in the state code.

What skill or talent are you most proud of?

My appetite for learning and never-ending desire for being the best at my craft in conjunction with the ability to understand, communicate and relate with people from different walks of life.

Who or what inspires you?

My 2-year-old daughter, Athena, is an inspiration and a reminder for me to be the best human being possible, because she’s always watching and learning from the examples I set.  

What’s one thing you love about your state?

The people. North Dakotans are the most welcoming, hospitable and hard-working people I have ever had the pleasure of being amongst. Since I moved to North Dakota in 2010 for law school, I have never felt like an outsider. “North Dakota Nice” is very real and I am honored to call myself a North Dakotan.

What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?

I just completed “Iron Ambition: My Life with Cus D’Amato,” by Mike Tyson, and started reading “The Science of Interstellar,” by Kip Thorne. As for shows, I am on season five of “Snowfall” and season one of “Godfather of Harlem.”

These email responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

For its “Staff Snapshots” series, State Legislatures News is asking legislative staff about their role in the legislature. To suggest a staffer for this series, please use the email icon above to contact Holly South.

Loading
  • Contact NCSL

  • For more information on this topic, use this form to reach NCSL staff.